When I first started singing and tale tellin' on the JBS it was because John H. was on board as pilot that week and the TV show Good Morning America was doing a segment on John and his connection to steamboats and rivers. The ABC TV crew had left their car at the Starved Rock Lock and Dam. John knew I lived in Peru, Illinois and he called me from the pilot house to get me to drive the TV crew's car to the town of Henry, Illinois so they'd have a way back to Chicago. (I got $50.00 for doing that.) While waiting for the boat to land at Henry I gave my business card to the "luggage babe" as she was called on that boat. (She took passengers luggage in a van to the lodge where they stayed overnight.) I told her I was a folksinger grounded in history of rivers and the U.S.A. in general. She gave my card to DENNY TRONE, her boss and owner of the steamboat. He called me a week later to do a few trips. That led to work for all the next year (5 months worth).--------And then they moved from the Illinois River to the Mississippi River to base out of LeClaire, Iowa. Also built THE TWILIGHT-----another fine boat---this time a diesel/electric. As I've said, I did those gigs for the next 8 years. Steady work for a folksinger. Pretty rare. Best job I ever had.

For years before moving to the Mississippi, the JBS ran from Peoria, Illinois to the Starved Rock Lodge near Utica, Illinois. Our town----Peru---is right on the Illinois River too. Their excursion trips were 2-day trips. Took a day to get from Peoria to St.Rock---stay at the lodge that night---and back the 2nd day. "DENNY" in this song is Dennis Trone---the man who designed and built the Julia Belle Swain. "Moon" in the song refers to Moon Trone---- a fine fellow and the late brother of Dennis. Moon was a States Attorney (I believe) of Sangamon County, Illinois for many years. There are legendary tales about both of these great fellows on the Sangamon River and near New Salem, Illinois where Abe Lincoln hung out. The Julia Belle had to be sold a few years back (competition from gambling boats---a sad episode) but THE TWILIGHT is still taking passengers between LeClaire, Iowa (where I-80 crosses the Mississippi River) and the Chestnut Mountain Lodge near Galena, Illinois. For a truly relaxing 2-day getaway without gambling call River Cruises --- 1-800-331-1467 or e-mail -- twilight@galenalink.net Ask for their brochure.

Art Thieme
(The rest of those mentioned in the song were Peoria folks and crew members from that era when John Hartford wrote the song -- almost 15 or 20 years ago.)