I took a banjo lesson with Jim in 1975. Great player. I should have taken more lessons but going to Ann Arbor on Saturday afternoons during football season was hard.

Here he is with the RFD boys.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BesgutXishU

Posted - 10/29/2009 :  15:34:37    

Great pickin and great song.

Poverty Ridge Bluegrass

Posted - 10/29/2009 :  15:38:00            

DANG! That Great Lakes banjer sounds FABULOUS!!

"Gospel. The most powerful music in this world and the next."



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Posted - 10/29/2009 :  16:04:44          

I spent way too much time at the "Pretzel Bell" watching the RFD Boys ~1978-81, considering I was a poor college student. Willard's picking was magical. His break on "Billy in the Low Ground" makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end every time I hear it.

Jim

Posted - 10/29/2009 :  18:06:15          

Very nice, thanks for sharing.

"If the woman is alive at the end of the song, it ain't Bluegrass".

2007 Hatfield Walnut Custom

1976 (?) Aria Pro Tree of Life

Posted - 10/29/2009 :  19:05:36    

The "Pretzel Bell" was a great place and I went there many times. Not many bands can say they've been around 40 years. When I took my lesson I did a melodic version of "Dixie Hoedown" using hammer-ons and pull-offs in a Scruggs style. Jim explained to me what melodic style was and got me a few books to work with. Gosh, I wish I would have taken more lessons. Hard to believe that's 34 years ago. Just think, I could have been good by now!