LaMarka: Bill Cerri - wow! for both my wife and myself, the ultimate classical DJ; he absolutely loved what he did. My wife was listening when he went silent.... Sad, and scary, as it was, I think he went out doing the thing he loved best - may we all be so lucky! We still talk about him, particularly his wonderful impish sense of humor, and how he would occasionally - perhaps influenced by his brother - play Tom Paxton's "Monday Morning in Paradise" - on monday mornings, of course.. I never listen to that song w/out warm memories of him...

As to all groups having clique elements - of course that is so, it is always part of the spectrum of possible behaviors, but, being over 50, and having travelled and lived many places, including overseas, I still think this behavior is more prominant and less graciously counter-balanced in DC than anyplace I've lived. Even my sweet, ever-positive native midwestern social-worker wife was forced to agree with this conclusion... A sad commentary in a community with the wonderful racial and cultural diversity of the DC metroplex, not to mention the fact that in other respects, (and thanks to the hard work of many dedicated and truly outstanding people, such as Dick Cerri), DC is, I believe, the premier place in the USA for folk music. I miss the music and the cultural diversity...

We are now in the heart of Missouri.... Does any body know if there are song circles, house jams, etc, etc anywhere near Columbia, MO? I do have, and occasionally use, a copy of RUS - purchased in Silver Spring, MD. I'd even be willing to sing from it sometimes; I think of it as a useful resource. Years ago, I subscribed to Sing-Out!, so it's OK - long as folks don't get TOO dogmatic.... But I almost always disagree w/their chords...

anyway, cheers, BK