The first songs I recall loving were many that I sang while being part of a church choir in the 1950s. Then along came "On Top of Old Smoky" and "Goodnight, Irene." Many of the trios from the 1950s did pop music that involved dynamite harmonies, and I have always loved harmony work. My grandfather played piano, harmonica and sang. He had what I thought at the time was a beautiful voice, and he passed his love of church music on to me. Folk music to me is not something that has to be two hundred years old. Grampy knew some folks songs like "Red River Valley" and he did a rendition of "Shenandoah" that I can still remember from fifty years ago. It was beyond beautiful.

What got me 'hooked' on folk musi was the ease with which they told stories and allowed for many people to sing together. And the melodies were of a kind also: pretty, facile and touching. Even to this day my 'definition' of folk music means the songs have to incorporate those qualities and attributes.