Posted by Kris Garnjost on June 11, 101 at 17:55:00:
I've been a fan of John Hartford since I remember seeing him stoicly picking the banjo in the opening of the Glen Campbell show. I became a really big fan when I got reaquainted with his music in 1978 when I spent couple of seasons working on the Delta Queen. John's music captured the river and steamboating like nothing else. I was lucky enough to really know the Mississippi Dew and Kentucky Pool and that old engineer guy in "Let Him Go On Buddy."
Seeing him perform was only the icing on the cake. Seeing him in the Texas Lounge of the Delta Queen was heaven on earth. I saw him many more times after that and loved him even more.
In 1995 I had the privilage to interview him for the Washington Times newspaper before he came to DC to do a show. I can't tell you how great it was to chat about steamboating, music, special bends in the river, and old river pilots like Rip Ware, Fred Way, and Harry Louden. Naturally he was telling most of the stories, but I got in a good one about Harry Louden and a female pilot named Lexi Palimore. I don't know what else to say but that it was too cool to be treated like friend by such a special man.
Soon after we talked for the story, I saw him perform at Cinncinati's Tall Stacks Steamboat Festival. I caught his last show at a little stage on the serpentine wall on the river bank. Steamboats were sliding up and down the river in the dark behind him. I was there for my own enjoyment, but I also thought some comments from the audience might add to my story for the Washington Times. There weren't to many people there, maybe 25 or 30. It was late for an all-day outdoor festival like this. Plus there was some pop or country headliner playing on the mainstage down the river. One man I spoke to seemed sum things all up. He said, "I don't know who he is, but when I heard him playing I had to stop."
I don't know what about John's passing makes me personally the saddest. Certainly it is too bad he won't be recording anymore new or old music in his special way. I'm sad that I won't get to see him play and dance. I will always remember how he seemed to make direct eye contact with each member of the audience individually at some point in the show. His eye would twinkle and it seemed like he was ready to wink at you like you were in on the inside joke. I will miss all of that. But I think the think that make me the sadest is that my 7 year old daughter, who loves to dance to "The Speed of the Old Long Bow," will never get to see John play and dance. And he will never get to see her dance to it. I'm sure it would have made him smile.
Good bye Mr. Hartford, you will always be a part of my life and memories. Thank you so much.