Of late, reminiscences like that have been haunting me as the Philadelphia Folk Festival (PFF) gears up for a big 60th-anniversary gathering of the tribes this August 18th to 22nd. And the deep gaze I took into her, ahem, sweet Judy blue eyes that September afternoon? That image is burned into my brain, an unforgettable memory. But the easy aura of approachability, kindness and concern she exuded would stay with me forever - underscoring what I always liked so much about the down-to-earth folk music scene here.
Honestly, I can’t remember anything I might have asked or said beyond, “I love what you did with ‘Turn! Turn! Turn!’” (from her then-new album #3). Then we talked, maybe for 10 minutes, before it was time for her to go. I dropped my guitar case - mostly toted around the grounds to signal I was a bit of a “playa,” too - and sat.
