Posted by Norma on June 11, 101 at 21:22:15:
It's possible that my memory of John goes back further than most. The first time my husband and I met John was at a local talent contest where he and his friend won first prize. The prize was that they "would try" to get them a recording contract. Of course, nothing ever came of that promise. John was still John Harford of St. Louis, MO and was still in college when he would perform along with a friend on the radio show that my husband and brother-in-law had at the time. In fact, the first time, my brother-in-law had to ask him to repeat his name before he announced him. My husband played steel guitar and his brother played fiddle in the band. I recently found an old tape of John singing on one of the shows. John's father insisted that he finish college before he tried his hand a full-time music. After he left St. Louis, we would hear from him occasionally when he came back to visit. The last time he came to our house, he wanted my husband to go with him to make a demo record. Joe said, "I have done plenty of those things before, and nothing ever came of it". The next time we saw John he was on the Glen Campbell television show performing "Gentle On My Mind". We talked to John several times over the phone after that, whenever he came "home", he often called to chat. We are glad to have known him back then and watch him grow musically. The music world has lost a great talent and the world has lost a great human being.