Joe

Sorry to 'Rave On' but as ever you have made me think.

A good example of how the community has changed can be shown by using groups like Steeleye Span and Fairport Convention. I have been away and have come back to the scene as it were. When I was first involved, groups like these were considered by the folk establishment as 'young upstarts' and their music close to heresy. When I returned to active involvement after 20 years or so, I was amazed to find that these groups were now considered as the very model of tradition itself (and also considered by some in the U.S., to be Celtic!, but that's another story and yet another label).

I think it would be fair to state that in their earliest line ups, that Buddy Holly (and his Strat) were more of an influence to Fairport Convention that the English Tradition.

As for Frank in NJ (a warm welcome to you both) singing Buddy Holly songs in their style, being a parody of both styles. It depends on this concept that some people have, of validity or the 'real thing', if you don't have that and the song works musically (which is all I am interested in and Frank too by the sound of it) then there is nothing to parody. But I do see your point.

The fact that 'Rave On' will always be associated with it's author, Buddy Holly, has more to do with efforts of his publishers and the executors of his estate, than it does to it's suitability for inclusion in the tradition.

This is all good stuff though and I would still be interested in the answers to the questions, 1, 2, 3 and 4, in the first posting.

Frank in NJ

The answer is 42, it is indeed the question that is the problem. Just keep on what you are doing and in time, you too will be considered the very model of the tradition. (*smiles*).

The (recalcitrant) Shambles.