markbyrum - Posted - 01/18/2015:  11:16:04

Sonny:
Sammy Shelor would make a good NashCamp Banjo Camp instructor, IMHO. He could give your Grenanda another good workout!
Mark

TheChief - Posted - 01/18/2015:  12:52:38

We've been trying to get him for several years but he is always thinking of his band and must keep them working.Kristin is the same. They have a hard time committing this early. I wish we could get both. We try hard to get the best teachers available, and I think we do a decent job... I'm convinced we have the best possible, I know we have the best food, and to my knowledge no one has complained. I understand Cindy has quite a few signed up already.



I ought to just go where Sam is playing and kidnap him.Reckon that'd work. It might take several of us to get it done, Sam is a pretty big boy... BAD IDEE!!!!



~

S

Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.

PO Box 647

Hendersonville, TN. 37077

615-824-0096

Edited by - TheChief on 01/18/2015 12:54:35

markbyrum - Posted - 01/18/2015:  13:56:22

We (used in the corporate sense, since I'm not involved in arranging for instructors, only in being instructed) have excellent teachers. New blood often strengthens the herd. He's the boss. Encourage him to give his band a few days off for the appropriate time so he can join us at NashCamp Banjo Camp! Perhaps that's the angle.
Mark

TheChief - Posted - 01/19/2015:  09:49:47

I wish it worked that way and was that simple.

s

1935tb-11 - Posted - 01/22/2015:  02:40:40

hey sonny ,, hope your doing well,, i hate i didnt get out to banjothon this year,,, just a note to let you know i got to play the litter mate to your granada, 9584-1 yesterday, by the new owner,,,  with a new set up it is fantastic banjo.  not quite there with yours but close.. then again its been put up a long long time too.  me and a buddy of mine rode down to check it out along with some other old banjos he has and it is in good hands. hopefully it will be at banjothon next year.   you take care and i will see you soon... 

terry m

Brett - Posted - 01/22/2015:  06:36:05

Mr. Sonny, there is a neat video of Benny Martin singing "Ice Cold Love" on the Ralph Emery show I thought I'd bring to your attention, as I'm sure you'd enjoy seeing Benny again.  And, I'm sure you knew him well.  He sure was a character.  I hope you get the time to see it sometime, sorry I don't know how to post a link, I'm computer challenged.

chuckv97 - Posted - 01/22/2015:  07:40:29

youtube.com/watch?v=sriJFdMkcfo         Here's the live link. Benny tells the Big Tige story - lol.

Edited by - chuckv97 on 01/22/2015 07:42:37

TheChief - Posted - 01/22/2015:  07:40:44

I didn't know Dave had sold his Granada. When? and to whom?

That's a good banjo. I bet whoever got it paid a couple hundred dollars for it....

gospelman97 - Posted - 01/22/2015:  07:43:11

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheChief

I didn't know Dave had sold his Granada. When? and to whom?

That's a good banjo. I bet whoever got it paid a couple hundred dollars for it....

~

S

Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.

PO Box 647

Hendersonville, TN. 37077

615-824-0096

---

Ed Lowe from Burlington, NC bought it.  He owns Lowe Vintage Instruments and I believe is the producer for the Johnboy and Billy Radio program.  He is also associated with Terry Baucom I believe.

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 01/22/2015:  07:53:26

Here is an ongoing thread  about 9584-1

banjohangout.org/topic/297917/4/#3769106

I believe your Granada is mentioned there also Sonny.

ken

TheChief - Posted - 01/22/2015:  08:09:26

Benny Martin...my gosh what a character. I knew him well.He and John Hartford were very close friends.

Came to my house for several picking parties and what a great time, and fine music, and very tall tales were passed around. Earl, The terrible Terry's (Eldredge and Smith) Charlie, Kristin, Mike Bub, McCoury, Gene Wooten, Jason Carter, Mike Johnson came up from Florida with Wynn. John and Benny, David Crow...Man we had a good time!!!!,  (I probably left some out, unintentionally)

Once John told me that he needed to buy another car. I told him I had an 86 Cadillac I would like to swell. I raised the garage door and he took one look and said; "I'll just buy that"...which he did. He told me later: "I got that car about 5 PM and went and got Benny. My thoughts were...'I've got your car, my best friend Benny, and we drove around Nashville until 5 AM.' What more could a man want?" Those were the best days.

I'll find that and watch it. Thanks.

s

TheChief - Posted - 01/22/2015:  08:17:24

I know Mr. Lowe.

s

.

1935tb-11 - Posted - 01/23/2015:  17:47:02

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheChief

I know Mr. Lowe.

s

 

 i sent you a message

terry m

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

---

TheChief - Posted - 02/02/2015:  08:20:54

My good friend, and the perfect example of a Gentleman, Scott Street passed from this life Saturday night while he slept. Cancer.

We spent a great deal of time together while in the process of writing a book, and I got to know Scott pretty well. I am thankful for that privilege. 

Bill Evans, friend, banjo camp partner, banjo player and teacher, author of two books,(Banjo For Dummies) has graciously offered to finish this book. My son Steve has also offered to help. 

Scott was a great lawyer and a pretty good banjo player. During the time I knew him, after the book work, he would play his banjo and ask me to critique his playing. It was good to hear his progress. He wanted that so much and I'm glad for him it was accomplished.

My thoughts are with Gini and their family.

s 

fgodbey - Posted - 02/02/2015:  09:14:15

Sonny,

I am so, so sorry to hear this.  It was always a pleasure to visit with Scott at past Banjothons; we'd talk about banjos, of course, and the book he was working on with you, as well as a wide range of other subjects.   I often wished we lived closer to one another so we could just hang out and continue the conversations.  You are quite right in saying he was "the perfect example of a Gentleman." 

RIP Scott Street.

--Frank

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 02/02/2015:  11:05:20

Sorry Sonny.

ken

chuckv97 - Posted - 02/02/2015:  12:15:59

My sincere condolnces.

BanjoTom47 - Posted - 02/02/2015:  12:43:36

I didn't know Scott well -- we were introduced by Frank Godbey at Banjothon, and he immediately asked me to send him a copy of my book on Bean Blossom, which of course I did a week or two later.  He seemed, indeed, every bit a gentleman, and I'm glad I had a chance to meet him, and sorry to hear of his passing.  My sincere condolences to all his family and friends...

DHoffmeyer - Posted - 02/02/2015:  17:42:59

Scott really was the young version of a vintage Virginia Gentleman. When he was able to get out to the monthly jam nearby, we'd always pick a few together. And although I'd briefly met Sonny years before, it was Scott's formal introduction of me to Sonny which started subsequent conversations about photography and cameras, and picks!  

A lot of us were fortunate enough to tell him how thankful we were, and still are, for him before he left.

TheChief - Posted - 02/02/2015:  18:14:31

I will gladly AMEN that Dean.

All that knew him were indeed fortunate.

TheChief - Posted - 02/02/2015:  18:18:35

Gini has given me the following information;

Friday, the 6th, at 1:00 PM at River Road Church, Baptist, 8000 River Rd., Richmond VA, 23229 with a reception following at The Country Club of Virginia, St Andrews Ln.

 

DG-banjo - Posted - 02/03/2015:  05:16:48

I spoke with Scott several times during his work on Sonny's book. Always pleasant to speak with and a gentleman. I enjoyed talking with him.

2 Corinthians 5:8King James Version (KJV)

⁸ We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

My Condolences to the Street Family. ~Daniel

Edited by - DG-banjo on 02/03/2015 05:29:07

laceyth9 - Posted - 02/07/2015:  09:10:42

Chief,

I'd like your opinion on studio recording. Our family is working on a new CD. We've setup a home recording studio using a package called Cubase. It's very powerful and we're enjoying using it. Recording at home has its benefits and detractors. One of the detractors is knowing when a recording is "good enough". When you were recording in a studio, were you really picky about a recording? I can imagine you were. Did you often get the track down on the first take, or did it take many? Who were some of the best studio muscians that could nail a song the first time through? Care to mention any muscians that took "extra time"? I remember Dale Perry telling me when he recorded "There is a God" with Doyle Lawson, it took them all day to get an acapella song the way he liked it. Though we try very hard to make our recordings sound like our live show, there's definetly a difference in making the recording.

Thanks for your thoughts,

Tim L.

TheChief - Posted - 02/09/2015:  07:55:41

A recording will never sound like a live show unless you record a live show without knowledge of it being recorded.

The biggest problem when doing a home recording is the sound itself, and the quality of microphones you are using. "Studio" musicians are trained to get it the first time through where road pickers who are quite good need more time. We were fortunate in having guys who were really top professionals and had the same goals as Bobby and I. Recording is a tough business and much harder than one would imagine.

I was not that "picky" in that if you make it too perfect it sounds phony. Out of tune or off key vocals of course are not acceptable but a muffled note sometimes is ok. If it's a glaring mistake it must be dealt with. One such "glaring" mistake that was left was Earl in "Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms" when he missed it be a whole note, going to one note flatter than he intended. But they let it pass. I have a theory as to why he "missed" it but it's too long and probably means little other than; "Earl was too good, he couldn't have missed it without reason!"

Some people "in charge" will do something over and over just to make a statement: "I hear things that the rest of you do not!" When 90% of the time he or she actually hears less.

If you are well rehearsed going into a recording session you will have much less problems. Knowing exactly what you are doing and/or wanting, is more than 75% of the battle. Making sure everyone is on the same page is vital. If one person is not 100% sure, you're better off to not record until they are sure..of themselves and everyone else.

I hope this has helped in some way. I would be interested in hearing the finished product. Realize, I only covered the recording part. Re-mixing and Mastering are two vital steps in getting a good product.

s

chuckv97 - Posted - 02/09/2015:  09:38:31

Hi Sonny. Years ago I read an interview with you where you mentioned copying Earl in your younger days,but then you heard that mistake he made. You then decided,if I remember right, to just find your own way with the banjo and quit copying someone else. Is that the "mistake" you just mentioned in your last post?

Edited by - chuckv97 on 02/09/2015 09:43:52

laceyth9 - Posted - 02/09/2015:  10:17:36

Thanks for the words of wisdom Sonny. I truly enjoy and cherish these little bits of history you are so willing to share with the rest of us. Few of us will be professionals and experience the life you lived, but all of us can experience the adventure through your recollections.

Thanks again,

Tim L.

TheChief - Posted - 02/10/2015:  13:37:53

Mr. Van Dyke,

No it was not. Roll in My Sweet...was just a clear cut mistake that they let go.

In Randy Lynn Rag he got his right hand tangled up and let that one go. In The Roll..mistake his right hand was good, just went to the wrong notes. (Cord) In Randy Lynn his right hand was wrong and it tells me that they probably tried several times to get it right and this was the best of the lot. I figured that if I didn't do something, If and when Earl went down I would too. But by then I had my right hand in pretty good shape, so it was time. 

Understand, this is not fact, just my opinion. The opinion of a 20 year old 10th grade dropout kid!

~

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 02/10/2015 13:41:13

chuckv97 - Posted - 02/10/2015:  15:34:00

Thanks. I appreciate the comeback, Mr. Osborne. 

Edited by - chuckv97 on 02/10/2015 15:41:04

Spike2 - Posted - 02/12/2015:  22:30:07

I love reading your recollections, Sonny. It's just like I'm sitting across from you hearing you as I read them. Yep.

TheChief - Posted - 02/13/2015:  18:07:44

Thank you Ma'am...I appreciate that Jan. I only know one way, and don't know it very well.  .

s

davehicks - Posted - 02/14/2015:  05:13:07

Sonny, Jack done some banjo work on a CD coming out sometime (you know how that is) a tribute to Flatt and Scruggs / Monroe type of thing. They done Darlin Cory and Jack wanted to do his part as close to earl as he could. He listened particularly to the break he done on the live at Carnegie Hall recording. During Earls up the neck back up there is a very noticeable pause, maybe Earl ment to do it or maybe he was lost in awe of everything going on that night. Jack recorded his part note for note on that (mistake)?
James price does an excellent Lester! I may have copies of the recordings if you'd like to hear them.

TheChief - Posted - 02/14/2015:  09:59:17

I would definitely like to hear. Send them on.

Earl was not in awe of anything. Having not heard it, I can't comment. Mr. ice water was never effected by anything that I ever saw. I've seen him in situations that we common folk would be petrified but it didn't seem to bother him at all. Lester was the same. That's why they are "FLATT AND SCRUGGS" and we're still, nearly 70 years later, trying to duplicate that sincere sound and, like the old Gibson flathead Mastertones, we can't. And I, for one, am glad for that. Like the weather, all we can do is stand back and scratch our collective heads and say; Well I'll be *****!!!!!

Send 'em

s

davehicks - Posted - 02/15/2015:  08:35:59

Very true!

bbanjoboy - Posted - 02/15/2015:  09:23:52

You may have touched on this before, so forgive me if you have.. BUT.. I have always been curious... a man of your stature in the music biz.. and with such an obvious love for old Gibsons. ... why in the world did you play the Vega for so long?

Timeless1952 - Posted - 02/15/2015:  18:32:27

I'm waiting for this one.

K

TheChief - Posted - 02/15/2015:  21:04:48

$$$ and it was good business to have my own model and Gibson was not interested in me, nor E for that matter. Vega made an offer, I'm sure a pittance to what they did for Earl, but it was good business in 1964.

I actually only played it (VEGA) from late 65 till 71.

If I didn't do the deal, Kenny wouldn't have a pretty, 46 year old, one of a kind, Vega to play right now.  Sounds pretty good too!

Another way to look at it, they offered the deal to Earl, me, and Maybe Pete seeger. Would you have taken an offer from a major company to let you design your own model and they would build?

I never put the Rocky Top Gibson (1934 flathead original 5 string RB3) down though. (Completely) Until Martin Guitar company bought Vega.Why? I have no idea..maybe eliminate the competition! 

Incidentally, Bill Nelson pronounced it VEE GA. He owned the company, I think.  

Good business.

s

Edited by - TheChief on 02/15/2015 21:07:55

bbanjoboy - Posted - 02/16/2015:  06:31:42

straight from the horses mouth no less! Gotta love it! Thank you for the truth! I remember one time listening to a talk show host.. He said that he wanted everyones opinion of why he was on the air.... for about an hour people called in giving every reason from his stance on politics to religion etc... when it was all said and done, he said tha the reason he was on the air was because he had sponsors PAYING HIM! I never forgot it.... great answer Sonny, and thank you for not sugar coating it!

TheChief - Posted - 02/16/2015:  08:19:16

Truth is always right. It never comes back to bite you, and you never need to remember which lie you told and to whom. It's also free, and doesn't cost anything to keep up.

s

gibson49classic - Posted - 02/16/2015:  08:37:02

Sonny I think that is the most knowledgable thing I've ever heard. We all need to live our lives by your last post. 👏👏👏

bbanjoboy - Posted - 02/16/2015:  09:19:44

yes sir!

TNCowboy - Posted - 02/16/2015:  09:32:44

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheChief

Truth is always right. It never comes back to bite you, and you never need to remember which lie you told and to whom. It's also free, and doesn't cost anything to keep up.

s

 

---

TheChief - Posted - 02/17/2015:  12:02:14

I was informed (by Kenneth) that the Vega he is playing is 49 years old.

I beg thee pardon,sir!    49 it is.

~

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 - 02/17/2015:  12:08:44

My Dad taught me, too many years ago to want to count, that your word is actually all you own, outright. Your word being truth. Took me till I was in my thirties to realize that he was smarter than me!!!!

~

s

Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.

PO Box 647

Hendersonville,TN.37075

chiefbanjo@comcast.net

sonnyosborne.com

615-824-0096

IN GOD WE TRUST

TNCowboy - Posted - 02/17/2015:  15:16:30

Reminds me of something Mark Twain said regarding his father after Twain had been away for 7 years; "when I was a boy of 14, my old man was so ignorant, I could barely stand to have him around; when I returned as a man of 21, I was surprised at how much he'd learned in 7 years".

Ebanjo - Posted - 02/17/2015:  17:10:46

Sonny, Which banjo did you play on "Big Spike Hammer"?
Eric Ellis

1935tb-11 - Posted - 02/17/2015:  18:49:00

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ebanjo

Sonny, Which banjo did you play on "Big Spike Hammer"?

Eric Ellis

---

i may be wrong eric but i think it was the VEE GA,,,  he did several of the up this hill and down recordings with it.

if  i am wrong i am sorry sonny.

terry m

TheChief - Posted - 02/17/2015:  19:02:04

Recorded October 7, 1965

Banjo was original RB 3 flathead five string Gibson

Original Rocky Top banjo now owned by Aaron McDaris and played regularly with Rhonda's Rage.

~

s

Sonny Osborne Banjo Co.

PO Box 647

Hendersonville,TN.37075

chiefbanjo@comcast.net

sonnyosborne.com

615-824-0096

IN GOD WE TRUST

Timeless1952 - Posted - 02/18/2015:  10:10:17

"Kenneth" is so glad you did the deal with Vee-ga.

K

TheChief - Posted - 02/18/2015:  17:48:04

I'm glad Kenneth is banjo happy. He does make it sound good.

The first recording I made with a Vega banjo was "One Tear."

 'twas the Pro2 Model.

~

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 02/18/2015 17:51:15