by Bob Cote, Philadelphia, PA

In 1963 I was a sophomore in high school when Peter Paul and Mary released their first (self-titled) album. So enthralled by it were a friend and myself that we went out and bought guitars and started to learn how to play them. (Mine was a Sears and Roebuck’s Spanish style with nylon strings.) The beautiful guitar work of Peter Yarrow was my inspirational goal.

I never quite reached that goal, but I never stopped playing either. Forty some years later I’m a decent player — I have better guitars now including electric, but the point is, I PLAY. If there’s a better path to Nirvana (not the group) than music, I don’t know what it is.

Anyone who plays an instrument knows about getting in the ZONE. PP&M are pretty much gone now (actually they still tour). The ZONE however is still there. That first PP&M album was the moment when I began to acquire a way to get into the ZONE by myself. Some of the songs seem dated now, but not Yarrow’s playing.

I enjoy playing my guitars very much. They have brought me hours of pleasure and peace and fulfillment through the years. That Peter Paul and Mary album was the catalyst for my learning to play. To me, that’s a pretty good musical moment.