TJ in San Diego,

Thanks for those insights into the background of a great singer. His style, especially when it was just him (or him and Mary) with their guitars--was my idea of what a folksinger ought to sound like and be like. He always sang for the song.

I did a workshop at a festival with Jim Ringer and Robin Williams---all story songs of trains and hobos etc. Jim started by talking about his time riding freights--and then it was my turn. I mentioned that in 1962 me and Mike Sideman were going to hitchhike out of Chicago heading for California. As the date got closer, we lost more and more of our nerve. Eventually, we just opted to take Mike's Porsche. When I said that, Jim just ERUPTED!! He thought it was the funniest thing he'd ever heard. All the way through my songs that day I'd hear Jim trying to control himself, but it usually turned into quit chortles in the background. After that I just told jokes so whenever Jim would be laughing it fit with what I was doing. It was a great workshop--or so it turned out.

When it was time for a song from Jim, he chose to tell about a time he and some guys were going out to catch one on the fly, and a buddy of theirs decided to go along as he was on vacation from one corporate job or another. About a day east of where the had caught the train, that fellow decided he wasn't enjoying himself at all. So he jumped off in the next larger town they went through.

Later, Jim saw the guy on the street somewhere and asked him about how the rest of his trip was going!?    The fellow told Jim that it had gone just fine!! He caught a cab to the airport---where he used his CREDIT CARD to fly home...

Jim saw a quite hilarious parallel between Mike and me taking the Porsche and the guy using his credit card.-----I figured I'd better get on board and enjoy the jokes too!

A fine time was had by all!

Jim Ringer's Folk Legacy LP for Sandy was the best album Mr. Ringer ever made I think.

And his doing of CALIFORNIA JOE is just about my all time favorite song ever--anywhere---any time!

And Mike Sideman, who I mentioned earlier in this post, became a lawyer (one of the decent ones) right there in your own city of San Diego for several decades -- until he retired a few years back. --- Mike and I had a good adventure that 1962 summer---discovering Steinbeck country---Big Sur -- and eventually we took a bus 2,400 miles from El Paso-Juarez to Mexico City and back.

All you kids listening in to this, get out there and do it when youth is on ya and you've got the drems, the romance and the energy. No matter how New Age you get, old age will kick your butt.

Love,

Art Thieme