Guest,

MARTY PIEFFER used to do "Madeira" all the time. He was pretty diabolical when he sang that one. A great bar entertainer. Moved west--New Mexico I think. Now works in the nuclear industry and still sings for his family. Does a bang-up job on Stan Rogers' song "The Idiot"---about a city guy who moves to the desert and works in a smokestack industry (like Marty did) but still, as a result, has his self respect and a family. I'd give anything to sit and sip Scotch and hear Marty at the Barbarossa again. Cindy Mangsen and Jim Craig too. It was a wonder of a time. Just a fantastic era---and by that I mean it was on a rather high fantasy level. I, too, am amazed we survived those years. Many didn't. But we sure made some fine music. A few still do.

Sandy,

I used to hang out at the Gate. Yes, it was more a listening room than any of the others. But so were Troubles and Holsteins I was under aged and sipped those dollar cokes at the Gate of Horn. The first time I ever heard you was at a Sunday afternoon Gate "HOOT" right after you'd returned from your England, Scotland trip where you recorded the Jeanie Robertson songs now on the great new trad collection on Folk Legacy. I remember you did a plug for your first LP on Elektra. I ordered it that summer in Evansville, Indiana and I still have it. No matter what you say, it's a fine one; a great bunch of songs. That was '59---right?

Were we ever that young????

Art Thieme