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Hi, Ken--

I'm fairly new to John Hartford's music, and I've enjoyed reading your web pages about him. Can you help me with some lyrics? There's a line in "Steam-powered Aereo Plane" that I just can't get:

Rather be sittin' in a deck chair high up over Kansas City
On a genuine, old-fashioned ???????? Steam-powered aereoplane. I'd love to fill in the blank!

Thanks again,

Tristan Davies

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I don’t have your eloquence but do share your emotion.

I’m really glad someone somewhere had the ability to transfer the feelings to words.

It’s a great piece. Thank you.
Donald R. Walker

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This is beautiful. Way to go.
-Peter Cooper
Mr. Cooper is the music writer for The Tennessean newspaper

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I listen to John Hartford on the way to work,during my shift(I work in a
toll-booth for 8 hr.at a time)and on my way home from work.They'll never be another like him.
God Bless Him.
Sincerely,
Jack Kelly
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Ken,

     I just read your tribute to John Hartford...thank you!

sincerely,

Bruce Shipp
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Dear Ken,
    Enjoyed your account of your friendship with John Hartford, and the
description of his funeral/musical celebration. Is there an audio recording
of the music and remembrances? Also, do you know of recordings of live
performances by John over the years? I knew John some from when I was in
the bluegrass band the Seldom Scene ('77 to '86) and we played many
festivals together - maybe I could trade someone for live recordings I've
got.

Sincerely,

Phil Rosenthal

Phil was a member of a Bluegrass Landmark Group "The Seldom Scene"
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Ken,
   Thanks for the page. I was there too. That is the way John would
have wanted things for sure. My best to you, and thanks be again for a fine job on
John.

Jim
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Hi there,

Just a short note to let you know that I enjoyed your tribute to John Hartford. Thanks.

My friend and I played with him a few times backstage at some bluegrass festivals we were both booked at. I will miss him.

Attached you can find a picture of the three of us. Use it as you wish or delete it - whatever you want. The people in it are, Dave Sky, John Hartford, M. Steven Smith.
God Bless!
Mike Smith
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Greetings, Ken.
I just read your account of John's funeral that wasn't and after hearing about it from my friend Katie Laur, who attended, you filled in the blanks and affirmed what I thought when Katie told me about it: he'd planned this with the meticulous attention he gave everything: music, the river, his friends.

I met John twenty years ago when I was part of an opening act at Northern Kentucky University. I think the outpouring of grief is as it is because he made you feel like you mattered, even if you only saw him at performances. He never forgot a name, always appreciated anything you did for him and made you marvel at the person he was. I remember going to see him and the Dillards and finding out from Rodney that John had cancer but you can't keep a good man down--he was back on the floorboard not even six months later (Marie told me that the radiation was massive).

How lucky you are to have had a special friendship with John and he to have you as a friend. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your account of the celebration of life. Usually that term makes me cringe but in John's case, it's so apt.

We finally got to see O Brother the weekend that he died and I started crying when John's music came on. I remember driving home from the Julia Belle Swain cruise and feeling as if John's music was not just following me home, it was a part of the landscape.

Thanks again and I hope you continue to stay in this world for many more years.

Heading into the mystery above,
Anne Arenstein
You are so right--there will be lot of us visiting his resting place in Spring Hill Cemetery
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I loved your memories of John....this last couple weeks has been so neat
hearing all these different stories of John. I knew John for a number of
years but it was a little differently than you and a lot of the others.

I was at the Celebration Service and it was without question, the most
interesting and cool things I had ever attended.

I'm an appreciator (is that a word) of your songs...I'm a songwriter but as a
single mom of three dont' have the time to put into it that I'd like.
Creativity comes and goes...

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and memories...
Sharon
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AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST ..from the Hartford family

Dear Ken:

Forgive me if we met at the funeral and I don't remember; I'm know you
understand the sadness our family was dealing with at the time. I was going
through the postings on the website and came across the tribute page you did
for my father. I really appreciate the time and effort you put into the
insights and memories, as each story that I hear helps me get to know my
father a little better. I miss him very much, and it is healing to know how
well loved he was. By the way, as you suspected, it was very much Dad's wish
to be buried on the property; a city ordinance prevented that. But rest
assured that the Cumberland river is just a stones throw over the trees from
where he is at Springhill Cemetery.

Best wishes and good health to you,
Katie (Harford) Hogue
(I'm Jamie's sister and the one who spoke; Sherry is my step-sister)