I've been reading a biography of Lead Belly and have concluded that I probably would not have liked him if I had met him. Now, I read about Woody on this thread and Lee Hayes and Bob Gibson on another thread and I'm not sure I would have liked them if I had met them.

It is all just a reminder that having heroes is a dangerous thing if you turn that into worshipping them. No matter how great a performer, singer, song-writer or guitar player, each and every one of us is incredibly human. The facts are: we all fall short. So I still think Bob Gibson is an incredible performer. I still love Woody's songs. I still admire the force that was Lee Hays in the Weavers. And I will still try my damnedest to play a 12-string something like how Huddie Ledbetter played it.

The joy in all of this is recognizing that I too shine in certain areas even if I don't shine in the same areas in which these gentlemen shone. Oh yes, I fall short, but I, too, bloom in spots.

Roger in Baltimore