TheChief - Posted - 09/26/2011:  22:33:48

Ken you are too kind.

You are right again. The banjo tone (sound)  is in the hands of the player. I've heard many old banjos sound rather common, and, as in the case of Joe Medford who recorded several early songs with Mac Wiseman, Little White Church,  I'm a Stranger Here and Tis Sweet To Be Remembered being three of the songs. The tone is nearly unbeatable yet he used the cheapest RB100 without a tonering. If you're not familiar with these recordings you should listen to them. Recorded in 1950 on Dot label.

s

momo - Posted - 09/26/2011:  22:41:54

Sonny, I have a question at one point Bobby had his Mandolin fingerboard painted red what was the reason behind that?

TheChief - Posted - 09/27/2011:  11:16:36

No real reason. I guess by you talking about it would be a reason. I know that it served no musical purpose, it didn't make him play better, or worse. I guess it was just something that he wanted to do. I never asked why, I was too busy with my part of the deal to worry about it too much. What with driving the bus, being our booking agent, trying to sing my part and play the banjo, distributing the money to it's rightful owners, didn't leave me very much time to worry about whether he painted his mandolin or not. {:-)>

Now that you mention it, wonder why he did that????? 

s

I'll ask Jim Smith if he knows...Hey Smith.! You know why he did that??? ;)  Good Time Chris, I don't really know. I do know that when that picture of Lester and  Earl was made, Earl was dangerous! SCARY! He was that good.

s

Edited by - TheChief on 09/27/2011 11:24:10

chief3 - Posted - 09/27/2011:  12:45:40

I'm thinking this is Bobby's red fingerboard. I use to wonder what that was all about as well.  I just noticed, it matches the shirts really well.

Edited by - chief3 on 09/27/2011 12:49:09

Bobby and Sonny

 

bhrb75 - Posted - 09/27/2011:  14:36:14

If you'll look real closely on the Camp Springs '71 video, that red fingerboard can be seen while Bobby is wiping sweat off his face while singing Ruby. I think you can see it to on the same video where it appears that Sonny is blowing in Ronny Reno's ear on the chorus of Rocky Top. If you haven't seen this video, you need to because there was no other group in my opinion that had the "onstage energy" and the presence that the Osborne Brothers did.

B.

Ebanjo - Posted - 09/27/2011:  16:53:11

Sonny, You mentioned Joe Medford in a previous post. Man what a banjo player. There was also an album out back in the 80's of him playing with the Murphy Brothers on WPAQ in Mt. Airy, N.C. around
1950. I never saw the RB-100, but I did see a picture of him playing a RB-1. Do you remember Gar Bowers that played on the original cuts of "Christmas Time's A'Comin'" and "The First Whipporwill"?
These two fellows seemed to have Earl's right hand stuff figured out a little earlier than most everyone else.
Eric Ellis

bhrb75 - Posted - 09/27/2011:  17:16:43

Hey Eric didn't that Murphy Brothers record have Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms? If that's the same cut I'm thinking about that was some pretty scary playing!

B.

dale v - Posted - 09/27/2011:  21:55:49

very good recording,but..... the Osborne Brothers w/Mac Wiseman is hard to beat

ps   my son & I were talking about that CMH record not long ago,he had asked  me what Sonny was doing, now  i said keeping the Chief banjo's going,headed for Nashcamp, To that he replies.. no doubt what he was doing in 1989,absolutely playing his A** off,i said yep sure was,since1953         D

Edited by - dale v on 09/27/2011 21:59:38

momo - Posted - 09/28/2011:  12:15:29

Well in that 71 Camp springs video Bobby also has a matching red sparkle strap.I'm thinkin it was all about the "bling" factor. In regards about that Earl picture, before his accident and the addition of the Dobro in the band Earl, I bet was scary. He really had a powerful edge, presence and energy to his playing, you guys were real lucky to see a special musician in his prime.

Edited by - momo on 09/28/2011 12:24:31

TheChief - Posted - 09/30/2011:  07:06:47

Three People that we all might be familiar with have passed from this life within the past month.

Wilma Lee Cooper formerly of Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper. Johnny Wright of Johnny and Jack fame, (and husband of Kitty Wells), and fiddle player (Sonny) Charles Mead who worked with The Heights of Grass.

S

TonyVT - Posted - 09/30/2011:  11:38:14

Sonny, Sorry to hear about the loss of your friends.

I was listening to IBMA feed on WSM last night and heard you present the banjo award(s). Great to hear your voice, it sounded like you were having a fun time!

LC

TheChief - Posted - 10/01/2011:  07:47:59

I did the awards show and was happy to do it and had a good time whilst there, but I was glad to get in my Prius (53 MPG) and on the way home. I saw a lot of people that I haven't seen in a few years.

Tell you what I found out, bluegrass entertainers as a whole are more real, non phony, down to earth people. Not to single out any one person or group, but for the most part when I was still working and back when we were doing lots of shows as part of a package with country entertainers, almost to the number, they were all living in a false world. Trying to be someone, something, that was not really them. Everything you (as a fan) saw was nothing but an act. Yeah, I know some were pretty good folks but when they went on stage they looked, dressed, and became what they thought their fans wanted them to be, and maybe that's right. But it's not what I would want my hero to do. I'm glad to be away from that and in the real world.

I'm not complaining, do not get that impression. Being a part of that life gave me a pretty good career. Some purists may still believe we "sold out" and maybe we did but at the time we would not have succeeded had we remained straight bluegrass. By doing what we did gave us a much larger audience and it worked for us.

I heard quite a lot of familiar rumblings Thursday night though. Things like: "Man I just saw something I thought I would never see!" and;  "Doyle Lawson has a drum and electric bass!!!!"  My goodness that sounded so familiar, only 40 years ago. I hope it works as well for him. One other thing I applaud Doyle for, aside from always having a great group of singers and musicians, they looked as though they were going to their office to work. The stage being their office. They dressed for work. I loved it and would love to see that trend stay. Others there who I saw were looking good too. Paul Williams, old JD, Daily and Vincent, Steve Martin, Roland White, and of course Eddie Stubbs,  and I'm sure others with whom I didn't come in contact.  

Doyle has deservedly been rewarded, and awarded for his efforts. The hard work has translated into a very successful career. He has my utmost respect. (not that it means much in todays economy, that and $6 will buy you a good cup of coffee.)  {;-)> 

And, Kristin and Ron Stewart tied for banjo player of the year. Both deserved.

Enough ramblings.

S 

Edited by - TheChief on 10/01/2011 07:59:47

TheChief - Posted - 10/01/2011:  08:05:07

Goodtime; 

Kenny Ingram and Jim Smith informs me that was red tape on Bobby's mandolin fingerboard.

Neither could tell me why.

s

Brett - Posted - 10/01/2011:  08:27:38

I had always thought it was tape also.  I'd always figured maybe he had a deal like happens to me when I play alot, where the tips of the fingers on my left hand feel like what I presume shin splints feel like.  I figured the tape might have helped cushion a little.  I also get deals where the callous will separate from the nail and that's a pretty painful thing too.  I figured Bobby did it to try to ease some pain in left hand fingertips or callouses and there wasn't any attempt at fashion?

momo - Posted - 10/02/2011:  08:07:12

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheChief

Goodtime; 

Kenny Ingram and Jim Smith informs me that was red tape on Bobby's mandolin fingerboard.

Neither could tell me why.

s

Sonny Osborne banjo Co.

chiefbanjo@comcast.net

PO box 647

Hendersonville, TN. 37077

615-824-0096

"IN GOD WE TRUST"

---

Wow! Sonny you do Follow up!,.

TheChief - Posted - 10/02/2011:  16:32:30

Well, if you have the time to ask I certainly can show you the courtesy of answering.

If one would want an opinion, I would say that he put the tape on it for the glitter. If for any other reason, he would have used brown, or black to more match the color of the fingerboard.

That makes sense to me!

s

RayD - Posted - 10/02/2011:  18:06:54

Chief,

Have you ever asked Bobby why he did it? If so, what was the answer?

Cheers,
RayD

bevans - Posted - 10/02/2011:  18:14:27

Hey everybody,

Here's the lineup for the Station Inn NashCamp Banjo Camp show on Thursday, October 20th:

Banjo: Jim Mills, Tony Trischka, Ned Luberecki, Bill Evans

Guitar: Tim May

Mandolin: Matt Flinner

Fiddle: Barbara Lamb

Bass: Missy Raines

I hope that everyone who is attending camp is planning on being with us also for this concert as well as the Thursday night dinner. Hopefully, some of you who are close to Nashville but are not able to come to camp will be able to come down and join us. The start time is a bit up in the air - it's likely to be 8:30 or 9 p.m. Admission is $15 and the Station Inn is located at 402 12th Avenue South in Nashville. Phone is 615-255-3307 and web link is stationinn.com

See everyone soon!

Sincerely,

Bill Evans

bill@billevansbanjo.com

Edited by - bevans on 10/02/2011 18:15:15

apherigo - Posted - 10/03/2011:  05:48:30

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheChief



Tell you what I found out, bluegrass entertainers as a whole are more real, non phony, down to earth people.

---

 That is exactly what makes bluegrass GREAT!!!

Aaron

TheChief - Posted - 10/04/2011:  07:08:04

Ray I never asked. Definitely not my kind of thing and I couldn't see or hear any advantage other than people wanting to see and touch, and that's the one thing I didn't want. I always figured that banjo was my work tool and I really didn't want anyone to so much as breathe on it when I had it set up just right, which I tried really hard to always have my banjo at that delicate point. Probably a weird way of looking at it, but that's just how I felt.

s

Ron Stewart - Posted - 10/06/2011:  09:28:40

Sonny,

I appreciate the kind words for the award Kristin and I share, and I will say it was great to see you, even if briefly onstage. You are one of my heroes, and have forgotten more backup than the rest of us put together will ever know(Yep, JD will say the same, we've spent a few miles talking about you!) and it was an honor to have you and Roland present the awards. I remember a jam session at a house with another very good banjo player about 20 years ago, you were there, and I've never forgotten, nor will I, the kindness shown to me by you and this other "pretty good" player! Thank you for all you have done for the banjo world, and the music in general, and I'll say, my favorite time was when you all had drums and electric bass! What a sound, and what a band. Crowe and I have talked so many times and neither of us would want to follow that outfit! Have a great day!

Ron Stewart

jaysails - Posted - 10/07/2011:  07:34:29

Sonny and Nash camp friends

A while ago, my new son in law decided he wanted to play the banjo, after visiting us and seeing my two Chief's. We ended up buying a used maple from the classifieds here on the forum. It's another great sounding banjo. About a month ago my daughter Heather, happened to get a free room makeover on a cable show that airs on Saturday at 9;00pm eastern on the HGTV channel, called "Great Rooms". Anyway, during the filming, I guess he played a bit and talked about the banjo. Not sure what will hit the editing room floor, but if any banjo gets aired, it's a maple Chief.
See you at Nash Camp!!!- jay

TheChief - Posted - 10/08/2011:  07:09:12

Ron Stewart;

Thank you thank you thank you! As I've said before, I don't believe I deserve all you have said, but as Gene Autry said when inducted into the CMA Hall of Fame, "I have Arthritis and I don't deserve that either"!

That's certainly awfully kind of you though, true or not. And as for JD? Heck, he'd agree to anything. (He's 2 months and 2 days older than I) 

Seriously, that award is well earned. I dearly love all the nominees and would have been equally as pleased had any of them won, but in my opinion the voters got it right. Few banjo players are really up to the challenge of getting it right. Of committing to work at it hard and long enough to get it right. Every one of you who were nominated has done that. Congratulations !  I'm sure I'll be seeing you there more in years to come.

For those of you who don't know, Ron Stewart is equally as talented with the fiddle.

S

TheChief - Posted - 10/09/2011:  07:33:33

Jay..I didn't see it. Did they cut the banjo part?

s

awol13 - Posted - 10/10/2011:  05:43:49

quote: I agree Sonny Ron is a super musician banjo, fiddle or whatever!

---

Originally posted by TheChief

Jay..I didn't see it. Did they cut the banjo part?

s

---

bevans - Posted - 10/10/2011:  08:11:03

Hey everybody,

NashCamp Sonny Osborne Banjo Camp co-director Cindy Sinclair has just informed me that there is ONE on site bed left for this year's banjo camp - no waiting list at this moment (Monday, October 10). Come join us! Our staff is unequalled anywhere: Jens Kruger and the Kruger Brothers Band, Tony Trischka, Ned Luberecki, Jim Mills, Frank Neat, yours truly and the Chief! And the food - well, there's no question that we've got the best food of any camp anywhere. Contact Cindy at cynthiasinclair@comcast.net.

All the best,

Bill Evans

bill@billevansbanjo.com

El Dobro - Posted - 10/10/2011:  16:09:23

quote:

---

Originally posted by lethegoodtimesroll

Sonny, I have a question at one point Bobby had his Mandolin fingerboard painted red what was the reason behind that?

---

 Bobby put the red tape on the fingerboard so it would look different. It also sparkled when the light hit it. That's the story. The mandolin is now in Indiana.

TheChief - Posted - 10/13/2011:  14:08:55

Don.

Call me.

615 824 0096. If I don't answer leave your number please..soon.

s

apherigo - Posted - 10/13/2011:  16:43:58

Uh oh Sonny... You posted your phone number. Now Debbie is going to start calling you everyday!! Oh wait, she'll see you next weekend. NASHCAMP!!!

Aaron

TheChief - Posted - 10/14/2011:  05:47:12

Looking forward to seeing you both.

s

Banjo Stan - Posted - 10/14/2011:  19:27:37

This is my second year in a row missing NashCamp.  Last year it was my twin grand baby girls, (what a blessing) and this year it's saving for my daughter's wedding next July.  Hopefully next year, I'll be financially recovered (ha ha) and able to rejoin you great folks down in Nashville.  Have fun and don't stay up too late pickin' ( yeah, right!).

Stan

TheChief - Posted - 10/15/2011:  05:46:54

We miss your smiling face Stan...We'll have a good time just for you..in your honor.

S

Banjo Stan - Posted - 10/15/2011:  14:01:00

Thank you, Sonny

Give my best to everyone and have a great birthday!

R.C. Stern - Posted - 10/16/2011:  10:44:50

Stan,

That's two of us who won't make it to the Banjo Retreat.  Bummer.  I agreed a couple of years ago to teach a class in Little Rock that weekend, not knowing when  the Retreat would be.  But I did make it to NashCamp in August where I took bass lessons with Missy Raines. Enjoyed that alot, too.  Next year I hope to make both.  Anyway, to Sonny and all, have a great Banjo Retreat!  I already miss not being there.

Rick

Woolpersteve - Posted - 10/16/2011:  13:17:19

Rick ans Stan
It'll be great but would be better if you were both there . We'll set a plate for you both . Pick hardy and think Nashville a few times this weekend .
Steve

banjoman69 - Posted - 10/16/2011:  17:08:04

Rick and Stan, I agree with Steve, you all will be missed.. happy pickin' however and hopefully we'll see each other at the next one.

Darrell

TheChief - Posted - 10/17/2011:  08:05:44

Stan you've been missed for two years now, and Rick Stern, now you. One gets used to seeing certain smiling faces and all of a sudden they just don't show. Tell me, what wedding or class would be more important than the banjo. Banjo being The CHIEF of importance!

Hey I'm just kidding with you both. It's going to be a great camp this weekend. Tony Trishka, Ned Lubreki, and Jens Kruger are quite enough, but this year we have Tony, Ned, Jens, and the  Kruger Brother's band, AND Jim Mills, who is just a master of traditional banjo. The kind of pickin' me and "old" Crowe grew up with. And my partners, Bill Evans (great teacher and player) and Cindy. Then you have the food. (None better)  

I don't do anything ('cept talk)  like make appearances any more. This year has been a biggie for me though. I went to IBMA and presented the banjo, and recorded event awards with Roland White. Now The banjo camp. I'm working entirely too much!!!

I'm looking forward to seeing old friends though. Be careful traveling.

s

Edited by - TheChief on 10/17/2011 08:15:30

garman - Posted - 10/17/2011:  08:37:15

Yet Sonny but all the work keeps you young right. I know Kristi really looks up to you and you have been an outstanding mentor for her. I met her last year in Myrtle Beach, she is truly an outstanding person. Ron and her really desired the recognition and being present from one of the originals (yourself) had to be a true honor. Thanks for all you do for the bluegrass community. I know I greatly appreciate it. I hope to make it to banjo camp myself soon.

larry p - Posted - 10/17/2011:  09:19:55

Chief!! How's it going dear brother? Saw a picture of you at the IBMA Awards Show and you're looking GREAT!!! You've ALWAYS been an incredible inspiration musically as an artist and producer: To see how you've transcended the extraordinary physical and medical conditions that you've had to deal with and chosen to stay active in spite of it all contributing, encouraging, guiding and helping others,  and looking so good is awesome.. Recently saw a 'youtube' clip of Ms Kristin playing her 'Chief' with 'The Grasscals' and she sounds GREAT with that banjo that you designed..

Thanks for all you've done and all you do, hero!

Hope I get to see you soon and do some catchin' up..

kathy315 - Posted - 10/17/2011:  13:27:52

Rick and Stan, you'll be missed!! I will see the rest of you either Thursday or Friday. Am getting into town tomorrow around noon time and will keep busy til dinner on Thursday. Safe travels everyone!!

Banjo Stan - Posted - 10/19/2011:  03:38:21

Have fun all you Chiefsters!   I'll be thinking about you while I'm sitting behind a desk solving all of the world's financial woes.  I do get to play an outdoors Oktoberfest gig though, Saturday afternoon.

It should be fun....but not like NashCamp!  Behave if you must!  And if you can't be good...be good at it!

BlondeChief - Posted - 10/19/2011:  15:03:04

Yay! It's finally here.
Checklist:
Banjo
Jammies
Toothbrush
Pants with an elastic waistband!!!!
See you all tomorrow!!!
Love,
Cindy

Banjo Stan - Posted - 10/19/2011:  16:38:34

You forgot Picks, Cindy:)  Have fun as ya'll "Occupy Nashville"

Woolpersteve - Posted - 10/19/2011:  17:09:47

Since when were jammies required ?

RayD - Posted - 10/20/2011:  15:53:00

Doh! What have been missing all these years?

Cheers,
RayD

BlondeChief - Posted - 10/25/2011:  09:17:22

This is too good not to share! From NashCamper Bruce Colburn:
Ten things I learned at Banjo Camp 2011:
10) My left arm is one full inch longer than my right, from carrying my banjo everywhere
9) The sound of 30 banjo players in a room, each playing a different song at the same time., results in a "G" on my tuner
8) Walking is a form of exercise, if you live downhill from where the food is
7) Frank Neat knows more about banjos than he can say in one hour
6) Uwe Kruger and Joel Landsburg are two of the warmest, talented musicians I've ever gotten to play a song with
5) The "restaurant" at Camp Marymount has some of the best cuisine in town
4) If the refrig in my camper shuts down, there is no problem getting rid of the beer before it gets warm
3) The only thing exceeding the musical talents of Sonny Osborne, Bill Evans, Jim Mills, Tony Trischka, Ned Luberecki and Jens Kruger is their warmth and sincerity in wanting to help other musicians
2) The quote heard often "These aren't people, they're banjo players!"
And the number one thing...
1) If Cindy Sinclair is producing a function, you'd better get your ass there or you'll miss a good time!

BlondeChief - Posted - 10/25/2011:  09:18:18

Thank you, Bruce!

Woolpersteve - Posted - 10/25/2011:  09:33:38

Perfect Bruce . I can hear an emphatic "case closed" any second.
Steve

TheChief - Posted - 10/25/2011:  20:27:00

Case Closed

A good time was definitely had by all!!!  The Kruger's are not human.

S