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Boyd1 - Posted - 09/11/2009: 16:35:45
Who is your banjo hero? And why? And PLEASE, only one per person. I hate to seem controlling, but it is not unheard of for these threads to get out of hand.
I pick Bascom Lunsford. Why? There is something I can't quite hear which is right below the song. I can't quit trying to hear it.., or to put it all together. I want to stop, almost, but it has made me very happy a thousand times for two or three minutes at a bang. It has got legs.
Thanks,
Boyd
P.S. Second place goes to Clarance Ashley. And all the rest of ya.
***************************
Anything you can imagine is real. - Pablo Picasso
EggerRidgeBoy - Posted - 09/11/2009: 16:40:00
Tom Adams, because every time I've ever seen him he has seemed to be having a great time, just happy to be onstage playing the banjo (or these days, the guitar). Because he's been completely content to play his "pre-Gulf War" 1981 Goldstar his entire career. Because he has an amazingly rock-solid sense of timing, no matter what instrument he is playing. Because he finds ways to be inventive within a fairly traditional bluegrass context. Because every time I have talked to him after a show he has been unfailingly friendly and helpful. And so on.
[Oops, just realized that your post was in the clawhammer/old-time forum - I'll think for a minute and find a more appropriate answer...]
Well, for old-time banjo I would have to say Mike Seeger - although that is really too small a catagory to encompass all the Mike accomplished. He is a musical hero, for his lifelong efforts to unearth, preserve, and popularize so much wonderful music, for his desire to pass along his knowledge to others, for his mastery of so many traditional banjo and guitar styles, and on and on.
A special honorary mention would go to Scipio, who is as far as I know the first banjo player whose name we know. A slave who escaped from Maryland to Philadelphia at least three separate times in the 1750's, he to me symbolizes all the anonymous African-Americans who created the banjo (and the early playing techniques from which clawhammer developed) in the 17th and 18th Centuries, without whom we wouldn't have any banjo music or banjo heros to even discuss.
Edited by - EggerRidgeBoy on 09/11/2009 18:26:21
banjotef - Posted - 09/11/2009: 16:53:54
Jim Mills. Not only a great picker, but great performer and loves the fans.
Go down pickin'
J-Walk - Posted - 09/11/2009: 17:44:31
Assuming banjo heroes don't have to be dead, I vote for Bob Carlin. Fast, musical, and clean. Emphasis on musical and clean. His recordings are very instructive to me, once you slow them down a bit. I've picked up a few things from him that have really helped my playing.
It's because I've been listening to a lot of BC lately. Specifically his "Box The Fox" tune. Ask me tomorrow, and I'll have a different still-alive hero. Maybe Dan or Adam.
Boyd1 - Posted - 09/11/2009: 17:51:19
Who is Scipio? And Bascom Lamar Lunsford was an up-picker. ONE PER PERSON, P-L-E-A-S-E. Follow the rules.
I say Fred Cockerham. Why? The fifth string is like maple syrup on flap jacks.
***************************
Anything you can imagine is real. - Pablo Picasso
GerryH - Posted - 09/11/2009: 18:12:46
Adam Hurt. His notes are crisp and clear. His playing is wonderfully melodic. He also has a way of making a tune his own. Plus, he is a nice guy who is approachable.
GerryH
Edited by - GerryH on 09/11/2009 18:14:39
EggerRidgeBoy - Posted - 09/11/2009: 18:23:55
quote:
Originally posted by Boyd1
ONE PER PERSON, P-L-E-A-S-E. Follow the rules.
Well, I followed your rules about as well as you did - unless you consider Bascom Lunsford, Clarence Ashley, and Fred Cockerham to be the same person. 
Edited by - EggerRidgeBoy on 09/11/2009 18:29:10
gunnah - Posted - 09/11/2009: 19:23:48
scott vestal....
ScottK - Posted - 09/11/2009: 19:28:37
Man, tough call! Did you really mean one per person? Or one per post? Or one per day?
Anyway, today I would have to go with Dan Gellert. Because he's the funkiest player I know. Plus I was listening to him in the car on the way home from work today. :-) 'Course, I was also listening to Mac Benford's "Half Past Four" CD ... ;-) Ask me again tomorrow!
Scott
Boyd1 - Posted - 09/11/2009: 19:42:32
Well, you got me scratchin' my head there EggerRidgeBoy. I didn't mean to climb under the fence. But now that you mention it, I'll say Dock Boggs. Why? Goose bumps.
***************************
Anything you can imagine is real. - Pablo Picasso
Bisbonian - Posted - 09/11/2009: 20:40:39
Pete Seeger. Anyone who would stand up to the House Un-American Activities Committee is a hero in my book, banjo or no. Pete also wrote what is likely the most widely distributed banjo instruction book out there, and even with whatever fault might be able to be found with it, I suspect that more people have learned from Pete Seeger's book than any other source. He plays several styles, including clawhammer (though most often up-picking and then brushing down). He plays mostly folk, but recorded some pretty good Old Time along the way. With a career going on 70 (?) years, and being a friendly ambassador for the banjo the whole time, it would be hard to find anyone who has done more to promote the banjo...unless it was his brother.
"When Banjos are Outlawed, only Outlaws will have Banjos."
rudy - Posted - 09/12/2009: 06:34:48
OK, my banjo hero is my friend Tom Turino of central Illinois.
Why? He's the most creative and innovative player I've heard and specializes in outside-the-box playing. He often plays with his son, Matt doing the fiddle part of thier banjo-fiddle duets. Matt's a whole nuther story...
They just released thier first studio album on CDBaby, so it's a chance for others to experiance his great clawhammer stylings.
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mtturino
Visit my website for assorted banjo construction information:
http://www.bluestemstrings.com/page...onTips1.html
banjo bill-e - Posted - 09/12/2009: 09:17:00
Dwight Diller, BECAUSE: his playing has power, mystery, joy, and a fierce, lonesome, passion. THAT is what he puts into the music, along with all the notes and such.
------------------
Bill
I'm trying for that "ragged, but right" sound. I'm half way there!
banjothumper5 - Posted - 09/12/2009: 09:17:56
Kirk McGee. Very rag influenced on his finger-pickin (I love rags) and great, straight-forward rhythmic style clawhammer picker. He made his banjo styles fit many types of songs that weren`t old time country tunes like Milk Cow Blues (blues), Keep A Light In Your Window Tonight (sentimental pop) and even close to getting into rock & roll with a couple of recordings in the 50`s on the Tennessee label called Rambler`s Blues & the way he played It`s Too Late To Change Your Mind. Kirk is WAY under-rated as a 5-sting picker in my book!!!
Allen
Check out my music blog at www.allensarchiveofearlyoldc....blogspot.com
Supertone - Posted - 09/12/2009: 09:33:42
Banjo Bill Cornett.
Pitts - Posted - 09/12/2009: 09:55:53
Leroy Troy. The man has drive to spare, is always friendly to fans, and knows more obscure songs than I thought was humanly possible. He also plays great two-finger style. A seriously under appreciated player.
Hot Dog!
black flag - Posted - 09/12/2009: 11:52:30
Kyle Creed
WGE - Posted - 09/12/2009: 12:09:39
Deceased hero: Tommy Jarrell
Still kicking hero: Adam Hurt
Cathy Fink - Posted - 09/12/2009: 14:19:04
Mike Seeger
R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 09/12/2009: 16:57:28
Ernest B. Lunceford
R.D. Lunceford- "Missourian in Exile"
Model 1865 Bowlin Fretless Banjo
****************************************************
"Drink from the Musselfork once, and you'll
always come back." -Dr. Bondurant Hughes, 1917
J-Walk - Posted - 09/12/2009: 17:47:41
R.D., have you posted recordings of your father's playing?
jpicker - Posted - 09/12/2009: 18:19:15
Dave Johnston
jpicker - Posted - 09/12/2009: 18:24:29
Dave Johnston
Basic Strum - Posted - 09/13/2009: 04:27:43
Pete Seeger. Before Pete, I thought banjos were only played in parades by people dressed in feathers. (Not that there's anything wrong with that.)
"He don't say much, but when he does ... he don't say much." Jack E. Leonard
janolov - Posted - 09/13/2009: 06:07:10
Uncle Dave Macon
.
Jan-Olov
chip arnold - Posted - 09/13/2009: 17:15:53
Will Keys. Because he was the best 2-finger picker ever to walk the earth.
**********************
Take what is given
Give what is taken
Chip Arnold
clawhammermike - Posted - 09/13/2009: 17:54:32
you had to know chip would pick will keys and for good reason.
I am a rule breaker - I like the living/dead combo.
dead- Roscoe holcomb.
I was actually thinking about the question before it was asked the other day and although I play and listen more to dock boggs and charlie poole stuff- it is roscoe out of the three that I feel a particular spiritual kinship too. he plays totally different then I do, but he is still my ultimate banjo hero.
living- Riley baugus
not even close. the most passionate modern player and singer I know to my ears. your ears might hear differently.
ZEPP - Posted - 09/13/2009: 19:39:01
OK. I really wrestled with this.
My wife, Carmen, said my hero is Howie Bursen. I had to agree.
But, I had also to say that my banjo hero is Pete Seeger. He was 50 years ahead of his banjo time, and I really, really appreciate what he has done for the banjo.
But then I listen to all of you, and realize that anyone who plays is my banjo hero. I learn something from everyone I hear.
May I never think otherwise!
Cheers.
ZEPP
oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 09/13/2009: 20:17:34
I've been having a long discussion with myself on this topic too, and can't say that I've found the answer.
See the thing is the obvious answer is Pete Seeger, who brought us all to the banjo. But then the obvious answer is Mike Seeger who showed us string band music. While the fact is that clawhammer dude in the Iron Mountain String Band was recording instrumental string band stuff years before the Fuzzies or The Indian Creek Delta Boys or Tommy Thompson were on record. And Fred Cockerham is the obvious answer because he was the greatest clawhammer player ever....... ...... ..... .... ...
And the fact is. I'm not big on banjo heros. It is all music.
http://www.rocketsciencebanjo.com
Rocket Science Banjo - Advanced Clawhammer Techniques for beginners and long time players alike. Plus videos and 25-40 EZ Clawhammer Tunes.
& check out "How To Mold A Mighty Pinky" at:
http://www.pricklypearmusic.net
banjo brad's great banjo site
Boyd1 - Posted - 09/13/2009: 23:48:16
Yeah, I was pretty confident Chip would pick Mr. Keys. And I have to say, C.H.Mike, I never really "Got" Charlie Poole until recently. Suddenly it opened in my ear. I love it when that happens! Now I've got my Mp3 full of it and ready to go for all my driving I need to do for work.
Hey by the way, does anybody know about this site? It is mostly jazz, but there is some cool OT and Blues stuff on it. Type in Charlie Poole and click on Mp3 to download!
http://www.jazz-on-line.com/pageinterrogation.php
***************************
Anything you can imagine is real. - Pablo Picasso
R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 09/14/2009: 01:04:08
quote:
Originally posted by J-Walk
R.D., have you posted recordings of your father's playing?
Alas, there are none. Green Corn and Cripple Creek on Cotton Blossom are pretty much the way he played them. My playing is a more elaborate version of his style. Actually, though he also has not been recorded, John Bowlin's playing, if you get to hear him, is similar to my Dad's. R.D. Lunceford- "Missourian in Exile" Model 1865 Bowlin Fretless Banjo **************************************************** "Drink from the Musselfork once, and you'll always come back." -Dr. Bondurant Hughes, 1917
Alan Hill - Posted - 09/14/2009: 12:42:04
I have to agree with Mr Zepp Howie burson would be my hero and if we were allowed a second hero Mr Zepp would also be my choice !
alan
Alan Hill - Posted - 09/14/2009: 12:43:04
I have to agree with Mr Zepp Howie burson would be my hero and if we were allowed a second hero Mr Zepp would also be my choice !
alan
WilliamD - Posted - 09/14/2009: 17:14:09
My great uncle Red. If it weren't for him, I would be playing today. He's the reason I play clawhammer.
"Bluegrass has brought more people together and made more friends than any music in the world."-Bill Monroe
deuceswilde - Posted - 09/14/2009: 20:51:50
Clarke Buehling for me.
He is a master of thimble and guitar styles.
And a heck of a nice guy.
-Joel Hooks
Success always comes to those who have the money to buy it.
-The Adventures of a Banjo Player, 1884 p.26
Boog - Posted - 09/15/2009: 09:22:31
Bela Fleck
GreasyCreek - Posted - 09/15/2009: 15:01:27
Chip Arnold. he's so patient with us newbies. Maybe one day I'll even get my right hand fingers moving in the same direction as his....
Old time forever....
Ronnie - Posted - 09/15/2009: 15:01:38
Mary, you and John are at the top of my list! Great musicians and great folk to hang out with!!
www.bobbythompsonbanjo.com
chip arnold - Posted - 09/15/2009: 15:31:37
Aw heck Richard :-) Thanks so much! I hope you can get to the Fall Festival at the Folk School. We'll get some tunes in.
Here's Will Keys at the Kennedy Center with Doug Dorshug backing him on guitar:
http://www.kennedy-center.org/progr...id=WILLKEYS#
And here's Will's website. Please sign the guestbook. His family loves to know that folks are interested in Will's music.
http://www.willkeys.com/screen2/index.html
**********************
Take what is given
Give what is taken
Chip Arnold
georgiacdt - Posted - 09/15/2009: 19:24:47
Mine has to be David"Stringbean"Akeman. He was my earliest memory orther than my grandfather.
chip arnold - Posted - 09/16/2009: 07:38:36
Who was your grandfather? Was he from Union or Towns County? I wonder if I ever heard him.
**********************
Take what is given
Give what is taken
Chip Arnold
Boyd1 - Posted - 09/16/2009: 09:19:45
Fate Norris. Why? Because even though I can't really hear him, I know he's got to be tops.
Or maybe Hayes Shepherd (who I can hear just fine).
***
Edit: Where are all the Wade Ward fans?
***************************
Anything you can imagine is real. - Pablo Picasso
Edited by - Boyd1 on 09/16/2009 09:26:39
devoall - Posted - 09/17/2009: 00:20:47
I would say Pete Seeger.
American Industrial Ballads is one of my favorite records ever. he mostly just played to accompany himself, but he could also lay down a mean lick if he had too.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------" Take it easy, but take it."--Woody Guthrie
RG - Posted - 09/17/2009: 00:47:48
OK Boyd...I'll put my vote in for Wade...incredible style, tone and timing...other wordly (like 19th Century worldy)...and also Gaither Carlton...since his style (along with Wade) is so archaic in timing and so tastefully played...oh, and Glen Smith who could play fretless like nobody's business...where do those slides come from?? Gotta recognize Will Keys, Fred Cockerham, Tommy Jarrell, Pete Steele, Clyde Davenport, Gene Conley, Oscar Wright, Rufus Crisp (who was playing CH in 1903 and lost his only banjo contest to Uncle Dave)...I like that old stuff man!!! I can have more than 1 right???
A banjo picker walks into a restaurant after a jam and realizes that he forgot to lock the car doors with his banjo in the back...he runs out to the parking lot and back into the restaurant 1 minute later sobbing hysterically...the waitress asks "Did someone steal your banjo?"...to which the banjo picker replies..."It's even worse than that…now there are 2 banjos in the back seat!"...
Edited by - RG on 09/17/2009 01:13:13
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