Ron is a real visionary!

    — Lawrence Ferlinghetti (City Lights, San Francisco)

I have long admired Ron Whitehead. He is crazy as nine loons, and his poetry is a dazzling mix of flok wisdom and pure mathematics.

       — Hunter S. Thompson (Colorado)

Ron Whitehead is already acknowledged by many of his Elders to be a Major Literary Figure and the epitome of the wok ethic! Ron and I have collaborated, recorded and performed at major festivals and universities all over the USA and Europe. Ron Whitehead is an extraordinary motivator who inspires young people to pursue the highest standards, to work tirelessly and to celebrate the intellect by constante study of Classic Literature while remaining Creative. At 73, I continue to learn from him.

    — David Amram (New York)

I have had heard people talk about Ron Whitehead for years so when I heard him read at the The Ocean on the last night of the London International Poetry and Song Festival, I understood why. His poems and his reading of them are pure genius.

    — Carolyn Cassady (England)

Ron Whitehead is energetic Bodhisattvic poetic spirit! Happy to see and read so much poetry energy!

    — Allen Ginsberg (New York)

Ron Whitehead is Angry tender hearted Poet lover Who, Ripped open by life's Sharp, diamond caesarean Edge, Emerges awake, alive, Shaking blood and tissue. Howling at the, with a shriek, Morning Sun-- AAAAAGH!!!!!

    — Zen Master Dae Gak (Korea)

Ron Whitehead, fellow traveller, riding the winds of change between worlds, in the thick of the creative process...

    — Diane di Prima (California)

Listening to TAPPING MY OWN PHONE is like tapping into an oil well of inspiration; a poetic horn of plenty where the flavor of American political angst and true Kentuckian local color shoots its way straight to the soul. Ron Whitehead is at least Chaucer's equal. The BEAVER DAM ROCKING CHAIR MARATHON is a Masterpiece better than THE CANTERBURY TALES. Three cheers to Ron Whitehead!

    — Frank Messina (New York)

Ron Whitehead, out there in Kentucky, out there where the tall heroes used to grow, is sowing the dragon's teeth of new heroics.

    — Lawrence Ferlinghetti (California)

Ron Whitehead, His Holiness The Dalai Lama thanks you and offers his blessing and permission for you to create a poster of his message to you which you have written in the form of a poem. I would like to express my personal appreciation to you. Your poem of his Holiness's message is extremely powerful and moving. I am confident that it will inspire many.

    — Tenzin Geyche Tethong, Secretary to His Holiness The Dalai Lama (India)

I got to know Ron Whitehead's I WILL NOT BOW DOWN: Selected Poems 1990-1995 well and from it I feel an understanding for some of what Ron has been doing in the world. The physicality of which is astonishing — but that doesn't even compare with what kind of alchemy is happening on the mental levels. Ron Whitehead is Shaman and Shamas (the candle that lights other candles) contributing to, directing, promoting, integrating, expanding and possibly healing the consciousness of an artistic body of that sure does need heal to go to the next level, which I believe has something to do with the heart region. And if I might prophetize, I think that Ron will be seen as one of the great poets of our generation, which I believe spans about 50 years. The kids of tomorrow's wasteland are really going to need him. Just like we need Patchen and Kerouac. Those guys changed and saved my life.

    — Casy Cyr (Connecticut)

Ron Whitehead reminds me of Corso... early Yeats in the Celtic Twilight... Ferlinghetti... Ginsberg... spontaneous transcription emerging in a tumultuous rush... infused with Whitehead's belief in the magical transformation implicit in poetry, with the music of the poem serving as chant, incantation, ultimate pagan prayer... the same can be said for the poetry rants (Insomniacathons) Whitehead has been organizing around the country, non-stop marathon readings.

    — John Tytell (New York)

I've seen thousands blinded by the white light, halos and fractal geometry of Ron Whitehead. I've seen tundra-demons, geothermal genies, naysayers forever turned to stone by that Kentucky 'bone man'. And Yes, I've seen Ron Whitehead levitate over stages 3, 4 and 5,000 miles from Kentucky, held up high by coal mine spirits, red wine and Buddha at the palms of his feet.

    — Frank Messina (New York)

Ron's work is right up there with Mark Twain... It transcends politics. His work should be read in classrooms, as children's stories, Southern Studies, poetry classes, church reading groups... His work can reach the whole world... His work is way Beyond Beat!! Ron Whitehead's work is lyrical, touching and perfectly written AND SO REFRESHING... Nobody is doing what Ron Whitehead is doing... [he is] 100% Whitehead.

    — David Amram (New York)

Ron Whitehead is the greatest living writer... and he is still struggling to pay the bills... Ron Whitehead reminds us... they can lie and cheat and steal and even kill us but they'll never take our souls... Ron Whitehead reminds us that no matter what happens 'Never Give Up'!

    — Gui Stuart (Kentucky)