Linda Stout

Lucky me. I met and heard Rambling Jack Elliott, no longer a young man, and still a pro, played old blues stuff, plays guitar well, even on a cold night. I have to say I was doubly charmed by his road manager, Ms. Marie Damron -- what a really nice woman, organized, kind, on. I played at this little cowboy festival, "Livestock" Cowboy Jamoree. The name changed about three times in the planning, but Alicia Dale did a fabulous job organizing her first festival near Ithaca to benefit the Red Cross. I was honored to play -- info: www.amazinggracebnb.com. The sound guy was so great. He and Alicia put a tiny electric heater in front of me, to warm my numb hands this recent rainy Saturday morning. I could not believe I could pull off playing, numb as my hands were, but it went fine, sounded fine, I think, and Jack Elliott was there. I also met the kindly Sheriff Jim Wilson, cowboy singer from Alpine, Texas, and he sweetly bestowed career advice and support. Having lived kind of briefly in Texas and a little less briefly in Oklahoma in the past, I love Texans and Oklahomans, even if they don't like each other. They would hear my non-western accent and say, "Where you from?"