Don't know why I popped in here just now but I'm sure glad I did. I had never seen this thread either.

I was extremely fortunate in that I got to see Art on stage often enough that I was well aware how many times he told the same jokes and stories. But the great thing was, I never got tired of them even when I knew what the next line was going to be.

Art had a way with an audience and a way of presenting a song or story that let you know you were in the presence of the real deal. I've never given any thought to choosing a “favorite” song that Art did and if I did choose, I'm guessing my answer would be different every time I thought about it.

But I admire Art not only for his musicianship and stage manner (which he worked very hard to perfect) but also for his scholarship. Art always knows where a song comes from, how many ways it's been performed, the conditions under which it was written or simply evolved and values the song---in all it's permutations---far more than the accolades. It's that love of the song and of the story that has shone through Art's work all these many years.

Thank you Mr. Thieme.


      - Mark