I had the privilege of working in the Fish Collection within in the Scripps Aquarium building (we called it the "Green Zoo" then) with Sam (in 1957-58). At lunch time he would often play his guitar and/or sing songs for us: Carr, Dorothy, Dick, and me.

I remember various meetings with Sam & Leslie and I even went to the first organizational meeting of the San Diego Folk Song Society because of Sam. He was my first inspiration to do folk songs (before I knew of Pete Seeger) and all my children grew up hearing and singing songs from his various Folkways albums while growing up. They each had their favorites. As a zoologist, I wrote additional and alternative verses to "It's a Long Way to Amphioxus" and also my own (Chinese restaurant) version of "Whoever Shall Have Some Good Peanuts."

As a harmonica teacher for 14 years, and straight harp player, I can say without hesitation that Sam IS the greatest straight harp player I've ever heard! He most likely was the greatest in the world. I have only two regrets: I wish I had had Sam's recent "Master of the Solo Diatonic Harmonica" 2-disc album to offer my students when I was teaching harp; and the other regret is that I didn't get up to visit Sam in Albany before he died.

Thanks for your life, Sam, I feel deeply privileged and blessed to have known you. And, with 2000 songs to teach them, I'm sure that the angels in Heaven are hearing a different kind of harp music and singing now.