It was about 30 years ago at the Getaway - Camp Letts, just across the river from where we hold it now. Dick Greenhaus was there with a computer, which unheard of at our rustic retreat until this time. Until this point, lots of folks kept big notebooks of songs. He and a couple of others had decided to type theirs into their computers, combining them into something they called "The Digital Tradition." It already had over 500 songs in it, including traditional songs, parodies, and others. Dick said he'd give it away to anyone who could supply the two 5 1/4" floppy disks needed to hold it - which I did by mail. Later on I gave Dick all the songs I'd ever typed in, and he added them. Years passed, and the Digital Tradition found a home on Mudcat. I still use it at least once a month, and very often, if I'm looking for a lyric on Google, I'll find it right here, with a little "RG" at the bottom to indicate is was one of the ones Dick typed in himself.

Later Dick took his passions to CAMSCO Music, which released a few great albums and books, and sold many hundreds and thousands of them. I doubt he ever made any money at that - it was a labor of love for him.

Dick could be kind, complimentary, sometimes caustic but nearly always right, and he was a good friend who supported the music and musicians in equal measure.

As I sit and reflect on the Dick I knew through the years, a few images come to mind - Dick at that computer all that time ago, showing off the Digital Tradition (with his son Charlie juggling somewhere in the background), Dick standing at the CAMSCO table, making a suggestion for a CD or a book that I'd do well to pay attention to, Dick in my living room with his beat up Apollonio parlor guitar, singing "We Never Mention Aunt Clara."

There are relatively few people that you can legitimately say were at the core of starting a global community, but Dick really was at the foundation of ours. He leaves a gap that will never be filled, and a gift that will never be lost.

Thank you Dick. Rest in peace, old friend.

And thank you Susan for sharing the love, the music, and the caring that Dick brought to us. As great as our loss is, yours is greater, and you are on my heart very much today.

Dan