Mike Taub

"I was fortunate enough to grow up in Saratoga Springs NY where there is a great coffeehouse called the Caffè Lena. I worked there washing dishes through high school, 1968-1972 and more, and saw the Rev. (Gary Davis) there in 1969.
     Roy Bookbinder was leading him around at that time. Gary played four nights, Thurs through Sun, and wore us all out. He smoked these huge cigars, and played until 2:00AM. We were all exhausted, but he kept going. Wouldn't quit. Amazing stamina.
     -I remember that during "The United States of America March" he got turned around and had his back to the audience. Roy said, " I hate having to do this" as he walked up to the stage and turned the great man around.
     Gary's wife was also there, and whenever he started to play blues, she started saying something like, "Now, now Gary, no one wants to hear that trash. Play the gospel music." She was quite loud and persistent.
Lena came into the back room where we were all resting during the set and was rather flustered, "I was going to say something to that woman, but she is his wife!"
     Of course we wanted to hear anything Gary had to play.
     Those were great times in Saratoga. An unbelievable group of people lived in town, attracted to the Caffè. Bromberg was getting his solo act together and played there a lot. Andy Cohen lived there for several years. I learned to play guitar from them, and it was great. In 1969 or 1970, Bruce 'Utah' Phillips moved to town and changed any number of peoples lives (mine included).
     Between the Caffè and his sheer force of personality he formed a folk music union, as he would call it. This collective was called the 'Wildflowers," and is a saga worthy of a book itself. It was actually registered as local of the IWW, as Bruce is an incorrigible Wobbly. The union included Bruce, Andy Cohen, Jim Ringer, Mary McCaslin, Martin Grosswendt, and a few others. Kate McGarrigle was living in town at the time, with this great guitarist Roma Barron, but I'm not sure if they were members.
     I was a young high school kid who just was hanging out. The effect on me was incredible, and of course the music was indescribable. The union hung in there for a few years. My memory is that they went broke after a festival organizer ripped them off, but who knows?
     One more. His last two recordings for Biograph, which include my all time favorite, 'Oh, Glory, How Happy I Am,' were apparently all first takes.
Seems The Rev. said if he played them twice they would have to pay him double!"

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