The most influential part of my life in the learning of old songs was the first ten years. It was during this period I became aware of entertainers like Mac & Bob, Karl & Harty, Uncle John & Clara Mae Barton, Lulubelle & Scotty and Vernon Dalhart. The greatest influence, though was my mother. Most of the songs on this album she taught me. The others are ones she admired when sung by artists of those days.

In recording these numbers I used the instruments she heard me play in her lifetime...harmonica (her favorite), guitar, mandolin and bass. I’ve also tried to re-create the simple style of playing we were familiar with in the 1930s.---Lyle Mayfield