I first met Charlie Hardin at where else but a Bluegrass Festival. It was the Crooked Creek Campground Festival in 1980. Charlie stopped me as I walked past him and he asked me to show him how I was playing Gound Speed as he had seen me playing it earlier. He wanted to see how to work on the backwards roll used in this song.
     I was living around mid-Missouri at that time and I don't remember seeing Charlie again until after I moved to Kansas City in the summer of 1989. I believe it was around 1992 when Charlie joined our weekly jam session at Henry Jansen's home. Through the many years since then Charlie and Barb have become famlily to me and all of us at Henry's.
     It was Charlie that helped persuade me to venture back out to the Bluegrass Festivals which I had pretty much abandoned for over a decade. I soon found that Charlie and Barb's family had grown to include practically every camper at every Bluegrass Festival where they attended. This is because Charlie never turned away anyone from his jams. He loved meeting and jamming with everyone.
     Charlie would share himself and his time with anyone at anytime. I hope all of us Bluegrass folks will remember to do the same. It is a Godly characteristic and one for which I will most remember Charlie.

Well I can tell you this much I have been to a lot of Bluegrass Shows and have had one of our own for 19 years and I always felt if I saw Charlie at one I knew it was a good show then!! He was always ready to get a jam started and believe me you need that at these shows because the people love it!!!Thanks Charlie for all the great memories and you will be sadley missed not by just the Prater Family but all the Bluegrass people in a large area of the Midwest!!! Hope to see you again Buddy Alan Prater

Robert & I were talking about how there hasn't been a Bluegrass festival we have attended that Charlie & Barb weren't at also. Bluegrass will never be the same. We will miss Charlies smiling face, that was always ready to help us, make us laugh, & most importantly, make the weekend something special. I will miss those GREAT big hugs, & his funny cute jokes. It has always been such a wonderful tradition to celebrate our birthdays at Starvy Creek, & it just won't be the same.
Barb, you are in our thoughts & prayers. We are so very sorry for your loss. He was a true fighter, & is now singing with the angels. The worst thing about a loss like this, is for us left behind. He is free, & in a beaufitul place.
Lots of love,
Brandy & Robert Bruner

On behalf of myself and the Kansas City Area Bluegrass Music Club I'd like to extend our condolences to Barb and the rest of the family. Charlie was a great guy... always had a smile on his face and loved to play the bluegrass music. He's no doubt in a jam up there right now with Bill, Lester and the rest. We'll see you again Charlie...

God Speed

Charlie and Barb are good people. Always ready to pick or visit . I'll miss him a long time.

I've known Charlie for so long, it's hard to remember a life without him in it. Way back in the '80s when bluegrass festivals meant jamming all night, you could always find Charlie and his banjo....that big grin on his face, saying,"Come on over and pull up a chair!" If you look in the dictionary for the definition of "FRIEND" I'll bet you'll see Charlie's picture. I've been so blessed to be able to call him friend for all these years and will greatly miss him. He and Barbara, in the past two years, have shown us all what true courage and faith are. Thanks for the memories, Charlie....we love you!

     Rick and I met Charlie over 20 years ago at Herman Smith's bluegrass festival in Knob Noster, Missouri. He was just getting into the bluegrass scene, as we were. We were all very enthusiastic with the bluegrass music and fellowship with others. Charlie was "camped" in his big ol' Lincoln at the festival. None of us had ever played on stage before and I had barely started playing the bass. Herman Smith asked a group of us, including Charlie, Rick and me, to play on stage as a "tweener" during the dinner break. We were all so nervous we could hardly walk up the steps to the stage. There was really no need, though, as the only audience left at that time were our families and friends (haha)! We ran into Charlie from then on at various festivals and then at the bluegrass clubs in Kansas City. He was always, and will always be one of our bluegrass buddies.
      We were so happy when Charlie met Barb and they married. They were perfect for each other.
     Charlie was an outrageous flirt from the first time I met him. Always ready to give and get those GREAT BIG HUGS.
     Rick and I will sorely miss seeing him at the festivals and clubs in the future, but will always remember him with love.

Words cannot express my sorrow with the loss of Charlie. My thoughts and prayers are with Barb and the family now and through the days to come. I first met Charlie and Barb when I finally worked up the courage to take my banjo to HABOT. They made me feel very welcome, and, ultimately part of the HABOT family. Charlie encouraged me when I was trying to learn to play banjo and he'd compliment me if I finally managed to get something right! I've often heard him compliment other banjo players or musicians if he heard something he liked. Charlie was a true friend and he was not afraid to tell people how he felt. I hope, that during these last two difficult years, he truly knew how many people loved him....I think he did. He truly loved his friends, his family, bluegrass music, and of course, his wonderful Barbara. I will miss his smile, his humor, his great songs and his presence througout the bluegrass community and in my life. It was my great honor to be his friend.

My memories of Charlie and Barb go back about 15 or so years ago when Henry Jansen invited me to his house for the weekly jam. I spent the first 6 months trying to play rhythm guitar, humming and mumbling along to some chorus vocals, totally intimidated by Henry, Steve Bode, Al Gamber, Harley Ramey, Charlie VanZant, Carrol Henley and of course, Charlie Hardin. How in the world did these guys play and sing so well and have so much fun? I sat between Al Gamber and Charlie Hardin in the circle and finally Charlie said that I was going to have to start singing or they were going to kick me out of the group. I thought he wasn't kidding so I broke out in song. Other fond memories include playing gospel songs at Charlie and Barb's church and gathering afterwards at the Hardin's and singing " She's More to be Pitied Than Scolded " saying that I thought the song had been written about Barb's life and seeing the look on Barb's face.

I miss him. I always will.

Well, I can truly say that Charlie Hardin is the reason I play and enjoy Bluegrass Music today and I feel very fortunate to have know him. He was my mentor, teacher, and a dedicated fan. He never grew short on patience as I struggled to change my pickin' style from Country Honkytonk music to Bluegrass. I joined Charlie, Henry, Steve, Al & Carroll to become a member of the "Friends of Habot" band back in 1994 and played with them until I moved to Columbia Mo. in 1998. It was the most rewarding time of my life and I really missed playing with them. Charlie and the Boys taught me so much, not only the music but what it means to be a Bluegrasser and have close friends that care about you and your family. When my wife and I pull in to a festival and get parked we always head off first thing to look for that Ol'black Dodge where Charlie & Barb are parked, and visit about whats happened in our lives since the last festival. I will miss that most of all.

Thanks Charlie!!
For the great memories.

Ron & Dottie Ray

Judy and I met Charlie at yogi bear camp ground many years ago. I was playing Bass at the time. Charlie just loved to hear a dog house bass being slapped around. I enjoyed playing with him so much. Bluegrass shows will never be the same for me. When you jammed with Charlie he was such a delight. Always had that big smile. We had many a good jam sessions at Bubba and Jan Fisk Home. I don't know of any body that enjoyed a jam more than Charlie. And he always let us know how much he enjoyed it. I am honored to be asked to play and sing at his funeral. Our thoughts and prayers are with Barb and their family's. We will miss Charlie so much, thank God we have so many good memories with him and Barb. We love ya Charlie and Barb. Bluegrass Friends
Rick and Judy

I am fairly new to bluegrass compared to many of Charlie's friends having joined the circuit of jams and festivals in the mid-90s. I met Charlie at one of the earliest festivals Jan and I attended, probably Clinton. It didn't take long to fall in love with him and his wonderful banjo, voice and repertoire. I called Charlie my "jam magnet" because if Charlie was in a jam, others quickly joined. Add Barb to the combination and who wouldn't feel honored to count them among your friends. The bluegrass world has lost a wonderful ambassador and many have lost a part of their hearts. Charlie is now playing banjo with the angels just like he always wanted to play. Move over Earl, Charlie is in town.

Linda & I started jamming with Charlie at Bluegrass festivals & at HABOT while we lived in Kansas. When we moved to Lebanon, MO (bluegrass central) in 1997 we kept in touch. We enjoyed the care,that Charlie showed to all musicians especially the beginners. We fell in love with them & jammed together at all the festivals we went to where they were. He will be missed very much. Love to Barb & Family. Gary & Linda

The first banjo player that I ever saw playing in person up close was Jake Smith and a guy in a corner in the Roanoke Community Center in 1989. The second guy I met the next month was Charlie Hardin who was not only playing the banjo, but singing as he played it. I was mesmerized by both of these guys and I taped each of them as much as I could with my old cheap cassette recorder. I wanted to play a banjo so bad after seeing them each play with their respective styles and they both were very good to me as I struggled through the years to learn to play Bluegrass Banjo. Charlie always made Nancy and I feel welcome and we'll miss him dearly. I told Charlie a few years ago that I had that tape and he wanted it. Barb, as soon as I can dig it out, I'll give it you. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and Charlie. Mike and Nancy Stadler, Topeka, Ks

Charlie and I enjoyed many jam sessions together and when I was on stage playing at many a bluegrass festival it warmed my heart to look out and see Charlie and Barb setting close to the front row and cheering me on. The first time we played at HABOT (Green Valley Grass), Charlie asked me to get on stage with him and some other pickers and play a fast fiddle tune. He always laughed and said "He didn't mean for it to be that fast". We will miss you Charlie. Our prayers are with Barb and the family. Bob

You always remember folks like Charlie. The first time I had the pleasure was at a bluegrass show, (imagine that?), in Lathrop, MO. I didn't know anyone in the circle when I walked up, but only four hours later, it was if they were all family -especially Charlie.
He was the first person to give me a hard time about taking a "pass". He even charged me $5.00 for the first one, ha! After that, I was afraid the price would go up! The first time I ever went to Filmore, he told me I WAS going to get on stage. He stood right next to me. There is a picture of that on our refrigerator.

• Charlie always gave much more than he took
• He liked the song, Colleen Malone
• He always had the most comfortable pick'n chairs
• Seven bucks a night for tent camping, five bucks for the first pass, all the nights talking with him on that golf cart...PRICELESS!

With all heart-felt sympathy and comfort to Barb and the family - Ted and Jayne

I only met Charlie at the last HABOT jam I attended, which was back in November. We sat right next to each other and played banjos. It didn't take long to figure out that Charlie's heart was in bluegrass, even as he joked about the effect cancer was having on his playing.

I'm honored to have had at least one opportunity to jam with Charlie.

Gary Gray

I met Charlie 30 years ago and we used to go to Bransen and jam at the camp grounds until 4 or 6 o'clock in the morning. Many nights we'd jam all night long. He never got tired, he was always ready to play.

My family and I will miss him sorely.

As a fellow educator, pilot, and bluegrass musician, I have always felt a close bond to Charlie. I will never forget the times when we were jamming on a song, and we in the "zone" of jamming. What great memories of a great guy that always gave more than he got. His life has enriched mine, and I'm sure, all of ours.
While I have often heard about Angels playing harps, I truly believe they play banjos too.
Ed Sellers

Barbara
This is for you and Charlie, two people that always had time to listen to me, and knew what I was going through. Charlie was a good friend that will be deeply missed.
Much Love
Mike and Sandy Kirkendall