What was the cultural environment like here in the early 1970s?
There wasn’t very much happening culturally at that time. At least, I didn’t feel there was. I got involved in helping to start the Pend Oreille Arts Council and I started the Classical Guitar Guild. I thought it was important to bring culture to wherever I live. After the move, you shifted your focus from being a performing artist to the role of full-time teacher. Was that a kind of “artistic transference?” I would say yes to that. The transference was definitely very strongly happening for me with my students. I was getting what I wanted through them. I got a lot of satisfaction out of watching them grow and learn the instrument. Now I’m at a point in my life where I’m not teaching – I am still doing the radio show, which I enjoy – but it’s time for me to get back out on a full-time basis as a performer. Did your health-related issues add any urgency to your decision to get back in front of audiences? No, I think what played the biggest part in that is that I stopped teaching and I h
