Well...Thank YOU!

Great little trip. As some of da Mudcat folks may know, my jaunts away from home are much shorter than they used to be. I dispensed with agents, managers, headaches, stress and "the biz" in general about 14 years ago, and have never regretted it for an instant. My "day jobs" now are teaching music, leather carving, and some very eclectic 'little things' like fixing people's instruments, making banjo mutes, and some free-lance cartooning. It all adds up to about as much as a bad telemarketer would make (but I sleep better) and allows me to do about 30 folk concerts, festivals and little gigs a year. Ninety percent of my booking is word of mouth, and I rarely even use written contracts these days, 'cause I simply "know" and trust the folks I sing for.

The REAL perqs are the folks I've met this way who are now friends...some newer, and some already getting into the "vintage" category.

Visiting the Shaws is like a mini vacation in itself (by the way folks, Frank and Barbara are extremely fine old-time musicians, and could hold their own with the best duos at ANY festival) and as was mentioned, we all sat around and did some pickin' after the concert. Sorry Jerry and Ruth couldn't make it to the jam. I want to mention one "picker" especially who because he's kinda quiet doesn't get much notice....Duane D. He played a beautiful piece on the bowed psaltery, which is a tricky instrument....good pickin' Duane.

We also got a chance to spend some time with our friend Sunny Ochs, up near Middleburgh New York. Sunny's one of my favourite people in the whole world.....just LOVES the music, (she's been doin' a radio show for years) gets to a lot of festivals each year, and keeps her brother Phil's music out there by doing "Phil Ochs' Nights" around North America. I've played on a couple of these, and it's neat to have some 17 year old come up to ya and say, "hey that "Changes" is a great song"....and then perhaps they pick up one of Phil's old albums. He used to be a regular visitor to Toronto in the late sixties, and I owe a lot of my guitar right hand to him (and Tom Rush, and Doc Watson!!). Watching some old videos ofPhil (and others) at Sunny's, brings back mucho memories.......and reminds me that I'm gonna be 57(!!) and have been doin' this for a long time!

Part of the fun I get out of music these days comes directly from Mudcat. Was terrific to see the catters at the show. Thanks so much.

Cheers

Rick