Mac,

You are correct, sir. I really think that John is a musical genius. I've been able to watch him out on his (and my) beloved rivers over a bunch of years and most of the time, at least four fifths of the audience wasn't *his* audience---they were folks who had never heard of John Hartford and were just taking an excursion for a couple of days. But they rarely, if ever, left his shows for the comfort of sunny days on deck in a lounge chair. (Conversely, I often had to swallow my pride and be content to do my shows to an empty room and have the folks out on deck hear me through a stupid little 3-inch speaker.) You're makin' me want to give him a call right now to see how he's been feeling lately. I know he's been on tour more with a band (friends) as he has been ill in rectnt times. If any of you get to be around John, please give him and Marie my fondest regards and good wishes.

Art Thieme