From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 10/29/2014:  09:51:34

Happy Birthday Sonny,

You are the man.

Ken

bcampbe5 - Posted - 10/29/2014:  10:02:37

Happy Birthday Sonny!  I love my Chief Mahogany#3.  Sounding better all the time!  I only wish I was too...  :-)

mitchmanns - Posted - 10/29/2014:  10:17:04

Have a great birthday Sonny!!!!!!!!

Jeff Markham - Posted - 10/29/2014:  10:41:59

Happy birthday to us!

Ceres Banjo Works - Posted - 10/29/2014:  10:52:43

Happy Birthday Sonny Osborne.

-JB

Banjo Stan - Posted - 10/29/2014:  12:03:23

Happy Birthday Sonny!  Hope you're doing well.  Happy Birthday to you too, Jeff Markham!

whywild - Posted - 10/29/2014:  15:43:33

Happy Birthday Sonny!  

Ebanjo - Posted - 10/29/2014:  15:50:36

Happy Birthday Sonny.
Eric Ellis

banjoslick - Posted - 10/29/2014:  15:59:28

happy Birthday Sonny!!!!!

Norm2704 - Posted - 10/29/2014:  16:15:17

Happy Birthday Sonny!! Hope you have a great one!!!

recokin - Posted - 10/29/2014:  16:23:25

Happy Great Birthday, Sonny!!!

Koji Onoda

bbanjoboy - Posted - 10/30/2014:  09:55:46

Listening to the harmony on that video .. even without your banjo.. reminds me how good it used to be.. The music's not the same anymore.. I grew up when festivals were festivals.. the bands were jamming in the evening with everyone else.. bands would play at the festival for the entire weekend.. but more important.. when they came on stage you knew who they were.. Ralph, Bill, Little Roy, Sonny & Bob.. etc etc.. each one was SO distinct, yet true to the genre... then sometime in the 80's or so it all started to change... everyone started to sound alike.. not trying to be a whiner, but what happened? Is it just me? Sure do miss the old days..

TheChief - Posted - 10/30/2014:  11:38:31

Kenny;
I have a theory as to why that happened.

By the late 80's, Bluegrass Music as we older folks knew it, started to change because the younger generation of musicians slowly began to emerge in bands. The older pickers faded and with them went much of the tradition we had grown to love. That's all we knew. We didn't have anything except a record player and the radio. No iPod, iPad, TV, Internet. It showed in our playing...emotion, (sad, happy, funny, aggressive) soul, heart. We wondered what Bill, Lester and Earl, Ernest Tubb and Roy Acuff looked like.

The younger kids were (and are) good, and some great players but they lack the tradition that was part of our lives. Because, for the most part the younger generation were, and are Rock Music fans, although they play banjos, mandolins, etc. their iPods are filled with people, names, and bands we older, faded out guys, never heard of and to listen to it would give us major headaches. Jimmy Brock spread the word that I, like himself, was a Beatles fan. Not so! Truth is, I liked a couple songs The Beatles did..."Something", "Yesterday", but that's about it. When that word got out that I liked, and was a fan of The Beatles, I found out that more than a few of my banjo playing friends were not only liking a few songs, but knew everything that group, and just about every other band of that ilk had done, and had their iPods filled with it.
My iPod was, and is filled with Flatt and Scruggs,. Bill Monroe from the Columbia record days, etc. (I bought my iPod from Bobby's younger son Boj, so it has things like that, ARTISTS I NEVER HEARD, on it too)
JD and I were sitting in my car listening to a tape of Lester and Earl, They were singing "Are You Washed in The Blood" when one of JD's band members came to the window and asked what we were doing. I turned the volume up so he could hear, he heard half of a line and said; "Oh, you're listening to that old S..T" He's still around and his playing shows his disinterest.

I don't really know what I'm trying to say here, just my thoughts as to why the music has changed so drastically. Country music is the same. Hear one you have heard them all.

Interesting little tidbit. I was a Bluegrass Boy (number 26) in 1952. Bill Monroe didn't know who Frank Sinatra was. And he thought Itzhak Perlman was a fiddler. Tradition folks.

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

bbanjoboy - Posted - 10/30/2014:  11:48:33

Well, that pretty much nails it.. If I'm being completely honest here, I remember the month that BU put the Newgrass revival on the cover.. I quit my subscription.. looking back, they are an amazing group and I love their music but at the time it seemed like the most offensive thing in the world. As for Bill not knowing who Frank Sinatra is, I recall a story about Ralph being stopped at a truck stop.. he's in eating and a member of the band was still on the bus.. he hears a knock at the door and Jeff Gordon is standing their in awe.. long story short, Jeff gets on the bus and after half an hour leaves a signed picture.. Ralph comes out, gets on the bus, sees the picture and says "who is this picture of"... I believe that folks like Ralph and Bill were almost from the 19th century in their way of thinking.. you and I are from the 20th, and we are now the dinosaurs.. the 21st century has crept in and we must feel like Bill did on that video where he says "things have really changed"........

Jeff Markham - Posted - 10/30/2014:  12:43:50

I once heard that Mr. Monroe really *did* know who Sinatra was, but, being Bill Monroe, he pretended ignorance just to jerk Sinatra's chain.

Ebanjo - Posted - 10/30/2014:  14:01:05

Sonny, You didn't offend me one bit. Just told it like it is. And Kenny if you think NGR pushed the envelope, you need to check out the Dillards' 'Wheatstraw Suite" and "Copperfields" albums. Both are tastefully done. JMHO.
Eric Ellis

El Dobro - Posted - 10/30/2014:  15:54:42

Sonny tells it like it is...again.

TheChief - Posted - 10/30/2014:  23:48:54

I believe I should add:
Banjo playing needs an attitude, and in my humble opinion that is the 'thing' that is lacking in the player of today. I believe the reason is because they are not consumed by the banjo. They have other interests...we old guys didn't. We just loved the banjo.
I've probably said this before but, when, as a kid I was learning to play, I would play until my fingers bled. I wonder how many would love it that much now?
And that reminds me of something I read once. Pete Rose said he would take batting practice until his hands bled. This was after he became a professional ball player. He ended his career with more hits than anyone in major league baseball history.
To be that successful you gots to love it.
~
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 - 10/31/2014:  02:40:28

One thing that I have always loved about your playing Sonny is the feeling you put into every break. You are and always will be my favorite for your creativity and your tone, the lick at the end of your break on The Cuckoo Bird on the Once More album is a great example of this.

Edited by - gibson49classic on 10/31/2014 02:41:45

Redmanc - Posted - 10/31/2014:  03:47:16

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheChief

I believe I should add:

Banjo playing needs an attitude, and in my humble opinion that is the 'thing' that is lacking in the player of today. I believe the reason is because they are not consumed by the banjo. They have other interests...we old guys didn't. We just loved the banjo.

I've probably said this before but, when, as a kid I was learning to play, I would play until my fingers bled. I wonder how many would love it that much now?

And that reminds me of something I read once. Pete Rose said he would take batting practice until his hands bled. This was after he became a professional ball player. He ended his career with more hits than anyone in major league baseball history.

To be that successful you gots to love it.

~

 

---

I also think it is safe to say that a large difference between players now and back then is how culturally connected our lives are to the music.  For example, you'd be hard pressed to ever hear bluegrass on the radio around here... and I live in a small town (1mileX1mile, surrounded by farm land) that is dominated by country music.  I feel like if you didnt grow up south of the Ohio river you'd be hard pressed find a great classic bluegrass jam scene.  Everyone around here wants to cover classic rock/current country during jams.  I'd guess 5% of players around MIGHT be able say they've even heard Flatt & Scruggs version of "Are You Washed In the Blood".  It's unfortunate because I find nu-grass/contemporary grass to be uninteresting.

bbanjoboy - Posted - 10/31/2014:  05:40:41

I'm glad to have been around for most of the great times.. I think the really early times (30'-40's) were pretty rough.. hard times, pie suppers, etc.. the 50's were lean due to Elvis and the Beatles, but the Opry was kicking it then.. but I came up in the 70's when Festivals were really booming.. Jams everywhere, and EVERY band had it's own sound.. from the Seldom Scene to Bill Monroe.. even though bands like the Scene were 'new' and covering contemporary tunes, you could recognize who was on stage immediately. They all had their own sound. It seems these days I just don't hear that.. I believe that the biggest part of this is vocals.. but instrumentally it's also the same. Don't get me wrong, there are some AMAZING bands out there today and I'm not knocking anyone.. just saying that when Charlie Waller stepped on stage there was no question who it was.. When Sonny took a banjo break you could tell a mile away who was playing... even John Duffey with his Chinese style mandolin playing was very distinct.. I just don't hear that much original distinction today..

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 10/31/2014:  07:26:24

Kenny,

You are exactly right. I remember some of the Saturday shows at Bean Blossom in the 80’s with a line up of, the Bluegrass Cardinals, Jim and Jesse, The Osborne Brothers, Ralph Stanley, and Bill Monroe. What variety - what quality! And the banjo players equally with quality and variety and their own distinct sound  from Sonny to Ralph  to Blake Williams to Alan Shelton, to Don Parmley, to Little Roy. You talk about getting high and full of energy just listening to that music. Wow. You could not sit through a show silently. They would make you jump out of your chair. The next morning, I would wake up and my toe would be tapping before I was out of bed. It seemed like the rhythm/drive/beat/force - what ever you wanted to call it, it just stayed with you and in you. What a GREAT time!

Ken

TheChief - Posted - 10/31/2014:  08:24:24

And, I can just hear ..... ..... who plays with .... ..... band saying: "What the hell is he talking about?" (Excuse me Lord)

{ ;-)>

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

bbanjoboy - Posted - 10/31/2014:  08:34:57

Well, sad but true. Like I said, I'm just grateful I was there...

picknman - Posted - 10/31/2014:  10:09:54

I am glad I was able to be around during that era also. The festivals that Carlton Haney held at Berryville VA and Camp

Springs NC were super to my opinion. I remember sitting for hour after hour and listening to band after band. Didn't

even have to see the stage to tell who was on it. Great memories that I will cherish forever.

Doug J.

TheChief - Posted - 11/01/2014:  13:57:06

Jeff;

Bill actually DID NOT know who Frankie was, nor anyone else of the same ilk. He told me that he thought Marilyn Monroe got her last name from him...well actually what he said was; "where do you think she got her last name?"

I guess in order to believe all that is said (or written) about Bill, one had to be there. BILL MONROE was "something else." To do what he did, and reach those heights, you could compare it to Elvis, Oprah, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, or Abraham Lincoln for that matter. From where he came, to where he went was truly amazing. We might not see that again, certainly never see another like Monroe.

Today I listened to the old Columbia records that Bill, Lester, Earl, Chubby Wise and Cedric Rainwater (Howard Watts) recorded in the mid 40's. We really lost the sincerity and simplicity along the way.

Too bad, but time moves on and change is inevitable.        { ;-)>



s



s

Edited by - TheChief on 11/01/2014 13:59:35

bbanjoboy - Posted - 11/01/2014:  14:44:54

Sonny,
I wouldn't say "we"... You and Bobs harmonies were unfathonable .. Lol my spell check tried to change that to unfashionable ...
At any rate WE have lost it... You never did :-)

bbanjoboy - Posted - 11/01/2014:  14:51:32

Sonny, "we" never lost it.. You and Bob kept it real ... Even in the crazy "can't u hear that whistle blow bass solo... You were pure until the end.
Is there ever a chance to hear u and Bob again someday for a reunion or something? I'd kill to hear "bluegrass memories" one more time... And thank you for giving a young listener a wholesome musical hero. Wish there were more like you.

TheChief - Posted - 11/03/2014:  14:38:52

I doubt seriously that I'll ever play again, and singing has always been out of the question. So that translates to, I guess not. Sorry. This will have to do.
~
s
Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.
PO Box 647
Hendersonville,TN.37075
chiefbanjo@comcast.net
sonnyosborne.com
615-824-0096
IN GOD WE TRUST

bbanjoboy - Posted - 11/03/2014:  14:42:39

Well, thanks again for the years of great memories!

Jeff Markham - Posted - 11/03/2014:  14:46:25

Everybody moves on, one way or another.  At least you went out on your own terms and hung it up while still delivering the goods.  Can't say that of some other entertainers.  We can still enjoy your music and company.  I'm glad that you chose to make the Chief banjos available and are still doing that.

El Dobro - Posted - 11/03/2014:  15:46:29

Always leave them wanting more.

TheChief - Posted - 11/05/2014:  12:56:39

I meant to say something about this before now but circumstances took precedent.



October 17, and 18, I along with Jim Smith and Jim Buchannon judged a fiddle contest in Hiawassee, Georgia. Also on the show was Dailey and Vincent.

Tremendously popular group, and well deserved I might add. They ARE the real deal.

However, something painted on the side of their bus seemed out of character.

Their name, photograph, and sponsor was displayed which is very appropriate. But also stated and painted on the bus was;

"The Rock Stars Of Bluegrass."

If other people say things like that, so be it. Accept it with pride. But self proclaimed is another thing. If they needed to tell everyone, it seems harder to believe.

MY OPINION!

~

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 11/05/2014 12:58:22

Ebanjo - Posted - 11/05/2014:  14:25:49

Sonny, I agree with you. My late mom and dad always told me that folks who bragged on themselves usually did it because no one else would (which may not be the case with D & V). But it still seems a little unprofessional to me.
Eric Ellis

bbanjoboy - Posted - 11/05/2014:  14:42:06

I can't wait until I'm retired and can state my mind !! You're the rock star sir

TheChief - Posted - 11/06/2014:  17:41:03

Wanta know the truth? I don't even like the term "rock star" much less knowing what it actually means.
I certainly ain't no star, (How 'bout that double negative) I classify myself as a small part of the human race and just happy to be here. No more, no less! We're all in this together! { ;-)> When people start proclaiming themselves as something special, they left me out right there.
A little success is dangerous if you don't know how to deal with it.
~
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 - 11/06/2014:  17:54:47

Wanta know the truth? I don't even like the term "rock star" much less knowing what it actually means.
I certainly ain't no star, (How 'bout that double negative) I classify myself as a small part of the human race and just happy to be here. No more, no less. Some people are great carpenters, bricklayers, salesmen, mechanics, songwriters, and some play the banjo. When one must brag on oneself, he has a problem somewhere north of the shoulders! (In my humble opinion) We're all in this together. { ;-)>
When people proclaim themselves as something special, they leave me out right there!!
A little success is dangerous if you don't know how to deal with it.
Shut up Sonny!!!!
~
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 - 11/06/2014:  17:59:24

Sorry about the double post. I tried to delete the first one but I got in too late. I wanted to add a little more to it, so bear with me...I am 77 years old you know!
~
s
Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.
PO Box 647
Hendersonville,TN.37075
chiefbanjo@comcast.net
sonnyosborne.com
615-824-0096
IN GOD WE TRUST

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 11/06/2014:  18:48:48

Sonny,

It is kind of funny. Some of the most successful, both in terms of achievements and abilities, people I have known are down in the trenches kind of people. They worked so hard at it. I had a chance to observe some of Coach Knight’s work. They had a cement block room in the basement of Assembly Hall and it always smelled like McDonalds burgers. In that room that had 3 or 4 TVs and VCRs. The spent so much time watching tapes they could fast forward thru some games and know what was happening. They also ate sacks of McDonald’s food in there –especially late at night. But as you know when those teams and the staff came out on the court at game time, all 17,000 thought they were stars and they played like it. Away from the game they were humbled by the requirements they had to make to play the game. They knew they could not dictate to the game but they were the games servants. They were also disciplined and consistent in being good servants. And when they played Knights basketball it was beautiful. There were easy steals and transition baskets because the players knew the passing lanes to cover. They had seen it a million times. The shots they took were often wide open and in good short range with his great motion offense.  Often, even if they were getting beaten in many aspects of the game by superior talent, they were ahead in the game because of their big advantage at the free throw line – discipline.  

I have had the great fortune of hearing Kenny Ingram speak banjo several times and he told stories about how you studied and studied the old Earl Scruggs playing and picked up new stuff from it. By coincidence I happened to see another thread tonight of someone asking if anyone knew anything about your 1970’s banjo instruction book. Since I had a copy of it, I told them a few things about it and quoted the line: “"The banjo is an instrument that cannot be mastered overnight. As in all instruments, it takes long hours and deep concentration to play correctly."

I then posted your song, Unclouded Day - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEmMvm9JGkE

Which is to us (and you have to remember Sonny, a lot of us a bluegrass and banjo nuts!) as pretty as Miranda Lambert in hot pants! So Sonny, you may have been in the trenches in your study and subservience to the banjo but you have to realize that when we hear your playing, love your music, and know what you did, that to us that really love bluegrass, you are a star to us. Not saying that to swell your head and hope I have not offended you. (But I think I could beat you in a 10 yard dash. :~) . We all have our thing, .... just saying.

ken

chief3 - Posted - 11/06/2014:  19:09:42

"The Rock Stars Of Bluegrass."

This is just me, but with all due respect, I'm not really sure why a band would want to roll into a bluegrass festival with this written on their bus. The "rock star" image is the opposite of what some dyed in the wool bluegrass fans would view as the image preferred for a bluegrass musician. For the most part, rock and bluegrass doesn't seem to have a lot in the way of similarity and many folks are really happy with that.

P.S. You don't see too many signs saying "Plumbing Star" or "Accounting Star" or "Bricklayer Star" and the such.

TheChief - Posted - 11/07/2014:  05:59:53

{ ;-)> ....Plumber.."Rock Star of the Leaking Water"      Carpenter..."Rock Star of Nail Driving"



I have adopted a new title;

"ROCK STAR OF BEING RETIRED" OR LAZY!

I'll have business cards printed....Funny.

Great story about Bob Knight. I followed him from Ohio State...one of the best college teams ever assembled. His teams, when he had the talent, were a pleasure to watch. Much like the San Antonio Spurs last year. But you are so right. To do anything that well, takes dedication, talent, and a million hours.

 

s

Edited by - TheChief on 11/07/2014 06:09:04

gibson49classic - Posted - 11/07/2014:  06:06:49

You are the rock star of Tone Sonny!

chief3 - Posted - 11/07/2014:  06:38:20

OK, now this makes sense.

fgodbey - Posted - 11/07/2014:  08:38:53

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheChief

[snip]

Great story about Bob Knight. I followed him from Ohio State...one of the best college teams ever assembled. His teams, when he had the talent, were a pleasure to watch. [snip]

---

Hey Sonny,

I was a student at OSU during the Jerry Lucas, Mel Nowell, John Havlicek years (tellin' my age, I guess!)  Anyhow, with Larry Siegrfied & Joe Roberts on the team Bobby Knight seldom got off the bench... maybe that's how come he threw all those chairs later on!   That team was fun to watch, but truth to tell, I had just as much, if not  more, fun down the road at Chet's Bar with Sid Campbell, Robby Robinson & John Hickman... or at the Northern Restaurant with you & Bobby.  "Where does the good times go??"

--Frank

TNCowboy - Posted - 11/07/2014:  09:30:40

I've been a silent watcher of this thread for sometime, but this reminded me of a couple of things some some long passed preachers once said. Paraphrases will have to do as my memory has its limits.

"Those that are wrapped up with themselves make very small packages" (I think it was G
Charles Spurgeon)

"Empty vessels ride high in the water, while those heavy laden are low" JC Ryle

Finally,and sadly all too provable of late "Power is seldom a friend to humility" William Gurnall

Michael

TheChief - Posted - 11/07/2014:  18:36:15

We could go on, but to what avail?

Maybe someone will tell them how silly it looks, especially to professionals.



I think Bob's time spent on the bench watching those great guys get it done taught him the way to coach.

Throwing chairs, and anything he could get his hands on, I can understand somewhat. He demanded perfection from his players and the referees. I guess felt neither weren't performing to their potential.



Two thoughts; If I had a kid who was good enough to make it playing basketball, I would want him to be coached by Bobby Knight.

However if I were the father of a kid and he (BK) treated him the way I saw some of his players treated, he would need to be a better, tougher, man than I. I'm not saying I am so tough, but with it all said and done, he would know he had been in a fight. ;-)



Double standard, yeah! Double standard!

s

Edited by - TheChief on 11/07/2014 18:40:25

TheChief - Posted - 11/07/2014:  18:39:03

The Northern in Columbus was really something, huh Frank?

Special place. Good for sharpening your talent.

Ken, You have your opinions, and Lord knows I won't dispute them. To the contrary, I agree with you.

Know this however, I have NO ego, and conceit is a word that is not in my vocabulary. Never was, never will be.

s

Edited by - TheChief on 11/07/2014 18:45:30

TheChief - Posted - 11/10/2014:  08:56:05

JD'S MOM PASSED FROM THIS LIFE SATURDAY NIGHT. SHE WAS 100.

Edited by - TheChief on 11/10/2014 08:56:54

Timeless1952 - Posted - 11/15/2014:  12:20:28

I want to give out a BIG shout for "The Chief" finger picks.  I got a set a few days and was Really Pleased with the outcome.  They have the shape I really like & the tone in my mind sure can't be beat.

They really produce a Big, Fat, Clear note on the Banjo.  These picks come already polished so they are,ready to play with right out of the bag. So if your needing a new set or a few sets of new picks you should really check these picks out.  I'll be getting MORE of these,Love Um!!!

K