I'm not exactly sure. When I was in college (the early 90's) I used to go to a good friend of mine's house (Mudcat's Pene Azul) every other week or so and play just about every song I knew and a few more in his basement. He has a great basement that is very much like a studio.

For some unknown reason, every night at the beginning of out Jams, I would say louldly into the microphone: "Welcome, welcome, welcome, to the Mudcat Cafe" I cannot remember why I said this, but it stuck, and the night, the place became known as simply "The Mudcat". It simply was and is about the most fun and the best feeling I can imagine, playing the music you love and touches you with your best friends in the world, your peers... I can't think of a better time.

So when it came time to express myself and my interests, it was a no-brainer. A year or so later it came time to incorporate and become non profit. The government knows us as "The Mudcat Cafe Music Foundation". Anyhow, I like it, and it sticks. We'll take it...

Hey Bill, what's you little one's name? I have a daughter Alexis who is 10. She loves Leadbelly...