Jean Ritchie has been a very inspirational person in my life.
I'm from West Virginia and I play the Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer.
I met Jean and her husband George in Santa Cruz when she was an artist in residence at UCSC. I had been to a few Pacific Rim Dulcimer Gatherings and gave her a redwood carving from one of the posters. I attended her workshops and concerts and learned to perform many of her songs on guitar and dulcimer. Her songwriting is just fantastic and says so much so simply and real. Thru the years I've been in touch with Jean and she would take the time to email and encourage me to play her songs Bluegrassy!
She is in my thoughts and prayers. She is my Dulcimer Queen.
She's our National Music Treasure.