My first recollection of a folk song was my step-father singing "The Tennesee Blues". ("I could sit right here and look a million miles away.") One of the first books passed down through my family was "The American Songbag" by Carl Sandburg. I have an original edition. The first song I ever sang publicly was at a YMCA Campfire. "Streets of Laredo" accompanied by the music counselor. The first folksinger I ever recognized as being one was Burl Ives. I loved him. "On Top Of Old Smokey" The first "hootenanny" I ever attended, I heard Cisco Houston sing "900 Miles". That did it. I've been an active performer of folk music ever since.

Early Songs: Tennesee Blues,Streets of Laredo,On Top of Old Smokey, 900 Miles. Also Mariachi music from Tijuana, Mexico on radio station KMTR, Los Angeles.

Frank Hamilton