Influences
Well there are many...made mention that more recent interactions have led to some great ideas, but in the "early" days it was songwritters like Ron Elliot and Rick Ruskin. Listen to their albums (yes, big plastic discs) read through the lyrics and the liner notes a million times.

Tend to think of past musical inspirations as small windows into other musician's lives...about the size of an album cover. John Fahey certainly had a huge impression and then bigger band sounds of the Youngbloods, Spirit and Quicksliver.

Of course a hormonal breakthrough, falling in lust with Joni Mitchell and Bonnie Rait, led to heartbreak. Taking things less seriously the insightful parodies of Frank Zappa's work were perfect. Kiln House (Jeremy Spencer) provided a staple of poking good fun at the whole scene and "success".

Trying to recall how many people have made an impact is a bit overwhelming. The above is only a series of very early snapshots that stand out.