This is such a shock to me too. I have so many vivid memories from long ago and musical times shared with friends. Apart from everything he achieved solo and supporting others, I will forever hear the Teesside Fettlers live choruses enhanced by Johnny's voice - pure gold on diamond gems. Memories of a wonderful lightning dash from Loughborough Festival just to sing and dance with them at a ceilidh in London and then back to Loughborough again because that's what friends did then! A hilarious lesson in rapper sword dancing at Chippenham once. So many moments of smiles and joy in singing and listening. Some things will live forever in the memory banks of those of us privileged to have been there.   Such wonderful sleeve notes on his albums acknowledging completely his sources and influences. The delight on old Sussex singer George Belton's face to hear Johnny "do" HIS song live and on record. Too many moments to capture while the tears are so new.

I hadn't seen JC in nearly thirty years until I went to Herga folk club a couple of years ago and it was as though the same conversations were continuing without a break and the same feed lines - "Hey ... who was that guy with the lads years ago who had such an individual style of calling square dances"....well it was Walt Tingle we remembered then and you're both in another place now and hopefully chewing the fat about those precious times for real.

My heart bleeds at the loss of such presence for Joyce, his family and friends and fellow singers and musicians.   A true gentleman.

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