John,
Thanks for getting on the WEB. I think many people will enjoy the site and be able to follow your career more closely.
This will be one of the most visited music sites, once it catches on.
I so love your "kinder and gentler" moments on the banjo.

I think John is much more popular than even he knows. I could be wrong, but I have a hunch--there may be more people like me: I have been to only one of his concerts -- at Wolftrap ages ago. I have only 2 CDs. We don't hear him played much on the radio. We really know very little about the man and his career. But this We do know: John Hartford has something unique and special in his music.

WE hope your web-site reaches more people like us. We don't go to festivals, we don't even pretend to be great musicians, but we do love the Banjo and would like to know more about, and be able to play closer to, John's style. We love bluegrass, we respect Earl, and started playing because we heard the magic of the Banjo & felt--that's for me! I shall never forget the first time I heard Ben Eldridge--unbelievable. Thanks Ben!

And we've heard John: Aura Lea; Lorena; Sweet Sunny South; and a 3rd-generation tape loaned by a friend with the comment "ya, gotta hear this"--civil war stuff. Who's playing that? Hartford! What key is he in? E! E? How? Tune it down, etc. etc. etc.

We (are there more than me? I really believe so) want more of John. We want to be able to struggle with tabs that are close enough to get us close enough. We have found that it is difficult to get tabs. So we listen & try to get it, but even on John's "kinder and gentler" songs, it is just not possible. So we find one tab--Sweet Sunny South via Harold Streeter via Banjo Newsletter. Breakthrough!!! We can play it--not like John, impossible, but close enough.

I hope the web-site can become a place where many of John's unknown friends can meet and say hello to John and to one another. John! David! Am I alone or do you think there really is a WE out there? Are you out there folks?

Thank you.
Stumbling across this site (via the note on the Bluegrasss newsgroup) is the highlight of over a year of internet sleuthing.

William H. Smith
Washington, DC

Hi,
Please add me to the John Hatford mailing list. I am and have been for years a big John Harford fan and was delighted to find this web page. I did see John last night at The Ryman for the Courtney Johnson benefit, and as usual John was fabulous. I really enjoyed the new tune "Cross-Eyed Child". It was a stirring moment. Well, it's off tomorrow to Owensboro and I'm lucky enough to be able to see John perform again, that is if we can hold off the rain. Year before last year, John had a hard time getting in his set at FanFest due to Owensboro's infamous rain showers so nothing is for certain except, if John's there, I'll be there.

Later

Nelson Hopwood
Music Fan on the Banks of the Ohio

Hi John!
Your web page looks great! I missed seeing you at Owensboro this year.
Well, I hope to see you soon, I'll keep watch over your web page for concert dates.
By the way, do you really play fiddle while surfing on the Ohio river??? Cool.
Take Care.
Dave Dick
Paula Saucier

Hi! Just saw John a couple weeks ago in Berkeley. Great show! Loved the Bill Monroe set. By all means, keep me posted. Any chance I get for a vacation, I love to make it a bluegrass one. I hope John plays at Telluride this year!
Peace
Bill Taylor

I do love the website. My wife and I spent a good bit of time with it. The best part was finding out that John was headed this way. Nov 16th. Cherry Hill NJ is about 30 minutes where I live, New Castle DE. Perhaps I'll shout out "Natchez Whistle" and then frantically try and remember what John does. He's NOT your typical picker. I guess that what got our attention almost 30 years ago. God I'm old!!

Who knows how many folks working this site have heard from me, but it is the perfect place to be for a John Hartford fan.
At the age of 42 I finally got around to buying a banjo. I bought a Deering Sierra, had it one day, took it back for adjustments, picked up a "Hartford" and fell in love. This banjo is beauty, grace and magic all in one.
I gave the Sierra back. Now, as a 30 year fan, I'm dying to learn a few Hartford songs. The one I love the most, (at least right now) is "Old Time River Men".

warm regards,
James Eoppolo

John, Just checked out your Web page and it sure looks good. They did a great job! I enjoyed your class this Summer at Augusta and hope to see you somewhere next year.
Take care,
Carl Yaffey, Columbus, OH
Banjo player for One Riot One Ranger, independent software developer.

Mr. Hartford,
I was a teenager when I accidentally ordered your "Aeroplain" album from the record club. I thought the cover looked cool. I played the first song and thought I had wasted my money, but I played it again later that day and was hooked! Although I listen mainly to Rock Music, I have become a real fan of your music. I am very glad to see that I will be able to complete my collection of your CDs when you get the order page complete.
Thanks for the many smiles, the Steamboat Education, and showing us that music is a lot of fun!
Keep making music for us!
Steve Hastings
Native Texan

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