banjoman56 - Posted - 12/14/2012:  12:59:31

Sorry to hear this Sonny! I can sure agree that broken ribs are painful. I hope you get to feeling better soon. In the meantime, "no laughing or coughing", as it is very painful to do this with broken ribs.

fgodbey - Posted - 12/14/2012:  21:02:48

So sorry to hear this, Chief; hope you are as comfortable as you can be under the circumstances.  Try not to laugh when I tell you that Tom, his wife Betsy,  Russ and I went to see J.D. in his academic robes accept his honorary Doctor of Arts at UK tonight.  Most impressive... but don't call him "Doctor!"

--Frank

PS -- It was streamed live on UK's web site and if you want to catch it later see below... don't worry, Crowe's honors occur pretty early in the process, so you won't have to sit through the entire commencement.  

The webcast will be archived on uky.edu/uknow and available for viewing by Tuesday, December 18th.

Edited by - fgodbey on 12/14/2012 21:08:05

BanjoTom47 - Posted - 12/15/2012:  08:45:13

OUCH!  Broken ribs are known to be among the most painful of injuries, so I'm especially sorry to hear of your accident and subsequent distress, Chief.  Hang in there and bear up, knowing you're in the thoughts and prayers of LOTS of us friends, fans, and followers!   Hoping you'll feel much better Real Soon Now, and Frank Godbey and I are both looking forward to visiting with you again at Banjothon . . .  Best to you, always!  

Goldstarman - Posted - 12/16/2012:  05:15:29

Ive got a question for Sonny or anyone who knows. Im thinking about possibly buying a new chief in a month or two and I was told that the Chiefs no longer include the Calton cases they used to come with, is that true and if not what do they now use?

Edited by - Goldstarman on 12/16/2012 05:16:14

Goldstarman - Posted - 12/16/2012:  05:52:11

or was it price that they came with? either or

Majorbanjo - Posted - 12/16/2012:  10:12:49

Mostly Calton.....I do remember him offering a Price....I had a Price for a Prewar Granada......it weighed a lot!.......I bought mine from Gary Price when he converted a PB150 for me.....I shipped it directly to Frank Neat when I had a new neck made for the Granada.........Frank's son didn't like the price case....and warned me of issues that could cause damage to my granada.....

RayD - Posted - 12/16/2012:  10:32:55

Interesting comments about the Price case. My Chief banjo came with a Price when I bought back in 2007. It's the variety that has three storage compartments. It seems to have good protection for the banjo. I'd be interested to know what the issues are that could cause damage. I agree that it is one hefty case!

Cheers,
RayD

laceyth9 - Posted - 12/16/2012:  20:10:53

I have a Price case with the three compartments too and it really seems to hold my Chief securely. I've had it for more than 7 years with no problems and travel with it quite often. It is heavy, but that just makes me feel like it is really protecting my banjo. Just my opinion. I've not owned a Calton, so I won't offer an opinion on it.

Tim L.

pick1936 - Posted - 12/17/2012:  19:38:03

Hi  Sonny, man  You  were  ahead  of  Your  time.  I  have  been  using  some  of  (Your licks  from  the  older  banjo  news letter).   Trying  some out  at  local  jam. most   banjo  pickers  did  not  know  them.  THANKS  for  being  a  little  bit  on  the  leading  edge  back  then..

Tomorrow  I'll  Talk  To  My  Woman.

Sunday  I'll   Talk  To  My  Lord.

Keep On  Keeping  On.  and  pick the  banjer  son.

Nechville. In  Higginsville.

Lee  Kelso

TheChief - Posted - 12/22/2012:  12:00:26

Lee I thank you for the compliments, I just heard things differently I guess.

In the beginning I used Calton cases because I thought they were the best. But their price kept going up and they became very hard for me to deal with. Price is the best case for protection...very heavy..but safe...BUT.. They too were very expensive..too expensive!  So I made the decision to find a GOOD but cheaper case and lower the price of the Chief Banjo Package. So I now offer the Guardian fiberglass case, and I lowered the price $300. That made more sense to me so that's what I did. No one has complained thus far.

My ribs are healing but still really sore. Breathing, coughing, sneezing, laughing, etc. are hard to do without serious pain. But, I've had worse. Thanks for your words and concern.  I appreciate that.

I want to wish all of you the best, Merriest Christmas of all. We've much to be thankful for. Don't forget what we're celebrating here.

Happy Holidays is good, but MERRY CHRISTMAS is how I was raised.

~

s 

Edited by - TheChief on 12/22/2012 12:03:28

lazyarcher - Posted - 12/22/2012:  12:13:32

Sonny--one of the guys at our deer hunt camp in Dec has broken ribs and a cracked sternum from falling through a hole in his house floor. Said he had never been in so much pain before, even after 3 weeks. We took great pleasure in making him laugh through out the week...no mercy at the hunt camp!

A very MERRY CHRISTMAS to you also!!!

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 12/22/2012:  14:03:55

Sonny,
Merry Christmas to you and fast healing.
Ken

mahogchief01 - Posted - 12/23/2012:  15:01:08

Sonny,

Trigger and I are glad to hear the ribs are healing. I've never had broken ribs before, but I hear it is very painful.

We hope you and Ms. Judy have a VERY Merry Christmas and a most joyous New Year!!!!!


Mickey & Sandra Flatt

garman - Posted - 12/23/2012:  15:15:43

Hey Sonny, hope you and yours have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, I know how painful the ribs can be, got throw against a tractor steering wheel at a good clip and broke some, morphine drip and still hurt like hurt, fast healing.

John J - Posted - 12/24/2012:  04:51:29

Sonny,

I wish you a very Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year!

John

CryptKicker5 - Posted - 12/25/2012:  05:36:53

Very  sorry to hear about your ribs,Sonny.I fell in the tub on thanksgiving day and broke my 9th rib on my right side,and partially collapsed my rt. lung.I'm pretty much healed,but,I understand what you're going through! Merry Christmas,Chief!!!

El Dobro - Posted - 12/31/2012:  10:43:36

Hey Sonny, any update on the ribs?

Happy New Year!

TheChief - Posted - 12/31/2012:  14:58:56

Happy New Year. 2012 went rather quickly.

TheChief - Posted - 01/01/2013:  22:28:43

An update on the ribs. All the Drs. can do for you is give you pain meds and I don't like to take that stuff but in this case I made an exception. I can tell you this. I've had rotator cuff surgery, stroke, ruptured disc all of which were painful, but these ribs might be the winner. I just couldn't do anything, no position to relieve it any at all..for the first week. Then thankfully it began to subside..but I still have certain positions that are quite uncomfortable. It could have been worse though. Much worse. Many of you have had broken ribs so you know of which I speak!   

Thank you all for your concern. Many, many have it much worse than I...but thanks.     

Christmas was very good, New Years eve, (and day) came and went almost undetected. Now I look forward to Banjothon Jan.12, and  October 25-27. Banjo Camp!

~

s

apherigo - Posted - 01/04/2013:  20:28:01

Ok...  here is my broken rib story....   as a young man...  Three friends and I decided to go to the local hotel pool...  it was closed at 1:00am...  we jumped the fence...  jumped in and had a blast...  didn't see the "Caution" signs... I fell, one leg only, into an open maintenance hole...  broke three ribs on the concrete side of the hole...  UNREAL pain and unable to breath right for weeks and weeks... ... Lesson learned.

Get well soon Sonny!!  And don't forget to bring that GuitarBanjo thing to the 'Thon.

Aaron

TheChief - Posted - 01/05/2013:  13:20:44

We're on the same page "ribwise."  I'm well on the road to recovery now but broken ribs is serious business.

Thanks for reminding me about the guitjo. I will bring it. Dr. Rick Stern ordered a Rocky Top Chief and Frank Neat is bringing it down to Banjothon. I look forward to seeing you there.

~

s

Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.

PO Box 647

Hendersonville, TN. 37077

615-824-0096

www. chiefbanjo@comcast.net

sonnyosborne.com

IN GOD WE TRUST~

AlWAYS DID, ALWAYS WILL

Edited by - TheChief on 01/05/2013 13:23:22

banjoman56 - Posted - 01/05/2013:  13:54:59

Aaron, I have a similar story to yours. I stepped backwards into a hole I had cut in my barn loft, to throw the hay into the manger for my horses. I broke two ribs and messed up a knee. I was a dozier operator and couldn't climb onto the dozier. They had to lift me up to the dozier in a loader bucket. Riding that dozier with broken ribs was some of the worst pain I have encountered.

TheChief - Posted - 01/14/2013:  15:15:42

Banjothon was better than ever. If you pick the banjer, or just love the idea of banjer music..you missed a good thing.

It does me so much good to spend an entire day with people who I've known for so many years. My best friend Jim Smith. Byron Robins, Larry Mathis, JD Crowe, Brandon Hinson, Aaron and Deb, Jack Hatfield, Melissa, Barry Palmer, Bobby Clark, Joey Evans, Charlie Cushman, Jim Mills, George Gruhn, Curtis, and one man, a good friend that I've known for years, but at 75 yrs. old I guess it excusable to forget sometime. (Played with Paul Williams) Good banjo player..from Bristol. But then, I know I've skipped a lot and I apologize. It was great though.

~

s

banjoman69 - Posted - 01/14/2013:  15:48:53

Yes, Sonny it was a good one.. getting a little cramped in there though and made me a little ner-ve-ous as Festus used to say. Good to see you were getting around good as well. See you in October..

The Pope - Posted - 01/14/2013:  18:08:09

Lazy Archer, you're mean! 

bhrb75 - Posted - 01/15/2013:  05:22:03

Good to see you to Sonny. I enjoyed hanging out as always.

fgodbey - Posted - 01/15/2013:  08:28:26

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheChief

Banjothon was better than ever. If you pick the banjer, or just love the idea of banjer music..you missed a good thing.

[snip]...and one man, a good friend that I've known for years, but at 75 yrs. old I guess it excusable to forget sometime. (Played with Paul Williams) Good banjo player..from Bristol. But then, I know I've skipped a lot and I apologize. It was great though.

---

Hey Sonny, It was great to see you on Saturday; sorry I never got back for a longer chat but they were lined up pretty deep to shake'n'howdy with you and there was a slew of folks to talk to all over the place.  Anyhow, are you thinking of Jerry Keys??  Fine picker & fine feller... plays with Paul Williams.  Picture below is Jerry, Me, Jim & Ken...

--Frank

Banjothon 2013

 

TheChief - Posted - 01/15/2013:  10:41:10

Jerry Keys is the man Frank. Good banjo player and better man. I've known him a long time Also forgot Jim  Milsap and Frank Neat.

.........and many others

Edited by - TheChief on 01/15/2013 10:42:37

davehicks - Posted - 01/15/2013:  12:34:03

Hey Frank, I would like to know where you got that awesome HAT!

fgodbey - Posted - 01/16/2013:  10:58:12

quote:

---

Originally posted by davehicks



Hey Frank, I would like to know where you got that awesome HAT!

---

That super cool cap was sent to me by Jack Hicks' nephew.    I haven't met him yet, but hope to real soon so I can say "thanks" in person... I knew his granddad, Pat Hicks, real well --  Jack, too, but I haven't seen him in ages.

--Frank

Edited by - fgodbey on 01/16/2013 10:59:58

Scaggs7 - Posted - 01/18/2013:  17:51:28

Sonny, would you go over to "other banjo related subjects"
and name the pickers in the FMB video that you
did with Earl, JD and others years back.

TheChief - Posted - 01/22/2013:  10:27:44

Hey 7..I'll do that but I don't remember all of them.Me, Crowe, Alan Mundy, Bill Emerson, Earl, The guy (Japanese) from the group "Train 45) I never knew his name. I remember Earl whispered to me at one point before we started playing, before they introduced him,  .." Can I say something" and I said "No, just play, that'll say enough!" But as I remember, he talked a little bit. Very humble man was Earl. In my opinion, he just couldn't grasp that what he did with so little effort, the thing he had created was so wide spread.

Never before and never after will there be anyone with the right hand as good. At his best, in the early to mid 50's, it was frightening to see and hear! I was there

~

s

Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.

PO Box 647

Hendersonville,TN.37075

chiefbanjo@comcast.net

sonnyosborne.com

615-824-0096

IN GOD WE TRUST

 

35TB1 - Posted - 01/22/2013:  11:12:24

PREACH IT,Mr.Osborne!

Scaggs7 - Posted - 01/22/2013:  11:29:09

thanks Sonny

TheChief - Posted - 02/02/2013:  14:17:31

I just closed the deal with TKL / Cedar Creek to supply my cases for the Chief. It is a Carbon Fiber (fiberglass) case..actually the same as Martin Guitar Co. uses.

Now I can truthfully, happily, proudly say that everything pertaining to The Chief Banjo is made in the USA. United States of America. TKL is located in Oilville, VA.. Cedar Creek is an arm of TKL.

~

s

Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.

P.O. Box 647

Hendersonville, TN.37077

615-824-0096

chiefbanjo@comcast.net

sonnyosborne.com

IN GOD WE TRUST

Edited by - TheChief on 02/02/2013 14:19:19

TheChief - Posted - 02/08/2013:  14:57:52

I better correct this before it goes any further...The case is not fiberglass.

 It is constructed of a unique resin blend, strong as fiberglass but lighter with several patents relating to its strength-to-weight ratio (very light and yet very strong)... Thank you for reminding me Scott!

~

s

Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.

PO Box 647

Hendersonville, TN. 37077

615-824-0096

chiefbanjo@comcast.net

sonnyosborne.com

I TRUST IN GOD~

AlWAYS DID, ALWAYS WILL

GOD BLESS AMERICA

Edited by - TheChief on 02/08/2013 15:00:18

pick1936 - Posted - 02/09/2013:  12:26:10

Hi  Chief,  I am  to  get  a banjo  from  You  someday.    You  are sure  right  about  Earl's  right  hand.   J.D.   comes  close,  but  not  as good.   I  do  like  Your  banjo  pickin.   I  have  6  of  Your  L.P.'s   many  cassettes,  some  I  bought,  some  I  taped    from  the  front  row  of Your  live  shows.    You have  come  up  with  some  nice  licks  all  Your  own.  helped  Me  in My  learning.  THANKS.  Does  Jimmy  Cox  make  Your  rims?   Jimmy  is  a  pretty  good  banjo  picker  also.      (Your  Not  The  Kind  Of  Woman  I  Wanted,,  But  But  Your  The  Kind  Of  Woman  I  Got) 

Nechville  In  Higginsville.

Lee  Kelso

TheChief - Posted - 02/09/2013:  18:35:09

Thank you Lee. I look forward d to the time when you own a Chief..I don't believe you will be sorry...;-)

I don't know if you would be interested but I will be getting information on a used Chief supposedly within the next few days. Nothing wrong with the banjo..guy has hit on hard times!  ~

s

Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.

PO Box 647

Hendersonville, TN. 37077

615-824-0096

chiefbanjo@comcast.net

sonnyosborne.com

I TRUST IN GOD

AlWAYS DID, ALWAYS WILL

 

banjoman56 - Posted - 02/09/2013:  19:10:06

Hey Sonny, Lee mentioned the song: You're not the kind of woman I wanted, but you're the kind of woman I got. I was wondering if you guys wrote that song or did you get it from someone else?

I hate to tell you this, but my wife absolutely hates this song. I play it for her every chance I get too. :)

TheChief - Posted - 02/11/2013:  13:57:06

Nope..we didn't write that song, and I tend to agree with your wife. tis not one of my favorite songs that we did. It did well for us, sales wise, and I thought the music was good, but that song....I don't know.   I've heard better. ;-)

~

s

Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.

PO Box 647

Hendersonville, TN. 37077

615-824-0096

chiefbanjo@comcast.net

sonnyosborne.com

I TRUST IN GOD~

AlWAYS DID, ALWAYS WILL

 

bhrb75 - Posted - 02/11/2013:  19:12:11

You gotta admit Chief, that Jerry Reed'ish ending was pretty cool.

TheChief - Posted - 02/11/2013:  21:36:32

Fun making the record. I used a Vega special made banjo..only one of it's kind. We named it "The fat banjo!" It was thicker than a regular banjo and I used heavier strings and tuned it to E instead of the normal G. Sort of John Harford kinda thing...but that was before I met John.

That was back in the days when music business was still fun, and the players from other bands were fun to be around. Unfortunately that changed as time passed. I guess it's called progress.

The ending was kinda nice, huh?

~

s

Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.

PO Box 647

Hendersonville, TN. 37077

615-824-0096

chiefbanjo@comcast.net

sonnyosborne.com

I TRUST IN GOD~

AlWAYS DID, ALWAYS WILL

GOD BLESS AMERICA

bhrb75 - Posted - 02/12/2013:  07:45:35

Yessir! One of my favorites along with that nifty kickoff on Gal You Got a Job to do. I'd say my favorite kickoff is a tie between "When You Wind Down" and "Lorena."

Ebanjo - Posted - 02/12/2013:  14:45:33

Hey Sonny, Speaking of that ending, it sounds like you might be a fan of the late Don Rich. I could hear him playing some of those licks on his Telecaster.
Eric Ellis

TheChief - Posted - 02/12/2013:  22:08:42

I knew Don pretty well and certainly admired his vocal with Buck as well as his distinctive Guitar playing...The stuff doesn't sound quite as good on the banjo however.

~

s

Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.

PO Box 647

Hendersonville, TN. 37077

615-824-0096

chiefbanjo@comcast.net

sonnyosborne.com

I TRUST IN GOD~

AlWAYS DID, ALWAYS WILL

GOD BLESS AMERICA

TheChief - Posted - 02/22/2013:  08:21:05

Eight months till banjo camp number 12..I think.

I been talking to Kelly Emerson, Bill's son,  (via email) He sent me the latest tune he had written. .he said in closing that he would see me at banjo camp...Got me to thinking. I look forward to it more each year as I grow older. Bill Emerson will definitely be there again this year...by popular demand as they say.

The "Rocky Top" version of the Chief banjo has only been out there for a couple months, (Actually 4) and already there are 5 among you. Latest one went to banjo camp regulars Dr.Rick Strern and Jeremy Averill. Rick is from  Santa Clause, Indiana and now has Four Chief banjos and a Scout. Jeremy, from Chicago, has three. Bill Evans, Bill Emerson, and Aaron McDarris own the other 3. I'll have new pictures on my web site of Old Rocky Top later today if you care to see it.

Dale Vanderpool's wife, Anita, sent Dale's Chief banjo to me to sell. It went to Roger Sterry of Mansfield, Ohio. Roger was a good friend of Dale and he decided that he would like to have his friend's banjo  During the conversation with Roger, we realized that I knew his parents before he was born. How bout that. The banjo originally was a Nickel finish, Huber tone ring, serial number 001... later converted to Gold with the Blaylock tone ring.

So now you're caught up whether you wanted to be or not! It's been cold and rainy in Nashville.

See you.

~

s

Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.

PO Box 647

Hendersonville, TN. 37077

615-824-0096

chiefbanjo@comcast.net

sonnyosborne.com

IN GOD WE TRUST~

 

Edited by - TheChief on 02/22/2013 08:35:00

bevans - Posted - 02/22/2013:  08:33:14

Hi Sonny and Chief fans! I just wanted to share the news that I will be appearing on "A Prairie Home Companion" with Garrison Keillor on Saturday, February 23rd, broadcasting live from the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, Minnesota (where it's currently 26 degrees and snowing!). It's an almost all banjo show with yours truly, Noam Pikelny, Joe Newberry and Suzy Bogguss. Very exciting stuff for me that doesn't happen everyday!

Follow this link for show info and to find a local station that carries the show in your area. In the Nashville area, Chief, WPLN-FM 90.3 will carry the show live at 5 p.m. on Saturday and will rebroadcast it on Sunday at 2 p.m.

There will be video next week also, up on the APHC homepage.

Wish me luck!

All the best,

Bill Evans

billevansbanjo.com

youtube.com/user/BillEvansBanjo

TheChief - Posted - 02/22/2013:  08:49:26

Hey Bill.

Garrison is one funny, smart guy. I kinda knew him years ago through Boudleaux and Felice Bryant. They were regular listeners and appeared on the show. I got hooked  through them. So where is "Lake Woe Be Gone?" 

You'll love it and it will do you a world of good. Take pictures.

Cold in Minneapolis-St. Paul is more like 26 below. We played The Flame Club more than once back in the day. Wonder if it's still there. Was robbed once in St. Paul...Oh the memories, fond memories! ($4343.00) Never forget.

Be safe.

s 

Edited by - TheChief on 02/22/2013 08:51:08

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 02/22/2013:  09:22:59

Sonny,

From this article, it appears that the Flame Club is no more. It also appears that if you had $4,000 stolen, you may have gotten off lightly? Here is some stuff about the Flame Club,.... sounds like it may have been tough working conditions:

But let's get out of the house, shall we? Let's head to the alley behind a nondescript residence at 1825 2nd Ave. S, right across from Stevens Square Park. This was the home of publisher Walter W. Liggett, who was behind a newspaper called "Midwest American" that specialized in investigating organized crime. He particularly took issue with a local criminal bigwig named Isadore Blumenfeld, who went under the more stylish moniker Kid Cann, and was in charge of Minneapolis' bootlegging, prostitution and labor racketeering. Liggett explored a link between Cann and Minnesota Gov. Floyd B. Olson — the two had grown up together. As a result, Liggett was arrested on trumped-up morals charges (he was accused of luring two teenage girls from Austin to Minneapolis for a night of drinking and "spooning"), he was beaten, and then, in the alley behind his house, on Dec. 9, 1935, he was machine-gunned to death as his family looked on. Cann was indicted, but the cops had been sloppy and the trial was a farce, and he walked.

Photo originally from the St. Paul Daily News

Kid Cann, center, after his acquittal for the murder of Walter Liggett.

For those who are interested, you can see one of Cann's former homes at 3417 W. 38th St. near Lake Calhoun and visit his headquarters, the former Flame Nightclub, at 1523 Nicollet Ave downtown.

ken

Ps, this is from minnpost:

minnpost.com/max-about-town/20...e-history

Edited by - From Greylock to Bean Blossom on 02/22/2013 09:24:50