Posted by Tom Jensen on March 25, 103 at 12:23:28:
In Reply to: not missing a beat posted by DEBRA.WILFORD@CO.HENNEPIN.MN.US on February 06, 103 at 12:09:36:
I saw John play a lot over the years, most of the time in Minnesota. I remember the Guthrie concert that I believe you are talking about because he could use the who theater as his stage, wandering from bottom to top and through the halls and then back down again.
I always imagined him playing that venue again and wandering up and down those halls and aisles playing "Steam Powered Aereo Plane".
For an indoor concert setting, the Guthrie was a perfect place for someone like John to play. But I believe he was at his best at those outdoor venues where you could almost not have to plug-in to do a gig.
I remember seeing John on Campbell's show and the Smother Brothers show when I was young. And I know that he and Mason Williams used to do a lot of work on those shows. But I didn't know until Steve Martin hit it big that he played on the Campbell show with those "pretty fair good ole boys" and wrote for the show too. It was an amazing group and all the more amazing that John stayed so true to himself and became even more committed to the players who inspired him.
I know what you mean about respecting his abilities. He was one of the best music historians I ever talked to and had the gift for passing these stories on to others, even people like me. I was also really grateful to him for introducing me to other fine players, young, old, and no longer with us--from Ed Haley or Gene Goforth to Bob Carlin, Mike Compton, Larry Perkins, and Chris Sharp.
Anyway, the Guthrie comment brough back some nice memories for me. Sorry it took so long to get to it but these days you have to wade through a lot of spam to find the nuggets.
Thanks.