I feel that many of you will join with me in sending condolences to the family of the late John Minson, “Mr. Hoedown” of Radio 2TM’s famous, and long lived, country music programme. John’s friendly voice was a uniting thread to all of us in the outback and in the country everywhere.  Slim and I used to tune in whenever we had a night off on our long outback tours.  Most country artists were touring nearly all year round, in every corner of the nation, but Mr. Hoedown kept all of us updated with everyone’s recordings and news. Folk would ring in and tell how an artist’s concert went, and who was appearing and John would keep sending out news and music non-stop. “Mr. Hoedown” was only one part of John’s life in music…He played harmonica on quite a few of Slim’s recordings as well as on lots of others, and he built the JEM pedal steel guitar. The early days of the Golden Guitar Awards were part of John’s career and life.  But I could go on and on..
John left us on Friday 10^th March.  He will be long remembered and many will be the stories and memories shared by friends and colleagues attending his funeral next Tuesday 21^st in Tamworth’s Baptist Church.