I was visiting my old friend, Gordon Bok, in 1969, and he casually mentioned that Pete Seeger was coming by to visit. Everyone knows that he is one of my few heroes, so I hung around.
We three had a wonderful evening swapping songs and stories. I've mentioned before that Pete gave me my first banjo lesson.
When I sang "Lorena", he remarked, "I'd forgotten how lovely that song is, thanks for giving it back." I walked 3 feet above the pavement for some time after that!

Later on the sloop "Clear water" came into Portland harbor, and the crew put on a concert at the Expo building. Pete was having trouble with his voice so I went out and found some lozenges for him. Somehow, he got through the night. My girls were quite impressed that they got to meet Pete Seeger.
At a folk festival in 1977 I met Dave Mallett. Man, what a song writer. I also love to hear him play guitar. At the time, I had a 1956 Gibson J-45, and every time Dave stopped by, he would ask to play that old thing. He loved it. I told him that when I "Snuff it" it's his.
Don't know if he believed me or not, but I meant it.
Some years later, he called and said he was coming through Scarborough and did I want to meet for lunch.
It's always a pleasure to visit with Dave, so I said yes.
I met him at a local restaurant and I handed him the guitar. He looked some surprised and he wanted to know why I was giving it to him, so I told him that this was the only way I could be sure he would get it when I cash in.
Quickly, he said "Are you alright"? I told him, yes, but I just thought he would get more out of it than I do.
He was quite relieved and said, "Hell, man, I was afraid you had gotten a bad Pap smear!

Two years ago at a private party, Dan Schatz, Jacqui and I had a thought about making a memorial recording in memory of my deceased pal, Utah Phillips. Actually, it was Dan's idea, but it sounded good to Jacqui and me, so we started to work on it. Actually, Dan and Jacqui did most of the work. Jacqui asked Gordon Bok if he would be interested and he said he would.
All I did from then was to contact Pete Seeger hoping he would join us. He wrote a song just for Utah because most of his work is copyrighted. Picture this, later in the project, I was talking to Pete and he told me he had finished the song he was offering, and he sang it to me ON THE Phone! What a treat.

Then I called Tom Paxton and he said he would do anything for Utah, and off we went.

None of us expected this CD set of two discs would be nominated for a Grammy, but it was. We didn't win, but it sure is a nice feeling to be nominated.

Because I chose to do something with my love of music, I have been able to travel all over the USA, and to the UK where I have met so many great people. Joe Terrault, "Jets" told me about Mudcat, and it is one of my most favorite things in the world. Joe died a few years ago, but I won't forget him.
Through Mudcat, I have met so many wonderful people, including Jacqui
my gratitude for Max is boundless.
You are all aces in my book.

As Porky Pig would say thats all folks.