As most of you who have read me regularly know, I am a pretty big Woody Guthrie fan. I also live near the community where Woody lived for 8 years, and learned to play in the drug store. So, for me, last night was truly an honor.

To get there, I have to take you back a bit. You probably have not heard the names Bill Murlin or Carl Allen, but Murlin was an employee of the Bonneville Power Administration, for whom Woody wrote 26 songs in 30 days to promote the building of the Grand Coulee Dam. Murlin collected and compiled Woody's songs, and, along with Allen, recorded them and others.

Murlin and Allen made the trip down for this year's Woody Guthrie tribute, and I arrived yesterday early enough to meet them and several members of Woody's family (his sister, sister in law, and niece and nephew, as well as several grandkids and grandnieces and nephews). The family went to get dinner, and when my turn came around to play during the jam session, I opened with "Roll on, Columbia". The family wasnt there, but Murlin and Allen walked in during the second verse. I had the honor of introducing them to the audience assembled, and was glad to have them there to hear my performance of the song.

The family (and Murlin and Allen) were there later, however, for my performance of "So Long, It's Been Good to Know Ya". There was a large group of musicians, so I only got two go-arounds before I had to go. 6:30 am comes mighty early in these parts.

I'll get more chances to play, but I was truly honored to play in front of some of the closest people to Woody that are alive today (no, Arlo wasn't there, but he has been in years past). I'll get a few more chances later on today, and I would be lying if I said I wasn't excited about the opportunity.