I have many memories of Dick.

Dick will probably always be the first person that comes to my mind and my personal reference-standard for the instrumentalist and singer that I never want to be or to become. But he had many redeeming qualities and his knowledge and enthusiasm was always clear and substantial. Dick not only knew many songs but he knew the history of many songs and he never lost his passion for music.

Dick had the worst sounding Hurdy-Gurdy I have ever heard. I was remarking to someone only a month ago that there is a lot of beautiful Hurdy-Gurdy music; but I added that Dick's instrument was an exception which should be avoided at most any cost.

Dicks fiddle playing was hard to cope with. Dick once remarked to me that "you play a lot of notes and every so often you hit a note that is right on and it sounds really good." Dick was sincere when he spoke those words and I had to bite my tongue almost literally to avoid laughing.

My exposure to Dick's singing and playing is the most prominent reason why I have always been shy about playing my music around other people: I never want to even come close to annoying people through off-key playing the way that he did.

A few odd recollections about Dick include that he at one time in the early 1970's ran for Congress; albeit briefly.

Dick had a remarkable knowledge of American history which I at times found very interesting and on occasion I would ask him questions about history because I knew that he would have good answers to provide.

I will think of Dick often in the future.

-E