| Influences |
I grew up listening to lots of Woody Guthrie, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, The Stanley Brothers, The Carter Family, Leadbelly, Charlie Patton, The New Lost City Ramblers, Bill Monroe and any number of country blues artists recorded to 78 rpm. I return to these “old friends” again and again. Theirs is the “pure stream” from which I never tire of drinking.
I grew older listening to Stormin’ Norman Blake, Tony Rice, Peter Rowan, Bob Dylan, Tim O’Brien, John Hartford, Alan Freeman, Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks and Jerry Garcia. Each was always fun to listen to and fun to study. Each always impressed me with how committed they were to a style of music and to a style of presentation.
Now, I find I enjoy listening to the young Turks like Dan Tyminski, David Grier, Mike Compton, David Rawlings, Devil in the Woodpile, Steve Earle, Ann and Phil Case, Sam Bush and Andru Bemis. They make all things old new again. This miserable, wicked world is a better place because of their efforts. |
