Sunday, August 1, 2021
/public-file/3052/Ultra/db54e13e-ac2e-4adc-b3cd-7ab2778fbf1f.jpg
As a young (12 or 13-year-old) banjo player, I met John first at "The Old Straw Hat" on Rt. 22 in New Jersey and then about 1966 at "Your Father's Mustache" in New York a couple of days after delivery of my first great banjo. He let me sit in for a couple of tunes that night and I marveled at his playing. There is a "break" in "Alabama Jubilee" that John played with Walt Pedersen and Walt taught me that I still use to this day!
I have often, actually since the early 1970s, wondered what ever happened to John. I had heard that he had been forced by illness to quit playing for awhile but had recovered and was still playing wonderful banjo. I am so sorry that a years-long search for him has ended with finding his obituary.
Please accept my most sincere condolences for your loss. John was a musical inspiration to me and many others.
