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Banjocoltrane - Posted - 04/22/2008: 12:00:48
If you could meet any banjo player (that you haven't already), living or dead....who would it be?...and why?
I would want to meet Don Reno, back in the first days of Reno and Smiley. I'd like to find out where he got the fretboard knowledge he had, how much of it was by ear or how much theory he knew...and of course, to steal some licks from him.
"TAB is like Gerbers.....music can't be spoon-fed to ya forever."
http://www.jodyhughesmusic.com
Bird Dog - Posted - 04/22/2008: 12:04:08
Uncle Dave Macon - because I would love just to converse with him, love to see him play in person, and love to learn some licks from him.
Robin
Bird Dog - Posted - 04/22/2008: 12:05:22
By the way, I've met Don Reno, but I neglected to ask him any of that.
Robin
EggerRidgeBoy - Posted - 04/22/2008: 12:06:02
An African-American gourd banjo player in, say, Virginia, around 1750 or so.
Edited by - EggerRidgeBoy on 04/22/2008 12:07:52
HuberTone - Posted - 04/22/2008: 12:08:43
Steve Martin.........bet he'd be great guy, he's got some sweet banjos, and I was a huge fan of his stand-up/acting work before I knew he played. Plus, he's not just a famous actor who "dabbles" with the banjo- he's REALLY good.
I would love to sit down a pick a few with him, and swap some licks. I'd also like to inquire how much 'grass he listens to nowadays (any of the newer stuff), and who his favorite banjo players are.
"My girlfriend told me I'm not much of a lover, so I must be a heck of a fighter!"
Edited by - HuberTone on 04/22/2008 12:09:16
Bill Rogers - Posted - 04/22/2008: 12:13:25
Reed Martin--to get a read on his clawhammer style.
Bill
1four5 - Posted - 04/22/2008: 12:14:59
I don't even know who it is, but I would like to meet the banjo player playing the rhythmic banjo back up on Taylor Swift's hit country songs, that have no doubt made her a multi-millionair, and I'm sure have left her band members sitting pretty good. I just want to know how he got there.
Dean
Edited by - 1four5 on 04/22/2008 12:16:27
BrittDLD1 - Posted - 04/22/2008: 12:28:07
quote:
Originally posted by EggerRidgeBoy
An African-American gourd banjo player in, say, Virginia, around 1750 or so.
Hi ER Boy-
If you tell me what the gourd-player said. I'll tell you what Joel Sweeney told me, when I met with him -- while he was performing here in Boston, in 1840... (We ought to get a pretty-good idea of how far the banjo progressed from 1750 to 1840....)
Best-
Ed Britt
••• A good fiddle tune will bring two or more people together who might otherwise be enemies. •••
1153rsmith - Posted - 04/22/2008: 12:30:41
Earl.... he helped make it what it is today. Doug Dillard would be a close second though.
Randy
Fender FB-59
Has it ever occurred to you that nothing has ever occurred to God?
chip arnold - Posted - 04/22/2008: 13:08:56
I'd bring Will Keys back for a few more days. I just want to talk and pick a few more tunes. Nobody else on my list comes close.
**********************
Take what is given
Give what is taken
Chip Arnold
sjyokel - Posted - 04/22/2008: 13:11:46
That banjo player Banjo Diva uses for her avatar....
Is she really a banjo player? I don't suppose it matters.
Bill Rogers - Posted - 04/22/2008: 13:12:53
Can you say "Photoshop?"
Bill
philbywan - Posted - 04/22/2008: 13:15:47
Stringbean
Jaminbanjo - Posted - 04/22/2008: 13:25:22
Earl with the Foggy Mountain Boys.
Austin
"I never could like rock. It's not very complicated, and besides, they don't play very well. They play badly and they make a sound that's confusing." Nato Lima
BigRedWarEagle - Posted - 04/22/2008: 13:25:55
Pete Seeger
2007 Ome Juniper openback
Gary Lee - Posted - 04/22/2008: 13:27:12
Bill, I use to run into Reed many times back in the late 1970s. His command of the neck and his inventory of tunes was simply astonishing. And I don't know squat from clawhammer, drop thumb or whatever 'y'all call it... I guess to read his mind would be to learn every tune there is, then, maybe learn a little theory, but not too much. We don't want to sway off the path...In addition to Reed's musical expertise, he is a cool guy.
http://www.myspace.com/sologuy
EggerRidgeBoy - Posted - 04/22/2008: 13:35:26
quote:
Originally posted by BrittDLD1
quote:
Originally posted by EggerRidgeBoy
An African-American gourd banjo player in, say, Virginia, around 1750 or so.
Hi ER Boy-
If you tell me what the gourd-player said. I'll tell you what Joel Sweeney told me, when I met with him -- while he was performing here in Boston, in 1840... (We ought to get a pretty-good idea of how far the banjo progressed from 1750 to 1840....)
Best-
Ed Britt
••• A good fiddle tune will bring two or more people together who might otherwise be enemies. •••
Sounds like a great idea to me - it's a deal. 
Since "African-American gourd banjo player" is a bit generic, I guess I might be more specific and choose Scipio, who as far as I know is the earliest named banjo player:
From http://www.shlomomusic.com/default.asp:
In 1749, The Pennsylvania Gazette contained a notice of a runaway slave from Maryland, a "Negroe named Scipio," who was known to be headed to Philadelphia "where he has friends." The notice specified that Scipio "plays on the banjo and can sing." Apparently, he did make it to Philly because four months later there was another notice in the paper concerning Scipio. It seems that he was captured there but managed to escape. This particular notice states that Scipio "plays on the banjou and sings with it." Yet this is not the last we hear of this slave musician was very determined to attain his freedom. In 1757, we have one more runaway slave notice for Scipio, as he made yet another brave attempt at desperate flight to Philadelphia. In this last notice, we're told that Scipio "plays well on the banjoe."
Edited by - EggerRidgeBoy on 04/22/2008 13:46:56
Dead Wood - Posted - 04/22/2008: 13:50:43
quote:
Originally posted by sjyokel
That banjo player Banjo Diva uses for her avatar....
Is she really a banjo player? I don't suppose it matters.
Me too. I would like to meet that banjer picker in her avatar picture. I wonder does she like Turkeyburgers too?????? I really think it would be an honor to meet Diva too.
Turkeyburgers Rule......
thodges
Tomcat - Posted - 04/22/2008: 13:59:52
Raymond Fairchild, and I have known him for years, and he is still the most entertaining banjo picker on or off stage. Real Mountainman.I wish however I could spend some time just learning from him. He does stuff on that banjer that you can watch closely and still not have a clue as to what he's doing.
www.banjomafia.com
tallface65 - Posted - 04/22/2008: 14:01:36
I would like to meet with myself from 50 years from now...mainly just to see if I made it that long!
Jeff
tallface out
Edited by - tallface65 on 04/22/2008 14:04:02
swiggin - Posted - 04/22/2008: 14:35:40
John Hartford. He is the reason I started to play. Not only would it have bee incredible to see him musically entertain, but equally entertaining to hear of his stories on the steam boats (or aereo-plain), or whatever else.
rexhunt - Posted - 04/22/2008: 14:38:59
I've had the great fortune to meet many of the greats - some only briefly. I have not met JD or some of the younger players on the scene. I'd really like to have met Vess Ossman and Fred VanEps the great classical players from the late 1800's early 1900s.
Rex
slabounty - Posted - 04/22/2008: 14:39:37
I met John Hartford a couple of times before I took up banjo. I think I'd like to talk with him again and see how much if any clawhammer he did. I gotta believe that he dabbled in it at least.
Scott LaBounty
Orange, CA
brokenstrings - Posted - 04/22/2008: 15:25:44
Yes, Scott, he did, and you can see him on YouTube (on the Johnny Cash show, I think). For myself, any one of the following: Dock Boggs, Frank Proffitt, Libba Cotten, Peggy Seeger. (I've met Mike Seeger.)
Jessy
Frailaway, ladies, frailaway!
banjorookie - Posted - 04/22/2008: 17:26:48
I've already met Bela, so I guess in no particular order Earl, Tony, Steve, Ron, ...................................
BANJOROOKIE
06 Deering Sierra
www.myspace.com/janejonesband
Bear0422 - Posted - 04/22/2008: 17:28:36
I would say Kenny Ingram. And as soon as Rhonda and the band come over to my area, I'll make it my first priority to meet him.
Morgan Monroe
Rocky Top MGB-2
Mike Johnson - Posted - 04/22/2008: 19:04:53
Rudy Lyle .....and all the others who fought the skin head and still managed to sound like a million bucks and spread and develop the sounds that set us on fire.
Mike Johnson
Studebaker Hawk - Posted - 04/22/2008: 19:16:28
quote:
Originally posted by HuberTone
Steve Martin.........bet he'd be great guy, he's got some sweet banjos, and I was a huge fan of his stand-up/acting work before I knew he played. Plus, he's not just a famous actor who "dabbles" with the banjo- he's REALLY good.
I would love to sit down a pick a few with him, and swap some licks. I'd also like to inquire how much 'grass he listens to nowadays (any of the newer stuff), and who his favorite banjo players are.
Here's another vote for Steve Martin.
Steve may not be the "best" banjo player alive, but he sure did come up with some pretty neat original tunes (see the CD re-issue The Steve Martin Brothers). Many years ago I painstakingly slowed down this album and learned to pick many of his arrangements note for note.
Anyway, I think it would be a real hoot to sit down with Mr. Martin for a couple of hours, trade off parts on his double-banjo original Pitkin County Turnaround, and just generally chew the fat and talk banjos. Yeah, that would be a lot of fun.Your Pal,
Stu D. Baker-Hawk
"Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati"
plunka5 - Posted - 04/22/2008: 21:02:50
I love John Hartford, and have met and spoke with him several times, and was lucky enough to get to see him perform numerous times...still not enough though...
I would really like to have had an opportunity to see and hear Johnny Whisnant and Jimmy Arnold play the banjo.
my hand is out of tune...hold on a second...
brokenstrings - Posted - 04/22/2008: 21:15:46
quote:
Originally posted by slabounty
John Hartford with a bit of clawhammer on Johnny Cash ... http://youtube.com/watch?v=USGAvfxf...ture=related
Thanks Jessy!
Scott LaBounty
Orange, CA
Welcome! And didn't he look heartbreakingly young on that clip?
Jessy
Frailaway, ladies, frailaway!
plunka5 - Posted - 04/22/2008: 21:24:29
quote:
Originally posted by brokenstrings
quote:
Originally posted by slabounty
John Hartford with a bit of clawhammer on Johnny Cash ... http://youtube.com/watch?v=USGAvfxf...ture=related
Thanks Jessy!
Scott LaBounty
Orange, CA
Welcome! And didn't he look heartbreakingly young on that clip?
Jessy
Frailaway, ladies, frailaway!
Jessy, do you happen to know who the bass player, and the other guitar player are on that youtube clip? I know Vassar is on the fiddle, and Norman Blake is on the mandolin, along with John and Johnny.
ukbanjo - Posted - 04/22/2008: 21:53:51
I've been lucky enough to have met and played with most of my banjo heros over the years, but I would have really liked to meet Don Reno.
Cheers,
Howie (known as "Ukbanjo", but don't tell anydody!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The nice part of living in a small town is that when I don't know what I'm doing, someone else does."
fiddlebuster - Posted - 04/23/2008: 05:13:55
Bobby Thompson
The way I see it, the Good Lord made us all, and if we're good enough for him, we ought to be good enough for each other. Jed Clampett
thkidd - Posted - 04/23/2008: 06:32:58
It would have to be Earl. IMHO, he has been the biggest influence on 3-finger BG picking, and was there when BG music was born. I'd love to listen to him talk about all the things he's experienced, and how it feels to be so revered in the world of BG banjo.
I've been fortunate enough to meet JD, Kenny, and Jim Mills. I would love to meet Sonny too, and I would cherish the opportunity to sit down and talk with any of the above.
Darrell
"Measure your wealth not by the things you have but by the things for which you would not take money."
Saint Dick - Posted - 04/23/2008: 06:36:03
Raymond ...gonna get err done this week end
Everyone believes in something ...I believe...Life is God's gift to you.
The way you live it............is your gift to God.
slabounty - Posted - 04/23/2008: 07:58:56
Plunka5, Someone who actually knows should chime in here, but for some reason I think the guitar player is Charlie Collins and the bass player is Nashville A Team regular Bob Moore. Bob Moore's wife posts on another mail list I read and I believe she posted this originally.
Scott LaBounty
Orange, CA
Pitts - Posted - 04/23/2008: 08:07:36
Hmmm..... Hartford, Wade Ward, Uncle Dave, Cordell Kemp, Lewis Crook, George Pegram, Kyle Creed, Sam Sweeney(Joel W.'s Brother).......etc.etc.etc.
Theres no such thing as a bluegrass banjo that's too fancy.
There's also no such thing as an old-time banjo that's too simple.
Bird Dog - Posted - 04/23/2008: 08:08:35
I feel especially blessed BY (not just at) my age when reading all this, as I've met so many of the people mentioned. My band - which included banjo player Dave Dick - opened for John Hartford once, and it was that night that Dave and John first discussed the idea of a banjo with an extra fret added at the top end, which Deering later made a reality. And yes, John was a great performer and very interesting to talk to.
Robin
Pitts - Posted - 04/23/2008: 08:09:43
Hmmm..... Hartford, Wade Ward, Uncle Dave, Cordell Kemp, Lewis Crook, George Pegram, Kyle Creed, Sam Sweeney(Joel W.'s Brother).......etc.etc.etc.
Theres no such thing as a bluegrass banjo that's too fancy.
There's also no such thing as an old-time banjo that's too simple.
Pitts - Posted - 04/23/2008: 08:09:53
Hmmm..... Hartford, Wade Ward, Uncle Dave, Cordell Kemp, Lewis Crook, George Pegram, Kyle Creed, Sam Sweeney(Joel W.'s Brother).......etc.etc.etc.
Theres no such thing as a bluegrass banjo that's too fancy.
There's also no such thing as an old-time banjo that's too simple.
Bird Dog - Posted - 04/23/2008: 08:11:27
Just thought of another one: Joel Walker Sweeney's BROTHER, who rode with Jeb Stuart's cavalry and entertained the general and his officers and guests with banjo music. It is, I believe, his left-handed banjo that is preserved as the only example of Joel's handiwork (someone please correct me if I'm wrong). Man, what stories he'd have!
Robin
Bird Dog - Posted - 04/23/2008: 08:15:51
Oops, Pitts beat me to it. Three times!
Robin
Nancy - Posted - 04/23/2008: 08:32:32
It's a toss up between Earl Scruggs and Dr. Ralph Stanley. I like both.
Nancy
We Create Our Tomorrows by what we dream today.
adamsbj - Posted - 04/23/2008: 08:47:27
quote:
Originally posted by 1153rsmith
Earl.... he helped make it what it is today. Doug Dillard would be a close second though.
Randy
Fender FB-59
Has it ever occurred to you that nothing has ever occurred to God?
adamsbj - Posted - 04/23/2008: 08:49:08
[quote]Originally posted by 1153rsmith
Earl.... he helped make it what it is today. Doug Dillard would be a close second though.
Randy
Fender FB-59
Has it ever occurred to you that nothing has ever occurred to God?
[/quote
Randy, you can meet Doug Dillard every Sept. at mayberry Days in Mt.Airy,NC. He's very friendly, but a little shy. Barbara
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