-- forwarded message, please reply to sender and MMD --

Jody,  In response to Barbara Laing's request for available calliope
recordings [000721 MMD]:

The best CD recording out there of a steam calliope is the recording
made by my friend, Debbie Fagano, on the Steamer Natchez, based in New
Orleans, Louisiana.  The recording is available through the New Orleans
Steamboat Company (http://www.nosteamboat.com/).

I have heard many cassette tapes which are available from the Delta
Queen Steamboat Company (http://www.deltaqueen.com/), Steamer Belle of
Louisville (http://www.belleoflouisville.org/), and additionally from the
Steamer Natchez (http://www.steamboatnatchez.com/).

Other than Debbie's CD, I haven't heard of many other steam calliope
recordings available on the market.

I personally have an extensive collection of calliope recordings I have
made on cassette.  Most are of the six steamboats still running on the
inland rivers.  A few are old circus wagons and a few are of National,
Tangley (originals and reproductions) and Kozat calliopes, all air
operated except for a couple of "real" steamers.

If anyone is interested, I can make copies of some of the stuff I have.
However, this is for personal trading and not for retail sale or
commercial use.  I would be acting in a most illegal state selling to
commercial users, as I do not have contracts with ASCAP and BMI to do
such.  (I got into that problem when playing for the Str. Belle of
Louisville back in the 1980's; would not like to get back into _that_
again!)

If anyone is interested, I am performing with Capt. Clarke (Doc) Hawley
on the "Steam Barge" at the Charleston Sternwheel Regatta, on September
1-3 in Charleston, WV.  We are having daily shows with the steamboat
whistles and steam calliope on the Charleston riverfront.  I just built
the replacement keyboard for the calliope and am looking forward to
debuting it at the festival.

Hope this is helpful for the cause!

Travis Vasconcelos
Louisville, KY