Ed Perl, the founder of the Ash Grove on Melrose in West Los Angeles, the center of the folk revival in L.A., recalls Alan's coming in the club while Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys were appearing. He walked straight up to the stage, and after the second number he asked Monroe where he got the song he'd just played. "I was shocked," Perl said. "Nobody ever did that, let alone to God. Bill responded, "Is that you Alan?" and they proceeded to talk about and demonstrate the influence of black music on Bill and bluegrass - from Alan Lomax, The Man Who Recorded the World, by John Szwed