Topic starter
25/03/2010 3:28 pm
Good morning everyone.
I hope this finds you all doing well.
My name is Chris Sharp and I was a member of the John Hartford Stringband for the last 4 years of John's life. While with John I was fortunate enough to visit several steamboats and even got to steer the Julia Belle Swain for a short distance. What a thrill!!
One of John's last bands got together in the summer and after several months of planning, recording, and production the John Hartford Stringband is now in the process of being manufactured. It will start to ship from my place on or before April 1st.
The John Hartford Stringband - Memories Of John CD includes many songs that John had written for a project that he was never able to record, some Hartford standards, songs he enjoyed performing, and some very rare demos, by John himself, that have been stored since the mid 1960's.
The CD includes: "The Delta Queen Waltz" and "MISIP"
Recently we launched the new website. Here you can see pictures of recording sessions, listen to audio clips, or learn more about the project.
Memories of John: The John Hartford Stringband
There is also a video on YouTube featuring the CD and I've included a couple of pics of steamboats. (one is a popular pic of John steering)
YouTube - The John Hartford Stringband - Memories Of John
Pre-Order is available and, as stated above, orders will ship on or before April 1st. Until April 1st the CD is being sold at a reduced price.
We sure hope you enjoy this CD as much as we enjoyed making it!
Best wishes,
Chris Sharp
25/03/2010 4:25 pm
Welcome Chris, and many thanks for the information and links regarding the new CD. My order has been sent!
Glad you've known the thrill of steering the JULIA BELLE SWAIN. I, too, have had that privilege and hope we all get to do it again in the future! Like John, my mentor and patron saint of steamboating was Miss Ruth Ferris. Her enthusiasm was literally contagious and, with Ruth as a guide, you couldn't help but fall under the spell of the river, the boats and the river people. Ruth, John and Marie certainly are much missed, but forever in our hearts, never to be forgotten.
Thanks, again, and if you get up this way, come see us at the Howard Steamboat Museum!
Keep up steam! (Ruth always closed her letters this way!)