circa '69----in DC at a rally, hanging out pickin' and singin' at duPont Circle and Rock Creek Park. Someone said we oughta' go to some club or another and "catch this chick with a GREAT voice"...we did...loved her...a few years later so did everyone else---Roberta Flack.

Told this one before...early 70's, Hindmann Settlement School, Hindmann, KY. We were part of the weekend program which featured Jean Ritchie. Sitting backstage listening to her sing "Dear Companion" for the umpteenth hundred time, I realized that it was like hearing it for the first. Outdoor stage, mountains all 'round, just a few miles from her family home in Viper......just simply magic. Much greatness in her common touch...the classiest of artists.

I lived in Nashville for about 4 years and the best thing was that in the main, the "stars" were just nice, plain folks. Another couple and myself had bought a home on Old Hickory (nothing "hinky or kinky" here-just the best of friends pooling their resources). You turned at Twitty City, drove past Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash homes about half a mile to ours. Tour buses turned in our driveway. Always had the feeling the guy on the bus was saying, "We're turning around here at the home of a complete nobody and total asshole." Anyway, stars played softball in Hendersonville's league, shopped at Kroger, as I said...folks. One evening I'm at the mall in J.C.Penney and the guy shopping for shirts next to me starts asking whether I think these are still decent pullovers. I didn't look over at first and we talked shirts for a minute or so before I turned to see it was Ricky Skaggs, starting toward the top about then. We each bought a couple and he said to come down and see him, skip the cover, he'd leave our name. When we did a week or so later I was surprised that he actually remembered who I was...asked from the stage if I was happy with the shirts, said he was (both of us were wearing one). Nice evening...he is of course a great picker! That's been about 15 years ago and every time I see him on the tube, I wonder if he still goes to JCP.

catspaw