TheChief - Posted - 02/22/2011:  07:24:52

---

I've seen several of the shows we were on, but I have no way of knowing the rotation. We were on that show
about once a month. The Wilburn Brothers were a very interesting lot.

s

1935tb-11 - Posted - 02/22/2011:  18:21:11

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheChief

I've seen several of the shows we were on, but I have no way of knowing the rotation. We were on that show
about once a month. The Wilburn Brothers were a very interesting lot.

s

---

----------------------------------------------------------
i detect a sub meaning there sonny. but no matter you and bobbys version of ARKANSAS is still the best version ever recorded and THEY knew it too!!!!!!!

i believe in my heart that if you guys had sit on that song and released it tomorrow it would go to the top of the charts in 2 weeks!
i might be a little prejudice but that has to be
one of the best songs you guys ever did. IMHO


terry m

---

Edited by - 1935tb-11 on 02/22/2011 18:24:14

TheChief - Posted - 02/22/2011:  20:50:24

---

I agree with you Terry. Arkansas is one of the better songs to come along. Written by Damon Black..and I've been to Croley's Ridge. Good writer.
A good song is always a good song...PERIOD!

s

Sonny Osborne Banjo Company
P O Box 647
Hendersonville, TN 37077
chiefbanjo@comcast.net
615-824-0096
web site: sonnyosborne.com
"IN GOD WE TRUST"

1935tb-11 - Posted - 02/23/2011:  15:45:54

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that little banjo break you did in that song has for some reason always sent chills up my spine. it was almost like you wrote the break and song was written around it.
has damon black wrote any others i any have heard of? that is such a real life type of song.



terry m

1935tb-11 - Posted - 02/23/2011:  15:54:45

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i did a bio search on damon black.. WOW i didn't realize he wrote
so many songs. porter did a complete album of all damon black songs. and stuff like Tall Pines, and Simon Crutchfields Grave .....
great stuff there.

terry m

TheChief - Posted - 02/24/2011:  07:20:13

---

I met him a couple times. I thought he also wrote a song we did :"Samuel Wilder's Will" but I'm not sure about that. Seems as though I remember he delved in politics some.
Success is the quality of songs an artist has to record...which goes down the line to the publisher and how hard he works to get his writer's songs recorded by the right artist..then ultimately it comes to the song writer and the aforementioned; A good song is always a good song. Consisting of well thought out lyrics.

But then, on the other hand, John Hartford told me he wrote a song in 15 minutes. And it is still one of the most programed songs in the history of music. The song, you ask?
"Gentle On My Mind."
?????????????? Go figger!

S

Oh..I forgot. I'm delivering Chuck Wallace a beautiful Mahogany Chief today. His 4th Chief.

Sonny Osborne Banjo Company
P O Box 647
Hendersonville, TN 37077
chiefbanjo@comcast.net
615-824-0096
web site: sonnyosborne.com
"IN GOD WE TRUST"

whywild - Posted - 02/24/2011:  10:32:53

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Sonny - have you heard how JD is doing since his surgery? Hope you're doing well.
Doug

TheChief - Posted - 02/25/2011:  08:02:35

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Doug..no I haven't. I thought they would let me know but I guess they're busy. If he wasn't, we would have heard by now, don't you think?
You doing OK?

s


Sonny Osborne Banjo Company
P O Box 647
Hendersonville, TN 37077
chiefbanjo@comcast.net
615-824-0096
web site: sonnyosborne.com
"IN GOD WE TRUST"

TheChief - Posted - 02/25/2011:  08:05:17

---

Oh, I nearly forgot.

JAMES LORENZ of Grand Rapids, MI. Received his new Maple Chief Thursday. He reports that it arrived safely.

s

Sonny Osborne Banjo Company
P O Box 647
Hendersonville, TN 37077
chiefbanjo@comcast.net
615-824-0096
web site: sonnyosborne.com
"IN GOD WE TRUST"

whywild - Posted - 02/25/2011:  08:28:56

---

Thanks Sonny.....I saw on one of the other posts that JD's wife passed along that he's doing OK. I'm sure the recovery isn't going to be a lot of fun, but I imagine he'll have plenty of people giving him the encouragement to work through it. I'm enjoying life after the Army...like getting home at a normal hour every night. I'm looking forward to seeing you in the fall....got my registration in already for camp. I hope to see Bill Emerson tomorrow night at a small concert he's doing with his band at a church here in Virginia. It's always a pleasure to see Bill pick. Take care!
Doug

TheChief - Posted - 02/28/2011:  15:43:21

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The Grascals, (and 12 year Veteran of The Osborne Brothers) Terry Eldredge's Mom (MaryJane Eldredge) passed from this life this AM at 10:30.

Terrible news.

s

---

Edited by - TheChief on 02/28/2011 15:53:59

JimmieSue - Posted - 03/01/2011:  04:39:34

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OMG Chief!!! That's AWFUL news!!! Was she sick - or was this completely out of the blue?

Please extend my deepest and most sincere condolences to El and his family! He and the rest of the Grascals are always in my heart.....now....more than ever.

Woolpersteve - Posted - 03/02/2011:  03:52:19

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Sonny,
I posted on Facebook a video of the Osborne Brothers playing Ruby at the Newport Festival. George Shuffler was on guitar.The question then became how often did George play with you or was it just that festival.
Steve

Woolpersteve - Posted - 03/02/2011:  06:58:19

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Hey Chief, we have a second opinion that Benny Birchfield was on guitar in that video.Maybe that is the answer.
Steve

TheChief - Posted - 03/02/2011:  08:12:58

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George Shuffler was playing Guitar with The Stanly Brothers in 1964. We were on that festival, Benny Birchfield played the Guitar with us and we asked George to play Bass. He did.
I met Bob Dylan there, Judy Collins, Buff Saint Marie too, (I might be wrong) and all kind of folk singers. Judy Collins asked to borrow my banjo (RB3) for Pete Seeger to play. He was there without a banjo, I told her no.
Interesting!

s

Woolpersteve - Posted - 03/03/2011:  17:43:39

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Sonny,
The CBS Evening News has been running a story about replacing a home's foreign made contents with only American made furnishings.It wasnt easy.I figure maybe the only thing I get to keep were I the subject of the piece is my Chief.My dog maybe but that is guessing .She is from Missouri.
Steve

Woolpersteve - Posted - 03/03/2011:  17:44:27

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Sonny,
The CBS Evening News has been running a story about replacing a home's foreign made contents with only American made furnishings.It wasnt easy.I figure maybe the only thing I get to keep were I the subject of the piece is my Chief.My dog maybe but that is guessing .She is from Missouri.
Steve

TheChief - Posted - 03/05/2011:  12:16:05

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Missouri counts..Dale Sledd and the Dillards, Porter Waggoner, and our greatesat president, Harry Truman are all from there. (And I'm not a Damocrat) .

s
Sonny Osborne Banjo Company
P O Box 647
Hendersonville, TN 37077
chiefbanjo@comcast.net
615-824-0096
web site: sonnyosborne.com
"IN GOD WE TRUST"

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 03/05/2011:  12:44:15

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheChief

Missouri counts..Dale Sledd and the Dillards, Porter Waggoner, and our greatesat president, Harry Truman are all from there. (And I'm not a Damocrat) .

s
Sonny Osborne Banjo Company
P O Box 647
Hendersonville, TN 37077
chiefbanjo@comcast.net
615-824-0096
web site: sonnyosborne.com
"IN GOD WE TRUST"

---

That is why I miss Keep on the Sonny Side in Banjo Newsletter. Plain and to the point speaking. Harry was like that too.
Ken

TheChief - Posted - 03/08/2011:  17:18:48

---

About send a Mahogany Chief to John Frizon of Victoria Austrailia.

How about that.

Sonny Osborne Banjo Company
P O Box 647
Hendersonville, TN 37077
chiefbanjo@comcast.net
615-824-0096
web site: sonnyosborne.com
"IN GOD WE TRUST"

dshields - Posted - 03/08/2011:  17:54:48

---

That's really cool, Chief. The Tribe has gone global!

BTW, I connected with Charlie Cushman and will deliver my Chief to him for set-up when I'm in Nashville next week.

TheChief - Posted - 03/10/2011:  10:53:15

---

Charlie Cushman knows his way around setting up a banjo. He's very good.Maybe has reached the "best" level.
Oh, Charlie is now working with Michael Cleveland's band; The Flamethrowers!!!!

s
Sonny Osborne Banjo Company
P O Box 647
Hendersonville, TN 37077
chiefbanjo@comcast.net
615-824-0096
web site: sonnyosborne.com
"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Woolpersteve - Posted - 03/10/2011:  11:02:34

---

Sonny,
Talking to Charlie about setting up banjos is like to talking to Frank Neat about building them.They have a great feel for what has to be done and in the end they just KNOW .I saw Charlie with Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper a few weeks back. That is a great fit for both .
Steve

TheChief - Posted - 03/11/2011:  08:00:48

---

No one on this planet has the feel for banjos as does Neat.
Charlie however, is in his own world when it comes to setup.

He ain't a bad player either!!!!!!!

"FLAMETHROWER"

s

Sonny Osborne Banjo Company
P O Box 647
Hendersonville, TN 37077
chiefbanjo@comcast.net
615-824-0096
web site: sonnyosborne.com
"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Woolpersteve - Posted - 03/11/2011:  09:47:14

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Sonny,
Have you asked the band to officially change their name to "Flamethrowers"? Maybe they will.
Steve

TheChief - Posted - 03/13/2011:  06:53:15

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I haven't asked yet, but I will.

s

caloscalzo - Posted - 03/16/2011:  10:18:01

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Sonny

You're absolutely right. Just bought a Neat "Kentucky" and it is an amazing instrument. When I grow up, maybe I'll be player enough to own a Chief!!!

Go Big Blue. You gonna watch game tomorrow?

Craig
Lexington, KY

dshields - Posted - 03/16/2011:  12:21:18

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Picked up my Chief from Charlie Cushman this morning. What a great job he did on the banjo and what a terrific guy Charlie is! He put a new AMB head on it and a new bridge, got rid of a buzz that had developed and now I've got a new banjo again. The best part was that he played a few tunes for me to let me hear how it sounds.

Thanks, Sonny, for making the banjo available and for the recommendation of Charlie to do set ups.

-David

TheChief - Posted - 03/17/2011:  07:26:47

---

I was presented with an email yesterday telling me that Carlton Haney had passed from this life and it brought back a ton of memories of the little man who had faith in Bluegrass when few did. I would imagine his name is foreign to most of you but he was so very important to Bluegrass as well as Country music.
He was the originator of the Bluegrass festival idea way back in the early 60's, and the Country Package shows that were so successful during this same time period. He would hire the biggest names in Country Music, put them all together on one big performance..and he would always include one Bluegrass band..and for the most part The Osborne Brothers. This was at a time when Bluegrass couldn't buy, beg, or steal getting records played on Country radio. That being King in those days. (Before JM declared himself King of Bluegrass) Carlton forced radio stations to play our records to promote his shows. This, along with a few other breaks made for a suiccessful (somewhat) career.
Before that he managed Reno and Smiley and before that he had done some work with Bill Monroe. Yet, he was one of the most disorganized people I've ever known. How he managed to get and keep all that he was doing in some sort of order is a mystery to me..but somehow he did.
Carlton Haney's contributions were enormous..and wont be forgotten here.
Rest in Peace Carlton, Rest in Peace.

s

Woolpersteve - Posted - 03/30/2011:  05:47:23

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Sonny , Quick change of topics but " Jorts for President !"
Steve

TheChief - Posted - 03/30/2011:  16:16:30

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Good idea. Like us..we wouldn't be in the shape we're in if it weren't for our president..UK wouldn't be in the shape they're in were it not for their president. Josh!

s

dale v - Posted - 04/01/2011:  05:35:18

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hey Sonny,off topic for a moment, saturday's game i say UK 59 uconn51

TheChief - Posted - 04/01/2011:  07:30:29

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Dale..I see it a lot closer. Actually, it hinges on how UK's freshmen play. If they play up to their standard which they set in the last 6 or 7 games they could have a National title. If not, well, they made it to the final 4 which is more than 900 others can say.
Do I hope they win it all, yep.

Banjo wise, I have Ugly tuners in stock, and several Maple banjos.
Sneaky? Yep!

s

Woolpersteve - Posted - 04/01/2011:  07:51:40

---

Sonny ,
Are you saying UK will win Ugly? Nice tie in .If Liggins can hold Walker to a reasonable , non-Hawaii tournament day , and Jorts can stay out of foul trouble again, I think they will be beat UConn.Coach Cal has had a week to prepare and this team has bought into what he had to sell to them.Last year's team wasnt a dribble /drive team because they had the worng personnel . I would love to see , if the game is in hand, the Kentucky weave at the top of the foul circle-just once.
Steve

RB00 - Posted - 04/01/2011:  18:53:33

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Congrats to Wichita State my alma mater. Winners and lost in the obscurity of the NIT Tourney. Go Kentucky!!
Len

ProudChiefOwner - Posted - 04/06/2011:  07:50:49

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Just wanted to say hi from Scotland,  my banjo is still looking great and sounding amazing.

I bought the Sonny Osborne Banjo DVD a few months back .....amazing how much my Chief sounds like his Granada.

Thanks

Sam

---

Edited by - ProudChiefOwner on 04/06/2011 07:55:31

TheChief - Posted - 04/06/2011:  09:40:06

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Hey Sam..thanks. I liked the video in that it does what I wanted it to do. (Mess you up forever)  {; -)>  Kidding of course.

The Chief was designed from The Granada and is close. (Close only works in horseshoes and hand granades though) I'm in one of those moods today. Sorry.

Thanks for real. I appreciate your getting the DVD and Chief banjo. If either of them give you a problem call or email me. I'll fix it!

THAT'S FOR REAL!

s

Sonny Osborne Banjo Company

P O Box 647

Hendersonville, TN 37077

chiefbanjo@comcast.net

615-824-0096

web site: sonnyosborne.com

"IN GOD WE TRUST"

---

Edited by - TheChief on 04/06/2011 09:47:57

Ronnie - Posted - 04/06/2011:  09:47:45

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Ever considered selling the Fat Banjo?

TheChief - Posted - 04/07/2011:  07:25:54

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I probably would, if the price were right. I used it on "The Kind of Woman I Got." It did it's job. Charlie Cushman has it now doing a complete set up.

S

Sonny Osborne Banjo Company

P O Box 647

Hendersonville, TN 37077

chiefbanjo@comcast.net

615-824-0096

web site: sonnyosborne.com

"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Ronnie - Posted - 04/07/2011:  10:44:50

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I'll see what is in the piggy-bank.

ProudChiefOwner - Posted - 04/07/2011:  12:43:16

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I don't know what say except, thank you Mr Osborne, that is very kind of you.

I may do that one day !

 

james lloyd - Posted - 04/12/2011:  12:00:48

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Hi everyone, this is James Lorenz and I just got my new Chief a few months ago and I just wanted to get on here and say what a great banjo it truly is. And a big thanks to Sonny and all those involved in producing such a fine instrument and the great experience of purchasing one!

TheChief - Posted - 04/18/2011:  14:27:29

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James..I'm glad you're enjoying the Chief. It's my aim that you do, so we're both happy.

we try!

 

s

 

RatLer - Posted - 05/03/2011:  15:23:48

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Bump................5 pages back!!!!!!

TheChief - Posted - 05/04/2011:  10:44:50

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No one talks anymore. We have asked and answered all the questions and we just sit back and wait for stuff to happen.

When it does we solve it, and sit back again!!!!!

 

No problem.

s

Sonny Osborne Banjo Company

P O Box 647

Hendersonville, TN 37077

chiefbanjo@comcast.net

615-824-0096

web site: sonnyosborne.com

"IN GOD WE TRUST"

laceyth9 - Posted - 05/04/2011:  11:27:32

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Sonny,

We live in the Dayton area (Jamestown) and our family band had a concert in Dayton last Sunday night and I usually tell a little bit about my banjo during the concert.  I always ask if anyone has ever heard of the Osborne brothers and of course most folks raise their hands.  I then tell them the story of Chief #5 and how it fell into my hands.  Almost every time, at the end of the concert, someone will come up and say they know either you or Bobby personally.  Last Sunday, a lady came up and said you were a friend of her family when you were all young and that she used to go over to your family's house and play instruments.  What a thrill that would have been.  I'm sorry I didn't catch her name.

Hope you're doing well.

Tim L.

TheChief - Posted - 05/04/2011:  12:06:28

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Dayton was our growing up place although we were from Hyden (Thousand sticks) Kentucky.  My Dad worked his entire working life at NCR in Dayton.

I graduated from the 9 1/2  grade from Fairview High School in Dayton. Had a lot of friends there. Actually the first 4 yrs was at Central grade school in Dayton and the next 9 were at Jefferson Twp.. Then Fairview.

I trust your number 5 is still doing well. That banjo has some history. Dana Cupp played it for awhile, Dale Perry used it with Doyle Lawson for a spell.

Pretty good one as I remember. It's about 12 years old now.

 

s

Sonny Osborne Banjo Company

P O Box 647

Hendersonville, TN 37077

chiefbanjo@comcast.net

615-824-0096

web site: sonnyosborne.com

"IN GOD WE TRUST"

 

pickNgrin - Posted - 05/04/2011:  12:25:48

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheChief



I was presented with an email yesterday telling me that Carlton Haney had passed from this life and it brought back a ton of memories of the little man who had faith in Bluegrass when few did. I would imagine his name is foreign to most of you but he was so very important to Bluegrass as well as Country music.

He was the originator of the Bluegrass festival idea way back in the early 60's, and the Country Package shows that were so successful during this same time period. He would hire the biggest names in Country Music, put them all together on one big performance..and he would always include one Bluegrass band..and for the most part The Osborne Brothers. This was at a time when Bluegrass couldn't buy, beg, or steal getting records played on Country radio. That being King in those days. (Before JM declared himself King of Bluegrass) Carlton forced radio stations to play our records to promote his shows. This, along with a few other breaks made for a suiccessful (somewhat) career.

Before that he managed Reno and Smiley and before that he had done some work with Bill Monroe. Yet, he was one of the most disorganized people I've ever known. How he managed to get and keep all that he was doing in some sort of order is a mystery to me..but somehow he did.

Carlton Haney's contributions were enormous..and wont be forgotten here.

Rest in Peace Carlton, Rest in Peace.



s

---

 

This is kind of late, but for those who don't already know there is a wonderful documentary called Bluegrass Country Soul that is available on DVD. It is all about Carlton Haney's 1971 Camp Springs (NC) festival. There is some great footage of Mr. Haney, and some awesome footage of the Osborne Brothers too. Anybody who has not seen it ought to get ahold of a copy and check it out.   

-matt

Gary Griffin - Posted - 05/05/2011:  09:50:32

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Ok Here's the question Sonny. When is the book

coming out?