Hi,

I never met Stan. In fact I had no clue that folk music was alive until I
moved to Rhode Island in 1985. Shortly after that I went to the Mystic Sea
Music Festival in Connecticut for the first time.

While there I saw an old man who sang in a very distinctive voice. He told
stories of sailing on the old ships and explained how the songs he sang were
used in working the vessels. It was entrancing. It was Stan.

Then, in 1992, while singing at a song circle, I was invited to join a sea
shanty group in Portland, Maine. That year I sang in my first concert,
leading The Dead Horse Shanty. I had just learned that Stan had died. By
then I certainly knew who he was and the possession I desired most was a
copy of his book. In the group were people who knew Stan and did not know
of his death. I waited until the concert was over to tell them. But during
the show we talked of Stan and his contribution to what we were doing. I'll
never forget it.

This year we issued our first CD.

Thanks Stan, for everything.

Brett Burnham (Roll & Go)

15th Jan 2002