John Hartford
There’s probably not another musician more closely tied to the Mississippi River than John Hartford. Born in New York City, he grew up in St. Louis where he became enamored of the river. Even as he moved around the country, he never left the Mississippi River far behind. He spent many of his summers piloting the tour boat Julia Belle Swain on the upper river and wrote several songs about the Mississippi and life on America’s rivers. Hartford died in 2001 from non-hodgkin’s lymphoma; he was 63. For a more complete bio, head here. Today’s song showcases his banjo skills, as well as his affection for being on the river.
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