[Tradjazz] Dear Bill Taggart

[Bruce McNichols]

Dear Bill Taggart, 

The pictures you sent, showing me and the late great Bud Merigold, have reminded me that I've loved that guy since about 35 years before I met him.  We didn't get to see him all that often, but I miss the guy!
  Bud, as some of you may not know, had a weekly radio program in New Jersey in the 1960's.  I'm one of dozens of musicians who tuned him in, on our way to our Saturday night gigs.

  Bud was a Radio OKOM listener (www.okom.com) and he contacted us.  We sprang into action and got him to revive his "Jazz Diversified" program for Radio OKOM.  Although we lost Bud a while ago, we have many hours of his programs which run regularly on Radio OKOM.  BUD MERIGOLD LIVES!
Bill Taggart has created OKOM as a labor of love.  Thanks to Bill, we have produced dozens of CDs by bands we love.  

Such diverse groups as:
The Bix Beidebecke Memorial Jazz Band (from all over the USA)
The New Wolverine Jazz Orchestra (from Sydney, Australia)
The Hot Antic Jazz Band (from Nimes, France)
The Swedish Jazz Kings (from Sweden)
have been brought to New Jersey for concerts, radio programs and recording session.  All due to the efforts of one Bill Taggart.
  Not only have I and many others been able to perform with these wonderful musicians but we've also become fast friends with them.
We are friends in spirit and what good friends these people are.  As we all know, there's a lot of folks who share our passion for this music.  We may be a small percentage of the world's population, but that makes it all the more special that our musical love transcends geographical and cultural lines.

Bill, you should be very proud of the musical and personal alliances that have taken place because of your benevolent actions lo these many years.

We all owe Bill a vote of confidence for the  fine work he's done and continues to do, on behalf of our music.

If you like what he's done, let him know.  He is:  bill at okom.com 

With sincere love and admiration, 
McN