I met Big Jim in 1969 when the late Alan Soares first brought me to the Tryworks Coffeehouse in New Bedford, MA. Jim was one of the leading performers there and his enthusiasm for traditional music was great even then. That he went on to forge such an impressive career playing the hammered dulcimer was a source of great wonder to his old Tryworks friends - we were there when he started! And that he made so many friends throughout the UK and Europe is a testament to his wonderful talent and personality. He was larger-than-life in every way and he made the world a better place with his music. Roll on, buddy.