I sent Southern California pianist Dave Bourne the MMD message
regarding the passing of Lyle Martin.  Since Dave was involved at
Knott's Berry Farm in the early days, I suspected he might be familiar
with Lyle.  Here, with permission, is Dave's reply:

  "Back in 1967, I gathered up a few ragtime aficionados and started
  'The Maple Leaf Club,' dedicated to the preservation of classic
  ragtime piano.  Lyle appeared from out of the woodwork and elaborately
  tape-recorded every meeting from start to finish.  We had Johnny
  Guarnieri, Johnny Maddox, Max Morath and Eubie Blake, just to mention
  a few of the players.  Dick Zimmerman was the M.C.  I put out the
  newsletter, 'The Ragtimes.'  I hadn't even heard of Lyle since the
  late 1970s.  I wonder who got the tapes?"

Does anyone know what became of these now undoubtedly historic
recordings?  Some time ago Dave sent out a magnificent photo showing
Eubie Blake at the keyboard during one of these meetings.  As I recall
the photo was from around 1969.

Tom DeLay
Salinas, California
tldca@sbcglobal.net.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]

 [ Ed Sprankle played tape recordings for me of a series of special
 [ 88-note "Link RX-9" rolls, created by Lyle Martin and described
 [ at http://www.mmdigest.com/archives/KWIC/R/rx_9.html  -- Robbie