Bo was known for using locals on many of his gigs.
In August 1981 I got a call from a drummer named Don Jones (we now have a band called Rented Mule), asking if I could join his commercial trio as a sub for his regular bassist Randy Pyle (a bebop monster, son of a famous NYC jazz radio DJ), for a pick-up gig with Bo at the Philadelphia Folk Festival.
We did a quick warmup, then Bo had to go negotiate with the PBS lawyers (it was the 20th anniversary of the festival and the local PBS affiliate was taping everyone's performance, audio and video for broadcast). He declined to be video taped but consented to the audio recording (I have a cassette copy somewhere). Afterwards he explained his travails WRT the industry and being ripped off so many times (I've lost two fortunes so I keep one set of lawyers watching the other set of lawyers and don't trust any of them completely.).
Quite an experience as he was the Saturday night headliner. The gig went well, something like 20,000 people, nice weather, everybody into it. I remember while playing a preying mantis flew across the stage, landed on my right shoulder and walked across my chest to my left shoulder and then flew away!
Bo was a very nice guy, good humored (except about the business), very down to earth and gracious. Very kind to us (then) young musicians. A true pro on and off the stage, it was a privilege to have worked with him.
