On John SaFranko's brand-new cd,2001's"The Spirit Of Black Hawk Road", Hirth Martinez says"It went straight to my heart. I think it's beautiful." Hirth, a Bob Dylan"discovery," had his first Warner Bros. album produced by no less than Robbie Robertson of the Band. His second and subsequent albums were produced by John Simon (Leonard Cohen,Simon & Garfunkel,Gordon Lightfoot,etc.), and session players included Dr. John and Garth Hudson. Hirth has co-written songs with Libby Titus (who wrote Bonnie Raitt's"Love Has No Pride"), and, most recently, Donald Fagen (the co-writer and voice of Steely Dan).Paul Downie, a musician active on the Philadelphia scene says"John's music is unique. It's sometimes gentle, yet refuses to become background music; sometimes aggressive, yet won't chase you off; somewhat mysterious, but not inaccessible."Paul Barbagallo, a writer for the Post in New Jersey, says this CD and the previous ones"reflect the wide pantheon of love\'s gentle and ragged reaches, the isolation of urban existence, and the peacefulness of the American frontier."John SaFranko is a 2005 and 2006,2007,2008 and 2009 ASCAP Award winner.Released in 2001.