There is a fellow behind the camera in this video that was a drop in staple of sessions around Chicago for many years. He played whistle, flute, banjo, guitar and fiddle, and moved in and out of the scene as he moved himself around the Midwest.

In his honor I'd like to share this tidbit of a session from our old pub.

https://youtu.be/jj77w3EqcYE

You never knew his name, then?

_________________
"Time is the wisest counselor of all." - Pericles

"I remain not entirely convinced of it." - Nano

I think I posted this in the Pub because it struck a memory in me. I had just heard of his death and remembered his snippet of a session he posted. The fellow who passed was Peter Fraterdeus. But you won't see either of us in the video since he was behind the camera and I had given my seat to Bob Whelan our occasional autoharp player. I think you can hear me pretty well, as I was sitting behind Peter as he filmed. HaHa.

I said anonymous because he would not be know to any here. Or at least I thought so when I posted the clip. But in retrospect I may be wrong.

While he lived mostly in Galena, IL and more recently in Ashland, WI he often came to sessions in Chicago, and Evanston, IL which was his childhood home. I do believe he dropped in other places like The Cities and Duluth now and again. He was as happy in a folk or old time session as he was in an Irish session. He was a wonderful person and a good soul.

I found pics of him, and I don't recognize him from the Twin Cities Trad sessions, but that's not saying much; I can't have caught it all. If he's been here, I'm sure that someone knew and remembers him. I remember one particularly big ITM house party where the Old Time contingent had commandeered the kitchen, and I remember a lot of the players in that bunch looked a lot like him - so who knows!

Judging from what I can dredge up about him, his was a very full and creatively productive life.

_________________
"Time is the wisest counselor of all." - Pericles

"I remain not entirely convinced of it." - Nano