I just loved the guitar when it came along. I loved it. The banjo was something I really liked, but when the guitar came along, to me that was my first love in music.

I'd think learning to play the guitar would be very confusing for sighted people.

The size of the halls doesn't matter to me too much.

When Merle and I started out we called our music 'traditional plus,' meaning the traditional music of the Appalachian region plus whatever other styles we were in the mood to play.

The bottom line is a man's got to have a vocation of some kind. But performing in concert has its own rewards, though I have to admit that up until a few years ago I was very nervous being up there. I finally learned to be who I am and relax. When you do that, it's just like being down there with the audience.

He keeps his pitch count down. He's able to hit his spots exactly where he needs to hit them. He's had an excellent start.