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With Shane Speal's announcement this evening that he will be stepping out of the picture for awhile, I am reminded of a couple years ago when I did much the same thing with regard to my festivel, The Cigar Box Guitar Extravaganza, and I finally feel tonight I'm ready to address one of the reasons why I did so.

I didn't get into this CBG movement for any sort of fame or self promotion. Still, it would have been nice to receive what I feel is my due and proper credit for my contributions - namely The CBG Extravaganza, which has been called the epicenter of the CBG movement.

In 2007, a documentary was made centering on the festival I founded, yet I wasn't even asked for an interview. Even among the people who were interviewed, my name was not mentioned on screen a single time. All I got was a listing as the "event coordinator" in the end credits. I have to admit that stung a bit.

A short time later, a major guitar magazine published an article focusing on key players in the so-called CBG Revolution, many of whom either discovered the CBG movement, or were brought together in it, as a direct result of my festival. Yet again, my name was not mentioned.

In the recent CNN article about CBG playing/building surgeon Kirk Withrow, the patient that turned him onto cigar box instruments was my friend, Phil Draper, whom I'd introduced to the CBG. While I wouldn't expect a mention for that, I am indirectly responsible for it.

I don't hold any animosity toward anyone in the cigar box guitar world. I wish you all the best. But in the eight years since I started the festival, only one person, John Lowe, has consistantly thanked me for my efforts. To John, I say thank you back.