"So the story related by Jim is a total misrepresentation of what actually happened and Jim has repeated this fallacy many times. "
A damn sight more accurate than most of the stories told my MacColl
I repeat the story as I read it in The Irish Times
I don't know whether Bikel and Zimmerman (real name!!) ever met, but in essence - he had to be persuaded to go to take part in the events he was building his career singing about
Would that stories such as this all be even handed and fair I really wouldn't bother - let's face it, they took place in the dim and distance past
At least Zimmermann is still around to put his side


"I can't get that exercised over whether there are fewer folk clubs today than 50 years ago when I wasn't alive. There are enough ot them now to occupy my time"
Too "Ding-ding - I'm on the bus" for me I'm afraid Matt
As things stand with the present numbers, I seean increase in clubs as the only way to guarantee a continuation of folk songs as a participatory activity rather than passive entertainment
Survial depends on new singers who don't necessarily see themselves as superstars - and new enthusiasts willing to organise and research   
Some of our best researchers came through the clubs, Vic Gammon, Roy Palmer and Bob Thomson spring to mind
When that stops the songs willl be confibed to the locked cupboards
Jim
(sory if this is full of typos, as usual - I ***** hate unfamiliar compuers and this hotel doesn't seem to go in for a aplellcheck)