A big influence was a country station in Hoboken, NJ (it's not there anymore), that featured an hour of the Grand Ole Opry every Saturday night, where I first heard the Crook Brothers and realized what you can do with a harmonica. They also had a DJ named Lee Arnold on weeknights who didn't have to follow the top-40 format and played a lot of good music from the 40's and 50's. It was on his show that I first heard Grandpa Jones. I had dreams of becoming a C&W singer/guitar player in the manner of Buck Owens or George Jones (I have the same flat top haircut that they gave up), but that Grandpa Jones recording (Daisy Dean) changed my whole outlook on things. As soon as I had the money, I bought a banjo, and I've never regretted it. Other influences: Stringbean and Hobart Smith for the banjo, Dr. Humphrey Bate for the harmonica. Wilf Carter for singing (I don't sound like him, but I like his smooth style).

And in person, Hank Sapoznik and Ray Alden for showing me how to play clawhammer style.