Boyd1 - Posted - 06/17/2009:  14:45:42

I've been listening to the Whistlin' Rufus recorded by Ernest Thompson in 1924 (!) for a couple of months now. It is really great. Thompson IS a one man band! Does anybody have any thoughts about Thompson?

Also, has anybody figured out the lyrics he uses? I can't quite catch it all, but they are different than all the lyrics I've found on the net.

Does anybody play this song and have any thoughts about it? It seems to me to be fairly rare in OT circles.

I haven't found a great banjo version, but here is a good one on an anglo concertina:

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

"Don't make no blunder, they couldn't lose him,
For perfect wonder they had to choose him;
A great musician with a high position
Was whistling Rufus, the one-band man."

Thanks,
Boyd

***************************
Anything you can imagine is real. - Pablo Picasso

J-Walk - Posted - 06/17/2009:  16:23:35

I really like the tune, and try to play it. I didn't know it had words.

Dan Levenson has a nice version of that tune on his "Traveling Home" CD. He plays fiddle, with a guitar accompaniment. No banjo, so you can add your own.

For a solo banjo version check out Joel Mabus, on his Banjo Monologues CD

whyteman - Posted - 06/17/2009:  18:18:53

Wow.
I think I have a banjo recording of it on one of Stephen Wade's Cds. I hope so, as I admire his playing and I've found that I can incorporate some of his "banjo ideas" into my playing.

Don.

Haul off your overcoat and roll up your sleeve.

trapdoor2 - Posted - 06/17/2009:  19:54:02

From the lyrics you posted, he's probably singing something close to the original lyrics, written by Kerry Mills in 1899. Not exactly PC lyrics these days...great tune though and very popular with us Classic Banjo types.

Here's a version from 1902, sung by Dan Quinn:
http://www.archive.org/details/WhistlingRufus1902

===Marc

"If banjos needed tone rings, S.S. Stewart would have made them that way."

Boyd1 - Posted - 06/18/2009:  09:50:24

BHO member Carlb kindly sent me a group of different lyrics he has collected. He says that I can post them. You are correct trapdoor2- the closest match seems to be Kerry Mills. Just about identical. I've changed two words in lines 2 & 3 for obvious reasons. Go Rufus Blossom! And thank you so much Carlb!

Also- Don- I have Stephen Wade's cd Dancing in the Parlor. It has a tune called Reckless Rufus which is different, but really old sounding and lovely too. I wonder if this is what you are thinking about? If there is a Whistling Steven Wade, please let me know. Like you said, I hope so. I'm also going to have to see if I can get my fingers on a copy of Mr. Levenson and Mr. Mabus' versions!

*****

WHISTLING RUFUS
By Kerry Mills.
[omitted from broadside were that: Words by Murdoch Lind]
Copyright 1959, F. A. Mills, New York

Down in de south where de sly ole 'possum
Hides in de sycamore tree,
Dar lived a [Man] name o' Rufus Blossom
Black as a [Man] could be,
Rufe had a head like a big sledge-hammer
Mouth like a terrible scar,
But nuthin' could touch him in Alabama
When he played on his old guitar.

Chorus:
Don't make no blunder, you couldn't lose him,
A perfect wonder, they had to choose him,
A great musician of high position
Was Whistling Rufus, the One Man Band.

Miles he would tramp to a ball or party
In rainy weather or fine,
When he arrived he was welcomed hearty,
Out came the chicken and wine,
When he was froo wid de wine an' chicken, [froo wid de=through with the]
He'd play an' whistle so grand,
You'd think dat de angels an harps was pickin'
And dey called him the One Man Band. (Repeat Chorus.)




***************************
Anything you can imagine is real. - Pablo Picasso

Edited by - Boyd1 on 06/18/2009 09:53:30

Julian44_4 - Posted - 06/18/2009:  12:45:16

A Clawhammer TablEdit version of Whistlin' Rufus is available from my website

http://www.clawhammerbanjotab.co.uk

Andrew Kuntz/American Old Time/Whistlin Rufus

Edited by - Julian44_4 on 06/18/2009 16:45:14

wormpicker - Posted - 06/18/2009:  21:29:10

You can watch and listen to Dan Levenson fiddling Whistlin' Rufus here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDur5hDA5gE

He makes it look so easy, doesn't he?

Paul

Obsession is a great substitute for talent. -Steve Martin

g3zdm - Posted - 06/19/2009:  04:11:53

Yes but that version on Youtube (and all the bluegrass versions that I've found) only play an A and a B part.
I led this off at a local session here in Manchester UK - only to find them (the fiddlers) playing a C and D part that I wasn't aware of.
I have since found the sheet music with all 4 parts; A and B parts in key of G, C and D parts in key of C.
It's one of the versions that comes up if you search at :
http://trillian.mit.edu/~jc/cgi/abc/tunefind

You can also download a midi file of it at the same time.


Chris Muriel
Manchester, UK

trapdoor2 - Posted - 06/19/2009:  10:46:31

Yes, the American Banjo Fraternity recently published the 4-part version and I've got it tabbed out for classic three-finger. If anyone is interested, drop me a note and I'll send out a copy.

===Marc

"If banjos needed tone rings, S.S. Stewart would have made them that way."

whyteman - Posted - 06/19/2009:  14:27:06

Sorry Boyd.

My Whisltin' post was Reckless. Thanks.

Don.

Haul off your overcoat and roll up your sleeve.

banjothumper5 - Posted - 06/19/2009:  19:01:51

Sam & Kirk McGee recorded a nice version in the 20`s. They called it Rufus Blossom. It`s on the Document label, #8036

Allen

strokestyle - Posted - 06/20/2009:  13:52:25

Clark Buehling does this on his early Skirtlifter stuff and those fellows can really play music.
The Skirlifters "Fire Alarm" IF anyone is interested The CD is for sale on Banjo Billy's Website.

www.banjobilly.net

Enjoy.