Joe helped Calennig with our first American tour, through his friendship with the promoter Bud Manning; Bud lived in the centre of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, then moved out 40 miles away to Stowe PA. Pat and I toured America a score of times, from Arizona, Texas and Illinois to New England, Carolina and Virginia, and we are always grateful to Joe for his friendship and consideration.
   
Joe also recorded my debut LP, 'Gowerton Fair', for his record label Sweet Folk All, and hired two session musicians - Paul Downes and Phil Beer! Two members of our band Swansea Jack, Mike James (melodeon) and Peter Davies (oboe) were also session musicians. Joe was no slouch, and chivvied us along; 'Gowerton Fair' was recorded in one day (and it sounds like it!) - but I still treasure it, after all these years.

Joe had renamed his label Greenwich Village, and invited Calennig to record our first album, 'Songs And Tunes From South Wales' - in Leader Studios, with Bill Leader! Joe even released our second album, 'You Can Take A White Horse Anywhere'. The Folk World might consider him to be a Marmite entertainer, but he gave impressive and enlightened talks on his heroes, Pete Seeger and Paul Robeson, and his greatest love of all, shanties and tall ships. He sang with Kimber's Men, and his lecture (and CD), 'Valparaiso Round The Horn', met with critical acclaim. Joe was so much more than just another folk singer; he even stood for Parliament in the Calder Valley by-election!

Sincere condolences to his wife Nora and his family; the folk world will never see his like again.