After the wildfires swept through Santa Rosa one year, I took a couple guitars over to Michael Stadler for a look-see and while they weren't good for that particular project I handed him my personal treasure, a $40 thrift shop special to ask what he thought about it. He took it in those big hands of his and held it gently examining this beat up old thing. Then, under his arm, under his suddenly lively fingers dancing on the frets, acrobatics over the flying strings . . . the magic of incredible music ! ! ! There I was, no stage, no microphones, I- alone as the audience, out in the open sky, with a fresh breeze blowing, and springtime wakening the fields . . . and Michael just seemed to make everything come ALIVE in that moment with my old banged up guitar. It was a moment of magic for me that could not go unrewarded. The magic of Musicians, the magic of Art.
