When we start this NEWSLETTER, it is pretty much a crap shoot when we're looking for news (pardon the expression). We just hope that before we are finished, someone unusual or 'fresh' will appear in my e-mail, or maybe in the regular snail mail, with an ITEM of interest. This time we were lucky and heard the following from a complete 'stranger.' HOT DOG! "12/27/05 Hello...I'm JOHN COLEMAN, Class of 1961. I was struggling to learn to play the 5-string banjo back then, and looking for guidance. I didn't know FLEMING BROWN, but called him one night around 1960-61, and asked him if he had a banjo for sale. He did not, but directed me to a shop in Chicago. I bought one, then bought his album, which I still have. I have played the banjo all these years but kind of forgot about Fleming. For Christmas, my son gave me Hobart Smith in Sacred Trust...The 1963 Fleming Brown Tapes. I went to your Website and came across that great interview with Fleming and Studs Terkel. The music from the interview is outstanding. I had forgotten how good he was, and that he had an influence on my style of 5 string banjo playing. I've learned that the Fleming/Studs tape was done in 1964, 20 years before Fleming died. My son "burned" me the interview from your website onto a CD, and I'm listening to it right now! I'm especially enthralled by "Trouble on My Mind" and "Coal Creek March," both of which I have worked out to the best of my ability on my banjo. The Class of 1961 doesn't have a website, but we all chat and exchange photos. I'll look forward to hearing from Fleming's friend (Ed. note: I gave him Chuck's e-mail) I really enjoyed the story of their trip from GE to Hermosa Beach in 1947. I doubt I can pull off the all-class reunion in February. 1961 has a reunion in GE every 5 years. Best regards, JOHN COLEMAN" * * * LOVES AND THE "BEAN" Last Fall our LOVE-birds, Fran (Proctor) and Jim Love, spent a few days in Chicago while in Wisconsin for a Marathon (pre-American Can) Reunion. Since they hadn't been to the LOOP area for years... "We also visited the old home stomping grounds to renew old memories: MARSHALL FIELD's, & Lake Front's Millennium Park, which we thought spectacular...but the star attraction is THE CLOUD GATE, locally called 'The Bean'. A house of mirrors that distorts images. We chose NOT to distort ourselves any more than usual." * * * "Hold your head high, stick your chest out.   You can make it. It gets dark sometimes but morning comes. KEEP HOPE ALIVE" Reverend Jesse Jackson Next page 2006 Newsletter:   Part 1     Part 2     Part 3     Part 4     Part 5     Part 6     Part 7     Part 8 Newsletter Home Page