tom timberlake - Posted - 05/20/2014:  09:37:05

Sonny- They were indeed two of the most under-rated rhythm players of any genre. Some of the licks that Dale did on some of your greatest songs were not "explosive" but right on the money with his timing.

TheChief - Posted - 05/22/2014:  15:49:46

Dale Sledd was the easiest to play the banjo with. I think it was because he was a very good banjo player himself and he understood what was needed. Actually he was a very good musician..period...good guy too.

We recorded a couple songs that he and I played twin banjos.Dale lives in Warsaw Missouri, his hometown.

S

pick1936 - Posted - 05/23/2014:  19:32:42

I  agree  Chief,   Dale  is  a  cousin  to  Bill  Kelly.  and  Bill  Kelly  was  My  wife's  cousin  Joyce  Kelly  I  changed  Her  Name  to  Kelso  in  1966  We  were  married  48  years  the  17  of  this  month.   I  have  seen  You  guys  play  many  times.  I  have  everything  You  recorded  I  think?   You  have  been  very  strong  on  How  You  play  banjo, I  try  to  play  a  little  like  You  BUT  I am  still  only  an  advanced  beginner  compared  to  You.   as  Bob  Hope  would  put  it  THANKS  FOR  THE  MEMORIES.    I  still  do  not  yet  own  a  Chief   banjo.  BUT   never  know?    Last  time  I  saw  You  and  Bobby  was  at  ST  Caligon  days  In  K.C. Mo.  You  signed  My  hat.  I  have most  of  the  bluegrass  pickers  names  on  it,  and  one  non  bluegrass  name  Steelest  Don  Helms.

Anyway  Keep  goin

​UP  THIS  HILL  AND  DOWN

Nechville.  In  Higginsville.

Lee  Kelso            

MisChief - Posted - 05/26/2014:  18:12:14

We visited our National Cemetery this afternoon.

FREEDOM DOESN'T COME CHEAP

(Click on picture to enlarge them)

Edited by - MisChief on 05/26/2014 18:18:27

TheChief - Posted - 05/27/2014:  07:17:56

My brother Bobby was a Marine and served in the Korean "conflict" in 1951-52.

Had it not been for his helmet he wouldn't have come back.

s

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 05/30/2014:  15:02:34

Sonny,

thought it might interest you (maybe not surprise you) but Rocky Top was listed at the number 1 fight song for colleges. Here are the top 15.

youtube.com/watch?v=CYJ5CL7WBzg

ken

TheChief - Posted - 06/02/2014:  06:47:36

Ken;

We performed Rocky Top (halftime, on the 50 yard line) at a Tennessee/Alabama football game in the mid 80's to a crowd of 105,000 UT fans. Plus the TN. band which I believe I was informed that it was 187 strong. It's quite awesome to hear the sound of 105,000 singing the song which you wanted to be the "B" side of a record. Also to see it be voted as an official Tennessee state song kinda points to how smart you are...meaning ME!

What's that old poker saying; "YOU NEVER KNOW HOW YOU LOOK TILL YOU GET YOUR PICTURE TOOK!!!" I wonder what that really means.

s

Edited by - TheChief on 06/02/2014 06:52:47

Ebanjo - Posted - 06/02/2014:  14:35:25

Hey Chief, Don't feel like the lone ranger about wanting "Rocky Top" to be the B side. I read where Buck Owens almost passed on "Act Naturally", but Don Rich asked him to listen to it again. By the way, "My Favorite Memory" wasn't to bad of a song in my book either.
Eric Ellis

TheChief - Posted - 06/03/2014:  09:37:43

My Favorite Memory was/is a great song. Written by Darrel Stadler.

s

bhrb75 - Posted - 06/03/2014:  12:47:29

Didn't he write Bluegrass Melodies as well?

TheChief - Posted - 06/04/2014:  18:24:34

Yes he did, and "Up This Hill And Down."

He was attending University of Texas at the time. I have no idea where he is now.

s

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 06/05/2014:  04:13:25

I had a hard time finding stuff on Darrell Statler:
youtube.com/watch?v=QA3rqcpACek
allmusic.com/artist/darrell-st...001325469
theleadernews.com/?p=7594
ken

DG-banjo - Posted - 06/10/2014:  05:17:44

Lester Flatts Bluegrass Festival.. June of '76...

DG-banjo - Posted - 06/10/2014:  05:18:35

TheChief - Posted - 06/10/2014:  07:52:40

38 years ago...the original Rocky Top banjo, 1934 RB 3.

Dale Sledd...Bobby was svelte in 1976, huh?

Appears to be Bobby's son Robby playing electric bass.

MY MY

s

Edited by - TheChief on 06/10/2014 07:54:34

Spike2 - Posted - 06/10/2014:  14:24:07

Great photos here. I met you, Sonny, 38 yrs ago, sometime after June in '76, after my dad passed. It was at Dick Tyner's festival in Norco. That's the year Dick asked if I'd help him play a joke on you. I was not too agreeable until others assured me it would be great sport! I was asked to interrupt a song by yelling at the top of my voice from front and center, "Sonny! Sonny! Play Ruby for Dolly". These days I can't imagine being afraid of you at all but back then, at just barely 24 and shy to boot, I was. I agreed to do it but I knew in my heart I was gonna be in trouble. One detail that helped me do this is that Dick Tyner told me Bobby and the others were in on the joke. So, at the appointed time, with all the courage I could muster, I let out a yell and there was no going back. I heard a collective gasp coming from those close enough around me to hear me and I saw from the look on Bobby's face that he heard me and the others band members heard and that let me know SONNY heard me, too. "Oh what have you done did now, Janet," was my thought. But I had to do it again! I had promised to interrupt the song and you know, a girl is only as good as her word, right? So once, twice and one more time I yelled, "Sonny! Play Ruby for Dolly." and that did it. Bobby stopped! Oh my God!! And then the look of Sonny Osborne, THE Sonny Osborne who I'd known of for as long as I could remember, was looking right ...at....me....Oh, and it was not a pleasant look. Oh, nay nay. I have to be honest and admit I knew THAT look because I wasn't always the perfect daughter and I had seen THAT look more than a few times from another man who could stop a train in it's track with just a look. Well, sheer terror must have been oozing from my face because within seconds, before hands could go around my neck or hot fire could be breathed in my direction, Bobby began to laugh and then the others in the band did, too, and Dick Tyner jumped onstage and, thankfully, Sonny realized a joke had been pulled on him. I couldn't slink away from that stage fast enough. I was mortified I'd just done that to SONNY OSBORNE!!! After their set I was introduced to Sonny and thank God, he does have a sense of humor. He was extremely gracious but a few times he tried to make me think he might have my head before the night was over. From then on, whenever Sonny and Bobby were in Southern California, my family and I made sure we were in the audience.

Ebanjo - Posted - 06/10/2014:  15:40:28

I was at Flatt's festival in June of '76. Those pictures bring back some good memories. The next year ('77) you had a calf skin head on the -3 at Lester's festival. Do you remember that Sonny? Saw you playing Dale Sledd's Granada after it rained that afternoon.
Eric Ellis

TheChief - Posted - 06/11/2014:  11:07:05

Later we played in Pittsburgh and that skin head split from the tail piece to the neck. I stayed with plastic after that.

s

Ebanjo - Posted - 06/11/2014:  14:12:49

Those skin heads sound fine, but the weather messes with them too much. I've got a tape around here somewhere of one of the sets from that year. If I can find it and it's not deteriorated I'll try to get it transferred to disc and send you a copy.
Eric Ellis

TheChief - Posted - 06/12/2014:  05:42:01

I would love to have it, thanks.

A 3 star Rogers was $24 while a Remo plastic was $7-9. Rogers was an everyday job.

s

markbyrum - Posted - 06/12/2014:  09:57:50

Sonny:

  I just plugged the Osborne Chief here on Banjo Hangout and visited your new website so as to check on the current price of an Osborne Chief (banjohangout.org/topic/286369/#3609729 ).  What's going on with those new photos of you holding your banjos?  Are you going all "Ricky Skaggs" on us?  ;-)

Just kidding - just giving you a hard time.  The topic on Banjo Hangout was a recommendation for a good Bluegrass banjo in the $2,500 or so price range.  The Osborne Chief (used) is right there!  I am happy to plug it in response to that question.  Excellent banjo!

Mark

Gary Griffin - Posted - 07/01/2014:  16:37:35

Hi Sonny,

I've always been a big fan of the recording made by Lester Flatt with Bobby singing the tenor on "Kentucky Ridge Runner".

Did you guys ever do that on the stage with Lester, or was it just heard on the album only?

TheChief - Posted - 07/02/2014:  08:14:21

So far as I know they never performed that song on stage. I KNOW I didn't and I wasn't on the record. I liked the recording. Bobby and Lester sang well together. He (Bobby) also recorded "Busfare To Kentucky" with Skeeter Davis which I thought was really good. But then, he could sing with, and make anyone sound good. He was that good.
In my opinion, my brother and Ira Louvin were at the head of the class. Of course, that and 4or5 $ will get you a Dunkin Donuts coffee.

~
s
Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.
PO Box 647
Hendersonville,TN.37075
chiefbanjo@comcast.net
sonnyosborne.com
615-824-0096
IN GOD WE TRUST

TheChief - Posted - 07/02/2014:  08:59:45

Had a long overdue conversation with Scott Street. He's feeling well, playing with George Wynn's band and enjoying it. George has bee a fixture around the Richmond-Roanoke Virginia area for many years. An old, old friend. I'm glad to hear that Scott is playing the banjo with him.

Byron Robins Mom passed away and I went to Knoxville for the service and while there Jim and Trish Smith and I had a great tour of old town Knoxville. Some may know that we worked at WROL radio in 1953..hello, 8 days after my 16th birthday..for Cas Walker. Did 3 radio shows a day and played schools every night. We got filthy rich..heck we made $35 to $40 a week, sometimes. Had fun though, and learned our trade. We were veterans, in different ways. I had pulled two stints with Bill Monroe and Bobby had just been released from The Marine Corp. We were ready for anything...

~
s
Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.
PO Box 647
Hendersonville,TN.37075
chiefbanjo@comcast.net
sonnyosborne.com
615-824-0096
IN GOD WE TRUST

Joe Connor - Posted - 07/02/2014:  09:02:26

Keep the stories coming, Sonny! They're great.

banjoman56 - Posted - 07/02/2014:  11:30:50

In your opinion Sonny, which was worse, the Marine corps or doing time with Monroe?  

TheChief - Posted - 07/03/2014:  08:39:32

Bobby had a hard time of it in Korea, wounded (7 pieces of shrapnel in his head) so that was pretty tough.

He tells some pretty harrowing tales of his time there.

He took a mandolin with him...I believe a Gibson A50...I asked what happened to it. They lived in trenches

and he said the last time he saw it, it was floating down the trench. It rained a lot.

He saw and did things 19 year old kids shouldn't have to see nor do. But politicians don't give a damn.



But then at 14 I saw things whilst with Monroe that a 14 year old kid shouldn't see.

Nothing to compare with the above, but equally hard to understand if your life had been the banjo...nothing

else, just the banjo. Remember, not only did I have to contend with Monroe and Bessie, but Charlie Cline and Jimmy Martin. Monroe promised my Dad that he would look out for me, which was the last anyone heard of that.

But we survived, thank you Lord.

~

s

Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.

PO Box 647

Hendersonville,TN.37075

chiefbanjo@comcast.net

sonnyosborne.com

615-824-0096

IN GOD WE TRUST

Edited by - TheChief on 07/03/2014 08:49:56

banjoman56 - Posted - 07/03/2014:  11:16:44

I hadn't heard about Bobby being wounded. War is a horrible thing and you're right, politicians don't care. Men like Bobby are the real heroes, but politicians get the credit for anything that goes right. I can see where your life would have been pretty rough, being on the road as you was and playing at some of the venues that you had to play at. 14 is just too Young to be in that situation, but God watches over us. Glad you guys survived to make all that beautiful music. :)

TheChief - Posted - 07/03/2014:  12:25:09

Thank you.
s

TheChief - Posted - 07/06/2014:  09:35:42

Tom Adams is back with Bill Emerson and Sweet Dixie. Playing guitar. He can play.

At one point before his injury, he (Tom) was as good as one could get with a banjo.
He's that good with a rhythm guitar too. I'm glad he's back with Bill. Which brings up the
question; wonder why banjo players make hellacious rhythm guitar players? Three of the best..Dale Sledd, Tom, and Bobby Thompson.

I heard an album of his banjo playing that would stop you in your tracks. I tried to find it
but couldn't. :-(

~
s
Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.
PO Box 647
Hendersonville,TN.37075
chiefbanjo@comcast.net
sonnyosborne.com
615-824-0096
IN GOD WE TRUST

miket - Posted - 07/06/2014:  10:22:29

Tom Adams has two fantastic banjo albums: Right Hand Man, and Adams County Banjo. I was just working on a couple of the tunes from the latter a few moments ago. Highly recommended!!

Jeff Markham - Posted - 07/06/2014:  10:26:12

I've never heard anything that Tom has played that has not been top shelf.  The stuff he did with Lynn Morris is fantastic.  Also JMB, Rhonda, Blue Highway, etc.

Plus, he's one of the nicest guys out there.

 

bevans - Posted - 07/06/2014:  13:37:29

Hi folks! I wanted to share the news with the readers of this thread that I'll be part of a special online live broadcast of my solo show The Banjo in America on Sunday, July 13th at 7:30 pm via Concert Window. What's Concert Window? It's a way to catch live concerts from all over the world via your computer and the best news is that you pay what you want. 

What's The Banjo in America? I'd like to think it's a pretty unique event - I present over 250 years of music on a variety of historical banjos. You'll hear everything from the African roots of the instrument, through 19th century minstrel and classic (ragtime) styles to 20th century folk and bluegrass picking to my own original tunes and compositions. I love presenting this concert and this is a great way for you to experience it, wherever you are! I hope you'll join me. A great introduction to The Banjo in America is this Fretboard Journal YouTube video Bill Evans Tells The History of the Banjo in 14 Minutes.

And if you live close to Seattle and Portland, I hope you'll join me in person for bluegrass banjo workshops and a concert in Seattle on Saturday, July 12 and the Portland concert on Sunday, July 13. Complete details are always on the Schedule page at billevansbanjo.com.

I hope to see some Sonny fans next Sunday!

All the best,

Bill Evans

Edited by - bevans on 07/06/2014 13:39:22

Goldstarman - Posted - 07/06/2014:  15:02:34

Tom Adams comes up with the most tasteful arrangements Ive ever heard  for the banjo. Whatever he decides to

play be it bluegrass or rock tunes is right on the money.

TheChief - Posted - 07/09/2014:  08:05:42

Tom is a pro..
s

gibson49classic - Posted - 07/10/2014:  11:40:26

Sonny I have a question for you? I recently obtained a six string banjo like the ones you used to play and was wondering what gauge strings you used for it or just the low g. And also if you could give me any setup tips on it that was be awesome!!

TheChief - Posted - 07/11/2014:  07:35:47

Set it up just like you would any other banjo. You must have a 6 string bridge, tail piece, nut, and a capo. Hal Neidert of Pottstown, Pa. made those parts for me. (Also the best chess player I ever saw..I think he had me in check-mate in 3 moves..:-( which is no big deal...still!!!)
I used 11,11,13,22,26, and 11. However that would depend on whether you are playing regularly, or part time. And it depends on how hard you play. I was on the road constantly so I used a heavier string, if I were to just have one around the house to mess with occasionally I would use a lighter gauge string. 10,11,12,20 25 10...much easier on your fingers, and easier to play. You definitely need the heavier string for the Low G though, or it will rattle.
You will find that it's a different animal and definitely not easy to play. The right hand spacing is wider and it's difficult learning to stay off the extra string until you need it. When I went back to the 5 string I found that I could not adjust to the different right hand spacing and I never regained consistent speed. You might take that into consideration.
Good luck!
~
s
Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.
PO Box 647
Hendersonville,TN.37075
chiefbanjo@comcast.net
sonnyosborne.com
615-824-0096
IN GOD WE TRUST

gibson49classic - Posted - 07/11/2014:  13:21:21

Thanks so much Sonny! I have always loved your banjo playing and the tone you pull. You and bobby always and will forever have the BEST harmonies in bluegrass, the reason I bought it was because some of the songs you play, to sound like you, has to have the extra string. Just curious what made you want to play a six string?

TheChief - Posted - 07/12/2014:  13:44:24

49;
If there was a note lower than the fourth string, I grew tired of needing to fake that part of the song so I decided to have a neck built with an extra string, tuned an octave lower than the third. I first recorded "Listening To The Rain" two days after I got the neck installed, which I did myself with assistance from Dale Sledd. I tuned it to C at first...for that song..then later it became obvious that it needed to be G.
C.E. Ward of Charlotte, NC Built the first neck. It was an exact replica of the neck from the Sonny Osborne model Vega...which is owned at the present by Byron Robins. It was fun and served it's purpose.
If you take your time and not expect miracles you will enjoy the oddball. ;-)
~
s
Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.
PO Box 647
Hendersonville,TN.37075
chiefbanjo@comcast.net
sonnyosborne.com
615-824-0096
IN GOD WE TRUST

RayD - Posted - 07/12/2014:  15:12:20

Chief,

A couple of things for you:

1) I'm wondering if you kept notes or note cards on many of the things you did throughout career! After all, you give such detailed answers to questions folks ask you about the setup of the bridge at the fourth string on the song from the "B" side of such and such record!! Great stuff to know. Was it because you were such a perfectionist?

2) The above sort of leads into this one: now that you've retired from the business do you feel the need to stay as focused on those things that you do now? Are you giving yourself a chance to sit back and enjoy the life of the retired gentleman?

Cheers,

Ray

gibson49classic - Posted - 07/12/2014:  20:48:14

Thanks again Sonny! Another quick question though, do you remember some of the songs you played that banjo on so I could hear some of the licks you do the six string?

TheChief - Posted - 07/17/2014:  06:51:57

Ray;
The only connection I have to the music industry is the Chief banjo, Banjo Camp with Bill Evans and Cindy Sinclair, and answering questions you good folks ask. If you're interested enough to ask, I'm interested enough to answer, and if I don't remember the answer I can generally find it.

I was not a perfectionist in the sense that some are, but I paid attention to detail and was responsible for doing most of the session personal, when we record, and chose about 75% of the song material. So, I tell you this to not brag nor imply that I did it all, which would not be factual, But I was in on the decisions of the business of The Osborne Brothers, I booked us, and dispersed the $$, so I remember most of it.

Banjo set up, string height, brands of equipment, etc. I remember because of the fact that I did it the same every time. Therefore, easy to go back. So, when I would change a set up for a certain song, as in "Heartache Looking For A Home" I remember what I would change. (On that song, I took a banjo mute and turned it crossways? and loosened it to make it rattle slightly) Unfortunately, it didn't take the world by storm.!!!!

I am enjoying retirement to the utmost. You use that word GENTLEMAN quite loosely. :-)
I don't ever have to wear a suit, nor tie again. I watch a lot of Kentucky Basketball, Pro Basketball, Boston Red Sox Baseball..life is good. I thoroughly enjoy this Hangout connection.

I really appreciate your asking and I hope I answered all.
~
s
Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.
PO Box 647
Hendersonville,TN.37075
chiefbanjo@comcast.net
sonnyosborne.com
615-824-0096
IN GOD WE TRUST

TheChief - Posted - 07/17/2014:  07:05:20

Ray, I forgot a couple things. (The perils of growing old)

I have two Grandsons, one is an hellacious Ukulele player and has given me a Great Grandson, and the other is a senior in High school and a pretty good baseball player.

Is this more information than you bargained for?

~

s

Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.

PO Box 647

Hendersonville,TN.37075

chiefbanjo@comcast.net

sonnyosborne.com

615-824-0096

IN GOD WE TRUST

Edited by - TheChief on 07/17/2014 07:07:37

gibson49classic - Posted - 07/17/2014:  08:13:18

Hey Sonny do you remember the songs you recorded with the six string?

RayD - Posted - 07/17/2014:  12:05:33

Chief,

Thanks for the thorough answer, I do appreciate it! Being in on most of the decision making process does bring certain stresses I'm sure; but, as you said, you remember many of the details because you were involved in making those decisions. Answering the set/equipment question - that's about what I thought. We all tend to remember those things that we did that were not done in the usual manner. Great stuff! I really appreciate that you take the time to answer our questions as honestly as possible. Thanks again.

Cheers,

Ray

Ebanjo - Posted - 07/18/2014:  15:44:02

Sonny, When gibson49classic asked about some of the songs, the first thing that came to mind was your cut of "My Old Kentucky Home". That was the first one that I noticed that low G on.
Eric Ellis

TheChief - Posted - 07/20/2014:  10:42:29

The first song I used the 6th string was "Listening To The Rain" but I had it tuned to C instead of G.

I can't remember all the songs I used it on without going over the records individually which I don't have the time to do right now. It might be as many as 100 or more songs.

If one has need enough to buy such an instrument it seems to me as though he would want to experiment with it. Improvise. That's the fun part, to find out what you can do with it..and what you can't.

In answer to Mr. 49's question...let me put it this way. I think the song mentioned above was about 1970. I used it on everything we recorded until 1975.

I believe that is accurate.

Good luck with that thing. It's not easy to play. If you will, let me know your progress.

~

s

Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.

PO Box 647

Hendersonville,TN.37075

chiefbanjo@comcast.net

sonnyosborne.com

615-824-0096

IN GOD WE TRUST

Edited by - TheChief on 07/20/2014 10:44:48

gibson49classic - Posted - 07/20/2014:  11:17:52

Here is my progress sonny I had it for a week and a day, I watched a video of you on YouTube at festival in North Carolina maybe? And this is somewhat of the break you took, any feed back is appreciated, and once again thanks for all the help and info about it you shared with me.

VIDEO: Lincoln Hensley - listening to the rain, by the Osborne Brothers
(click to view)

 

TheChief - Posted - 07/20/2014:  13:46:30

This is overdue by several years.

Back when I was talking about Guitar players that knew how to play with a banjo I left one out. A very good one too.
He worked in the Jimmy (Frog) Martin band playing Mandolin, banjo, bass, and vocal.
Worked as a Bluegrass Boy from 1991 to 1996 playing Banjo exclusively, and came to work with The Osborne Brothers in Dec. 1996, staying until 2009.
With us he played Guitar some, Banjo some, Drove the bus some, and did just about everything there was to do, checking into motels, getting airline tickets, rental cars, mechanics..just an excellent guy to have around. And did a very good impression of Jimmy Martin, Bill and James Monroe, (although Glen Duncan was quite good at that too...) but that's another story.
This one is about Dana Cupp. Really good banjo player( although he relied on the Carl Farmer method a little much.) But to me his callin' was as rhythm Guitar player. He knew how to make Banjo playing easier, perhaps because he was a banjo player. Regardless, he was good, and I apologize for omitting him. Incidentally, as a Banjo player, he was good enough to play Foggy Mtn. Breakdown on one of our albums. (And he played every note)
OK, that's it. Testimonial time is over...THANK YOU DANA!
P.S. Dana...make the check out to........ {:-)>
~
s
Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.
PO Box 647
Hendersonville,TN.37075
chiefbanjo@comcast.net
sonnyosborne.com
615-824-0096
IN GOD WE TRUST