Monk was one of the finest guitar players I’ve ever heard.
Jean was a 100-pound, Yankee spitfire that Monk met and married while stationed at an air base near her hometown of Rangoul, Ill.
You knew two things about Jean: She made up her mind not to be knocked around by men and to whip them when she needed to. She generally succeeded in both.
The secret to their 50-year marriage was that Monk loved to fight, and Jean was happy to meet his needs.
I was performing with Monk and Ed Leamon at Ox Biggs’ Chickamore Barn Dance, located where the Harrison Post Office now sits. One night after a gig, we arrived at Monk’s residence rather late.
