My father died before I was born but bequeathed to me an original 1929 copy of Carl Sandburg's "American Songbag". I poured over it and I still have it.

When I was a kid, I sang "Streets of Laredo" at a YMCA summer campfire.

I was introduced to many of the people who I was fortunate enough to hear live.
Cisco Houston, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Odetta and more.

In 1949 or 50, I was invited to the home of Will Geer in Santa Monica, California, and on that evening I heard for the first time Pete Seeger in the living room and sparks were coming out of his fingers. I met Cisco, Fred Hellerman, I think Ronnie was there.

I met Bess Lomax Hawes, Matty and Mickey Miller, Guy Carawan, Rich Dehr and Frank Miller, all these folks at one time. Later, Odetta, a friend, Derroll Adams, another friend..................well environment plays an important part in the folk music.........just being around the tremendously talented people who do it in person.

I saw the movie "Smoky" with Burl Ives and became a fan.

I think the very first thing was when my step-father sang me a song he learned while he was hopping freight cars in the Depression called "The Tennessee Blues"
which I have never heard anyone sing before or since.