NEW SINGLE WITH TOM PAXTON

I saw Tom Paxton perform live on his first visit to these islands in 1965. This was a defining moment in my life. I was just starting to learn guitar and watching this young man standing alone on stage was magical.

Here was one man with a guitar performing in the National Stadium in Dublin literally in the centre of the boxing stadium long before the so called fashion of performing music "in the round" had ever been thought of. Tom Paxton held the audience in the palm of his hand.

The memory of the intimate and totally relaxed atmosphere that he created in difficult circumstances has stayed with me to this day. Throughout my musical career I have always included Tom Paxton songs in my set.

Most recently I had taken to singing "The Bravest" which I first heard on Tom's album "Looking for the Moon". Tom wrote this wonderful song just thirteen days after 9/11 in tribute to the 343 fireman who died that day.

Performing the song always drew special attention from my audiences; they were curious to know where the song had come from. People would come up to me at concerts and request the song. You can call it fate or a strange series of circumstances but sometimes life has a habit of turning full circle. My promotion company informed Tom Paxton about the reaction the song was getting and promptly sent him a demo and asked if he would like to participate in the recording.

Back came the answer that Tom would be delighted to join me in the recording. I never ever in my wildest moments dreamed that some day I would actually record with Tom Paxton.

Joe Giltrap February 2005.