I haven't seen Rod & Danny (always mentioned together, like us) for many years but I first heard him as a floor singer at Surbiton F/C about 1964- all there to hear Bob Davenport & the Rakes. I was a 'traddie' at the time, at a local college- I knew R & D ran a nearby folk club in Lingston, so was surprised when his offering at Surbiton was 'Norwegian Wood'
Anyway, I overcame my prejudices & went along to the 'Fighting Cocks' in that cold shed behind the pub around a rather inefficient woodstove in winter. It was a trad club, for sure, but with none of the rules & formality of others- like my own hometown club in South Shields- ;likee us, it also welcomed all of the great 'source' singers & of the time & I was quite at home.
    Rod once said I was the first person he ever saw playing
melodeon & he got himself one! His huge committment to the real music and later the songs of these islands sas the power behind histarted aIT skills enabled hi up the amazing resource which is the 'Musical Traditions' website.
   Always genial & keen for a tune, he became a great friend of our own band members, the Marsden Rattlers at the time- we sensed a kindred spirit who could recognise what was important in the music- we all owe a lot to Bob Davenport & the Rakes for that grounding, of course.
    Rod has made a vast contribution to traditional music- I don't need to list his achievments, but I remember those early musical days with him & Danny with great pleasure- so here's to you, Rod, sympathy to the family at a very sad time in your lives.

       from jim