I went to see John Hartford at a crafts fair in West Virginia in 1982. Most people there early were there for the crafts fair. I was there only for John Hartford. He had set up in a field about 50 yards from where the crafts fair was set up. I saw him and walked over just as he began playing. No one else was there. John, his banjo, his mic'ed plywood plank and me. I walked over about 10 yards from him and he played several numbers for his audience of one, including Gentle on My Mind. I was standing there smiling, amazed at the turn of events. As he played he looked off into the distance, but every now and then he'd look at me and wink or smile. After a while, a bunch of other people started wandering over. Amazing experience.

Yup, I'm a black man from the Caribbean watching and loving this, always did

John isn't dead....he flew of in his steam powered airplane and we haven't seen him since....at least in my mind! Stay high John!

Brilliant song brilliantly performed. I never tire of it. Thank you John for what you brought to the world.

Everybody loves John Hartford. Just the way it is.

I dearly wish I had discovered John Hartford when I was younger. I love it.

I was fortunate to see John with his band in the early 70's in North Texas at WTSU. Could not have enjoyed it more until...somewhere in the SF Bay area around 1980 I saw him solo in a quite small venue. He played guitar, banjo, mandolin, hambone, fiddle , whistled and sang - all while tapping out wonderful rythymms with with his feet on a miked platform. Lucky enough to have seen some great musicians - Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Van Morrison, Townes Van Zant, Guy Clark and others - It is senseless to say who was "best". But when it comes to the warmest, most comfortable, thoroughly enjoyable time, John Hartford by his lonesome has to be at the top of the list. I still mourn his passing.

I never heard of this man before an hour ago. How is that possible I ask myself. Thanks KZfaq!

I had never heard the 'real' bluegrass version until today. I much prefer it.

Saw him in Bozeman at a free concert in the 70s with a comedian no one had ever heard of named Steve Martin.

This is perhaps the most perfect song ever written

The lyrics are one of the most evocative poems I have ever read.

What an AMAZING video! So many classic BLUEGRASS Legends are there. This video is PURE BLUEGRASS GOLD... I am from Kentucky, the birthplace of Bluegrass. Beautiful music

I had chance to see mr. john before he died.at red light café atlanta, packed house. I went met him thanked him for being a mentor and had him sign CD I brought and patted him on his knee He was not shaking hands that evening . that moment makes me cry now. God bless him....

I love John's mannerisms, especially his little eye twitch.

Took me a while to read the lyrics, to find it is the perfect song ever written.

John Hartford, Doc Watson, Tony Rice - was absolutely top of the world

Mike Bubb - bass; Gen Wooten - dobro; Ronnie & Robbie McCoury - banjo & mando respectively. . . reminds me of college days going to the Station Inn on Tuesday nights. . . the memories are at once fantastically beautiful and painful because they are gone and some of the musicians are gone as well.

this performance make me always smile so nice

I miss him. He was one of the best. One of my heroes

i watched john hartford as a child on country tv and was captivated by his style of singing playing and dancing

Love the smile on Vassar's face. John was one of those good forces of nature, cannot see anyone not enjoying him and his music and anyone that played with him.

As much as Campbells cover is what everyone knows and what was played so widely, I can’t help but agree with Hartford, it totally feels right as a two chord fiddle tune.

Fantastic Musician and Songwriter.👍

Love the guy. He absolutely rocks.

What a lovely person ,,,,,,taken from us far far too early ,,,,,rip john ,,,,,your contribution to music should NEVER be forgotten

Its a hot summer humid evening up on top of the Blueridge and folks have been driftin in and out of the campfire circle and yeah the gin bucket as well goatskin has been sipped from by many but funny how it never seemed to get empty. Well a young lassie started pickin no one new her name but it was her giddy up that brought in the others to join in and play. I was fussing with fry pan and spit when a banjo joined in from the back and others began too settle back as the banjo picked up a song and voice we had heard earlier in the eve began the Gentle on your mind. Well the voice just kept on ramblin on and the banjo kept up a quick trot and cowboy boots started to a tappin on the trailer full of wood and it was such a joyous jam happen . The banjo stopped and in the fire light there was John takin a big old swig from the goat skin.That smile and he pipes up mind if I try your slab of bellona it sure do smell good. Thats lancaster countys sweet lebanon and bellona John enjoy got a good smoke to now!! Smoke he says well thats very tasty heres some smoke for you all now, Two Tokes and The Joint Turned Brown was his thank you song. Never will forget that Skyline Bluegrass Festival!

Nows he's what you would call a real class act! A man who could write one of the best songs in the world!!

My favorite song and I love rockn` roll! Thank you Mr. Hartford!

John understood less is more you can hear it in the simplicity of his music truly was one of the worlds greatest intertainers

RIP JOHN .. One of the best songs ever pen'd..

Miss that man and his songs! RIP, John Hartford of MO.

What a great song by a great man R.I.P

This is one of those songs that you feel vividly in your heart, the music and the words have a feeling...love it

Man. Does it get better than this? All the greats right there. No glitz no showoffs, just real deal music. Thank You Dean Jackson Seattle

John was from St. Louis in this he talks about how he got started in music seeing Earl Scruggs and Benny Martin at the chain of Rocks park in 1954 it was an amusement park in St. Louis that was on the bluffs over looking the Mississippi river just across the Illinois Missouri border. the old bridge still stands there it was originally part of route 66

Wow. What a divine person! I'd marry him in a heartbeat!❤

Doesn't get any better than that ! R.I.P. John Hartford ! The worlds best back up musicians playing along !

Of course I know Gentle On My Mind, I listened to the late and wonderfully great Glen Campbell singing it, himself an Arkansas man, but when I watched it here and listened to how it should be done bluegrass style I just wept with joy. I love these jam sessions from the south with musicians that were weaned on an instrument and if one of you bluegrass folks wants to treat an Englishman to the real thing when it comes to southern sound - and I mean bluegrass - then you know where I am: invite me and I will be there!

I so love this.

Saw him live 2x at the U of Minnesota...he could fiddle, sing, tap dance all at the same time. Had the auditorium on our feet, clapping and dancing along. He was great...

From the worldwide monster from Glen Campbell and the knockout album version by Tammy,here we are back to the original concept....what a song!

My favorite thing about these old clips is watching old people being understanding loving and hateful to each other.

So good, I can't get enough.

I may be in agreement with the fellow who called this the most perfect song ever written. It’s one of my all-time favorites. And here it is by the master himself - John Hartford…

Ibly the very best rendition of this beautiful song. John Hartford was one authentic bluegrass singer songwriter.

Thanks he was a brilliant musician and songwriter. He is sorely missed.

Excellent excellent excellent. Top class performance. We all greatly missing John Hartford. God bless his great heart & soul. Amen

Absolute bloody legend.

Great song, perfect company, and John was one of the best. These years maybe gone for ever.

Love JH. I see this older generation (which I am getting closer to) and see perspective and appreciation.

This is singlehandedly is the best thing I've ever seen.

What a genuine person love to see that he stopped to get everyone involved on one of the best songs made

Just an amazing talent.

this is just a beautiful, timeless song

enjoying family footsteps

Just...wonderful!

I got to John Hartford, Norman Blake and Vassar Clements in concert together. Fantastic concert

What a songwriter and fiddler this man was. It is both heartwarming and sad to watch this video.

He will be forever on my mind.......

man that was good.......really enjoyed it

First time I ever really comprehended the lyrics of this song it's really beautiful and better this way

John Hartford has been a love of mine for years... Meaning I buy his music. Thank you for posting. So much in his music and stories are relative to me.

Simply amazing. Thanks for posting this.

Un genio...!!!!

Greatness, Miss John. ❤❤❤❤

An immortal work that enabled legendary status to an truly gifted composer and lyricist.

Adorable!!

OMG .. that was wonderful

how can you not like this man,,,

I just know this man was fun to be around.

I'm so glad I found this classic rendition.... The best there is, in my opinion!

Absolute joy!

What a joy to see John doing this tune with the gang

This songs royalties allowed John to do what he wanted for the rest of his life. Including becoming a paddle wheel riverboat captain. I love and miss John , his personality and banjo, fiddle, shuffling . One of a kind .

John Hartford also wrote this song. Saw him at Spring Park in Tuscumbia AL

This was not that long before he passed from cancer in 2001. But he was so much more thaan just this perfect song.

John and so many others in this video have passed on but it is nice we have KZfaq to see them perform on screen,

Beautiful words.

Genius.

So Good from Sweden 👏👏

Don't write songs like that any more. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

goose bumps

Thank you

my ears thank you for the pleasure trip

One of the Masters..

I got to see John Hartford about 5 times in my life. He was never in it for the money. Most musicians do two 30-45 minute sets and maybe one or two en cores. Not John though! He would do two 45 minute sets with maybe 10 minutes in between. Then his en core would run another 45 minutes to an hour and a half. He would have people push the tables back and create a dance floor. He would then start calling out country fiddle dance songs. It wasn't about the money, it was about sharing his love for music. This song, " Gentle on my Mind" was one of the most recorded songs ever. The royalties from it (lower to mid 6 digits annually) allowed him to live the life he loved. John was also a licensed Steamboat Captain and would captain paddlewheelers up and down the Mississippi River for about 6 weeks every year. He also devoted his time, and his money to rehabbing old paddlewheelers to save them. If you love his music look for John Hartford on Steamboat videos here on YT. You will find yourself even more impressed with him. Truly missed by so many.

love love so much this song.

Fabuloso!!!

extraordinaire !! i love America !!!

Phenomenal!!!

Afterwards they all went to Ponderosa. Great video, thank you!

Just gotta get out of your seat for this one!!

your song and you are the best

A classic among classics...

Genius

as cool as it gets!

Miss you guys!

Dexter’s of our worldly den shows

That Derby hat is so John Hartford. RIP