alfiedog Says:
Thursday, January 24, 2013 @3:34:30 AM

Great Pic Joe. I have heard Bills Playing on a Tom Travis Album, he is Awesome. He Lives in Ireland now i think. Love the Tab in Gob Shot very Cool !

alanjg1 Says:
Thursday, January 24, 2013 @5:11:15 AM

Joe, that's fantastic.
I can't have been too far away.
Great memories!

john leary Says:
Thursday, January 24, 2013 @8:40:48 AM

A good pic Joe.
I had half a dozen lessons with Bill (before he went to Ireland) about seven years ago, and he put me on right path with playing Scruggs style after i'd picked up a lot of bad habits. The most invaluable lessons ever.

Laurence Diehl Says:
Thursday, February 14, 2013 @1:56:35 PM

We jammed together down in Cornwall around the time that pic was taken. Small world aint it?

joemac Says:
Thursday, February 14, 2013 @3:04:05 PM

Hey Laurence, how are you?? I don't hear much of the gang since we lost the Kidd, it's as if the place has gone to pot, I hope your ok bro!

Laurence Diehl Says:
Thursday, February 14, 2013 @3:58:39 PM

Cheers Joe, we're golden over here. Things aint what they used to be but we'll just have to make the best of it.
Keep well.

bill forster Says:
Wednesday, February 20, 2013 @4:35:14 PM

This must be the only picture taken of the old john grey banjo with the hide head that I bought as my first serious banjo. It came from the Clifford Essex shop in london and was the only one in the shop I could afford! How are you and yours Joe?
Regards Bill

joemac Says:
Wednesday, February 20, 2013 @11:36:40 PM

Hi Bill, yes I remember the John Grey Well, I guess you moved it on years back now. I am fine thank you Bill, pretty bad with arthritis which has made me far too heavy but I am fighting back now. How about yourself Bill? Is Ireland good to you? I sometimes visit Kenmere, it so lovely. I actually had an e mail from Chris Rex last month, first contact in 20yrs, it was good to hear from him, he was asking for you Bill. Keep in touch Bill, Joe

buckbybanjoboy Says:
Thursday, February 21, 2013 @6:51:12 AM

I remember the old Clifford Essex shop in Earlham Street London, just down from Cambridge Circus, and the magazine "BMG", when Mr A P Sharpe ran the company.
There was a chap there called Mr. McNaughton I think, and they had some lovely old banjos. If only I knew then what I know now, I'd have had me a couple of 5 String CE Paragons as an investment.
I also remember the old John Alvey Turner shop, (Oxford Street ?), which seemed to have banjos hanging from everywhere like stalagmites.
Can't think of a decent specialist banjo shop in London now.
Greetings to any Brits with similar attacks of nostalgia.........................................Peter V.

joemac Says:
Thursday, February 21, 2013 @9:44:00 AM

Yes Peter, I knew them when they wre based in Russell Square, upstairs in a building and the business next door was an old drum master called Vic O, brian. I had a new plastic head fitted to my Antoria Mastertone by them in the days before pre formed plastic heads were on the market, great times for a young banjoist.

Banjophobic Says:
Thursday, February 21, 2013 @10:49:38 AM

I thought that was John Lennon at first....then,no its JOE. Great old picture Joe.

buckbybanjoboy Says:
Thursday, February 21, 2013 @3:51:08 PM

Blimey, ain't we getting like old farts. Cheers Joe.