I feel that Richard Dyer-Bennet's distiction between being a folksinger and a ministrel is perfectly said. As a teenager growing up with hours and hours standing in the "crook of the piano" while singing German "art songs", I certainly did NOT come anywhere close to the real hill folk. The closest I ever came was years later when, as a carpenter, I often built homes and woodshops for the hill people of Darrington, Washington. (USA). It was there I learned some of the songs and tales, but mostly how to dodge the fallout from the many moonshine stills! bob(deckman)nelson