Posted by Joe Nobiling on June 11, 101 at 08:21:10:
First saw John performing with Vasser Clements and Norman Blake in Iowa City, Iowa back about 1975. The real thrill was being able to go to a house jam after the show. I didn't know many bluegrass tunes being primarily a folk guitarist, but I was studying music at a college in the Quad Cities and takin' guitar lessons from a teacher in Chicago. Vasser was jammin' with everyone in the living room, I was there tryin' my best to keep up. Vasser looked at me and I asked him if he knew Stevie Wonder's "Sunshine of My Life". He said something like, "Go ahead." Not really indicatin' he was sure of it or not, I didn't doubt he could play along. John was in the kitchen talkin' with an adorin' fan. I remember when I started singin' the tune, John comin' in, put his fiddle up under his chin, and winked at me and started playin'. It was a wonderful few moments. Unfortunately the majority of the other jammers bein' bluegrassers didn't know the tune, my choice was a poor one as the chord changes were complex. Still wet behind the ears I guess I was. But afterward I asked John how come he never recorded "Gentle On My Mind." He never replied just had this kind of sad look on his countenance or maybe it was a thought of something like "Hmm, maybe I should." But I'll be if not too much time had passed and "Gentle On My Mind" showed up on a future recording. I'm sure glad he did record it. It's such a great song. I'm even gladder he wrote it. His fiddle playing has delighted myself and my family for years. We always remember "Boogie" "Dancin' In the Bathtub" and so many of his wonderful, humorous glimpses of John's creative genius. Now bein' a fiddler, John's been a model of mine for years. Now if I can just get my feet to move like his...I'd really have an act!
Joe Nobiling