To whom it may concern:

Alex Campbell was ...

A supreme entertainer who established instant rapport with audiences of all kinds, from infants to pensioners, from folk fanatics to complete newcomers to the music.

A magnificent interpreter of songs, who could make the familar seem fresh, and the obscure become accessible ... an alchemist whose magic touch could turn any material into gold.

A great educator, who usually introduced songs with a brief reference to the sources he got them from, and thereby alerted audiences to singers like Jeannie Robertson, Jimmie MacBeath, Jesse Fuller or Reverend Gary Davis, whom they might otherwise never have encountered.

An under-rated musician, who never sought to dazzle audiences with his instrumental technique, but simply used it unobtrusively to support his songs.

A marvellous teller of tales, whose stories could make you laugh, make you cry, and make you think - sometimes all three at the same time.

A warm-hearted and generous friend, for whom everyone he'd ever met was special - now gone from among us, but not forgotten.

None of the recordings I've heard have managed to capture the magic of Alex's best live performances. Even so, there must be enough good material available for someone to put together a CD, or perhaps even a boxed set with commemorative booklet. And judging by the response to this thread, there should be a market for it.

Musical entrepreneurs, where are you when we need you?

Wassail!