Aficionados of oldtime music of the 1970s through the early '90s will surely remember that rowdy oldtime stringband from Illinois, the Indian Creek Delta Boys (ICDBs), as being in the top strata of instrumental performers. One of the truly distinctive features of the Delta Boys sound was the driving rhythm guitar work of John Bishop.

One would have to harken back to the likes of a Riley Pucket or a Sam McGee to reference a stingband guitarist so unique, so lively and stand-out energetic as ol' "Bish." The man can drive.

That he has now taken up the fiddle, and that he applies the same energy to leading a hoedown as he always did in backing one should come as no surprise when you consider that both of his grandfathers and several uncles were oldtime fiddlers.

But perhaps the most formative influence on him was his mother Genievieve who played, among other things, fiddle tunes on the piano. As a young sprout at her knee, John was rightly impressed to see her bang out the melody with her right hand and accompany herself with her left. Gen still plays the piano at age 90.

John took up folk and oldtime music in the '60s with Terry and Garry Harrison, junior brothers of Airtight's Steve Harrison, and was one of the original band members of what was to become the Indian Creek Delta Boys. He was also aboard with the "Crick Delters" when the band dissolved in 1998. All told, Bish has been active with oldtime stringband music for around 40 years, about 20 years of that as guitarist for the ICDBs.

The backing of Garry Harrison's fiddling with the ICDBs has figured large as a major influence in Bish's own fiddling. And yet, he brings a hard driving gusto to fiddle tunes that can only be approximated by recordings of how he backed those same fiddle tunes on guitar.

Full of life, energy and drive, you're just pretty certain there's got to be quite a character driving that bow -- much as you would be correct in presuming that same notion by hearing how Gid Tanner leaned into it. Neither Bish nor Gid would stand for being accused of crocheting sweet doilies on the fiddle, but if you're really ready to rip on a dance floor, hang on to your hat. We've got your fiddler. Not that Bish (nor Gid) plays the tunes any faster than they should be, but there is an infectious rough-and-ready energy imparted that simply could never be taught at Julliard. It's better than "ragged-but-right," but just as much fun.

Bish also draws from the experience of backing some of the Midwest's "national treasure" senior oldtime fiddlers back in the '70s and early '80s, to include oldtime fiddle tune gold mine Harvy "Pappy" Taylor, Noah Beavers, Pete Priest and other now departed, last bastion fiddlers of that bygone age. No doubt, the privilege of accompanying such legendary Midwest fiddlers has figured huge in guiding Bish in the cultivating of his own fiddling style. What better sounding board to guide than the memory of accompanying those icons of musical history?

Though the metamorphosis of Bish from guitarist to fiddler is something of a new dawn, that certainly doesn't mean that he'll be wet behind the ears when he takes the stage with Airtight. As band member with the ICDBs, Bish has prowled the stage of some of the largest and most renowned oldtime music venues in the country, to include the Fiddlers Gathering at Battleground, Indiana, the Festival Under the Arch in St. Louis, New Harmony (IN), Wheatland Michigan, the Washington State Festival of American Fiddle Tunes (Port Townsend) and numerous other stages large and small throughout the country.

Other influences and study sources include fiddlers Ed Haley and John Hartford, sadly, both now departed. But it would be wrong to say that Bish has set out to fiddle just like anybody else. Influences, models and tutors (by recordings) are one thing, and an invaluable and necessary thing. But John will always go his own way, just as he always did on guitar. The Airtight sound will always be distinctive by Bish's fiddling, and we think all the better for it.

John is unattached in all respects except for his "good son" caring for his mother Genievieve. He served in the US Navy (1974-77) as a Signalman and is currently on staff at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston -- whenever he isn't sawing away at the fiddle.