Not many women responding, and those that have haven't mentioned many women. You didn't mention any, Margret.. There have been women folk singers who I greatly admire, some of whom I'm have the pleasure to know and even sing with. Among them, Jean Ritchie, Almeda Riddle, Sally Rogers, Caroline Paton, Lui Collins, Jean Redpath, Helen Schneyer, Cathy Barton,Dallas Cline, Lorraine Bennett... should I go on? While I love their music, they haven't been a strong influence on mine. Of this list, the two that would be the closest to an influence would be Jean Ritchie and Almeda. I admire them enormously as musicians and people. Like many of us, the Carter Family was a major influence on me, but not just because of Mother Maybelle. It was the whole package... the honesty, the plain-spokenness, the guitar style, and most of all, the songs. I had the great pleasure of spending a weekend at a festival getting to know Janette Carter, who is one of the most delightful people I've ever met.

Funny, I never even thought of this as a male/female thing...

Male singers who have not been a major influence on my music include some of my very best, longest known friends of my life, whose friendship I treasure: Art Thieme, Gordon Bok, Jim Bean (who I think of as Jim and Cindy Bean as they are inseparable and could have as easily been included in the women singers, Dave Para, Pat Conte, Luke Faust... should I go on?

I'm not sure what the point is that you're making, Margret. Howzabout some of your influences?

Jerry