Hello, all!-

I've only now stumbled onto this site... had I done so earlier, I could perhaps have cleared up a few points.

Mark Clark mentioned earlier that he had been in touch with myself and my brother Larry.... and the relay of info is accurate- that is, my dad Bernie changed our family name to "Asbell" as a professional consideration after his magazine-writing career was getting off the ground in the early '50's. I would assume, therefore, that Mark's surmise is correct that the spelling appearing on the Seeger handbill, and on copyrights of songs such as "Song of my Hands", etc would be ASBEL, not ASBELL.

Re some of the other bits of family info mentioned earlier- Bernie's children were (in chronological order!) Paul (me), Larry, Jonathan, and sister Jodi. Barbara has spoken of her meeting up with Jon in hoots and pickin' parties in the New Haven, CT area.

I would be VERY surprised (although pleasantly so!) to hear that Paul Robeson recorded the song, though he was certainly a very respected figure in our household. I owe my name to him, in fact!

Oh, yes- Barbara's info on my dad's writing career is all correct. Concerning her speculation re the "Isabella" book- it's a poignant topic, actually, because it was the piece of work that he had been chipping away on for years, alternately enthusing on the topic, then putting it down in frustration, or to do work on another more pressing assignment. It's kinda the "unfinished symphony" of his career, in a way... but I imagine we'll all have one or two of those when it's time to go.

Anyway- as Mark indicated, it's fascinating to think of how this song's legacy (which, truth be told, my father was NOT entirely enamored with) truly extends into the future, and continues to touch people's lives. I know he'd get a big kick out of that... and probably pitch a query to a publisher friend or tow about an article on the topic!

Regards-

Paul Asbell