Mule

Jeff and Diane Huss at Mule HQ.

"So... what kind of music do you listen to?" This was the first question Jeff asked at my interview at Huss and Dalton-my first guitar making job. I was 20. Kelly Joe Phelps had upended my life path towards acoustic music, I mentioned him and that was probably it. He was the only acoustic player I listened to.

Eventually we had a work party. Everyone stayed after work, piled chairs into the fretting room and grabbed guitars and banjos.

I remember where I was sitting when I heard 'Angel from Montgomery' for the first time. "Tear My Stillhouse Down". "Paradise". "Long Black Veil" Prine. Gillian. Darrell Scott. Tim O'brien. Old songs with unknown authors. People picked their go-to songs, and if you didn't know it you fumbled along. If you couldn't play you sang harmony. If you couldn't sing harmony you at least knew not to clap on the 1 and 3. I could do none of those things. I was in love. The music felt like an old pair boots, the connection hugged you like a grandfather. Music was the culture and not a commodity.

I was constantly working on my 1990 Bronco with 35” mudders on it. Eventually it needed a new engine and Mark Dalton offered to help me swap engines. Swap. Engines. I was 20. Heck yes. So I took it down to Motley, VA and Mark helped a poor-financial decision making employee fix his vehicle. In exchange I loaded trailers of hay bails for a few sun-tea fueled weekends. Mark uses mules for work on his farm. I got to see their cultural significance, their intelligence, their work capacity. They demand a well earned reverence and respect.

"Feels like a Huss," I carved necks with Jeff as part of my work there. That moment is a rare badge of honor I let myself carry.

My thankfulness for the opportunity they gave this youthful enthusiast 20 years ago is part of most days here. Their kindness continues although I have nothing to offer them in return. I cant say enough good things about Jeff and Diane, Mark and Kimberly, Brian and the crew- Kernul, Mooey, Crazy Uncle Ken, Melungeon, Dean and John.