This bio will probably be the only one from a non-participant...as I indicated on an earlier thread, I 'play' vinyl (prefered), tapes, CDs, and radio.

I was born in LA and lived in So. Cal. all my life save one year. This fall I reach the big six-oh...my body feels older but my mind is still 20 something, maybe less.

Always liked cowboy music; introduced to folksong in grammar school and the early Weavers. Really got interested while in junior college about 1958. Became friends with a guy who liked old-timey music and got me beyond the Kingston Trio and Weavers.

My tastes are eclectic ranging from blues to Israeli, from bluegrass to Celtic, calypso to protest songs and almost everything in between. Some of my personal favorites are (aside from the obvious) Terrea Lea (owned a coffee house and was the featured entertainer), the Travelers 3 (popularizers with a distinctive sound), Bud & Travis (really strong on Spanish language songs), Barbara Dane and Judy Henske.

From the early 70s until the mid 80s did not much follow folk music. Then the bug hit again and in the last 6-7 years have added extensively to my music library. I tape various significantly different versions of songs for comparison and car listening. I really enjoy the comparitive folklore aspect of this music

Neither Mrs. John (Joy), nor our only child share my interest in folk music, and in a way that's somewhat nice as it sets me apart from them in such a slight way.

For the mundane part, I am a sales rep. for a local distributor. My other major interests are ancient Near Eastern History and stamp collecting.---John