Not a posed photo. The band was in Dayton for a Jazz Club session and I had driven the 80 miles from Madison, Indiana, to be there, arriving an hour early. The Ragtimers had just arrived. (By this time, I knew to carry the camera around my neck with lens cap off and flash on.) Al had gone forward with Glenn Meyer to get a beer and had just turned around when he saw me. My camera came up the same time as Al's bottle. Trebor likes this one. Me too.

Al Stricker is a great ragtime vocalist, arguably he could well be the best ever. His memory for lyrics is perfect and unfailing. No matter how many times he sings a song, it always sounds like the first time. Al's voice has not graveled but remains full and warmly wonderful. He has the chore of being the front man on stage for the band and his memory of faces and first names is awesome. Al has another trait I really admire...he's not a collector. He lives the moment and let's others fool with the history. I wish I could have done that. GCW