It may have something to do with being a transplanted native of North Carolina, but after a few years as a Folkie in the 50's, I heard Lightnin' Hopkins across the dorm hall in 1962 and I experienced enlightenment! Problem was, virtually no one else then felt the same pull: recordings were scarce and players more so, but I picked up a bit here and there until Newport '68 and small tape recorders changed things. While helping a friend record a concert in 1968, I discovered that Son House was living at 61 Grieg Street, a few blocks from my prospective digs in Rochester's graduate program. He agreed to a visit provided I brought a pint of wine; as it turned out, smuggling it past his vigilant wife in the guitar case was nearer the truth! We played weekly for most of a year with plans to go on a tour he had lined up, but illness intervened. In my case, life did as well. Between kids, teaching and carpentry, with its many minor flesh wounds to hands, I took a 20 year break until I retired to the Mendocino Coast, met Ragtime Rick in Mendocino, and recovered my lost tunes along with quite a few new ones. We still play most weeks, and the Blues is still my musical home base!

Contact Chuck Greenberg: P.O. Box 490, Little River, CA, 95456; Phone 707-937-2418

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