chuckv97 - Posted - 12/31/2015:  10:39:49

I watched a lot of Carl Smith's TV shows when he had them in Canada in the 1960's. I liked his style.   Happy New Year ,Sonny. 

Edited by - chuckv97 on 12/31/2015 10:42:42

as606 - Posted - 12/31/2015:  10:51:04

Sonny,
I can't thank you enough for the information, I felt that Bob Moore was on some of it and I really enjoy the other musicians and bassist on the sessions. Bob Moore is the reason while I attempt to play the upright bass,period! Henry did have a hard last name to spell last name,it's ok, I couldn't spell it either. Lol! Again,thanks and Happy New Year!

thebanjobert - Posted - 12/31/2015:  11:10:26

I was/am a big fan of Carl Smith.  One of my all-time favorite songs was 'I Overllooked an Orchid (While Searching for a Rose)'.  Now I'm gonna have to go listen to it................

TheChief - Posted - 01/03/2016:  18:39:16

My favorite Carl song was "There She Goes."

Good song and he sang it well, in my opinion.

s

TheChief - Posted - 01/03/2016:  18:47:06

Bobby Moore was truly the best acoustic bass player I ever heard. Lot of good ones right now. However the best out there in my opinion are Terry Smith, Barry Bales and Missy Raines. (Ben Surrat's wife) 

s

HPNomad - Posted - 01/07/2016:  21:01:23

I read somewhere that you would often break strings when you tuned because Bobby sang so high, that true Sonny? If so, that's pretty funny.

markbyrum - Posted - 01/08/2016:  04:31:37

Sonny,
I read an article in the last couple of days describing the Flatt & Scruggs concert that never was. It was about a concert booked for F&S in NC in 1969 which they could not keep because they broke up the band just before the event. The article said that the Osborne Brothers did the show and that you made the announcement that if the people didn't like what they heard when you performed, that the customer's money would be refunded. Can you share any memories about this event? Enquiring minds want to know!
Happy New Year!
Mark Byrum

TheChief - Posted - 01/08/2016:  11:17:08

Corey...absoluely no truth to that one. My brother's greatest contribution, in my opinion, was not how high he could sing (which was considerable) but the quality he achieved, the warmth and feeling he put into a lyric. Hank Williams once said he made the audience feel what he felt. Which he did. Few have that ability, my Brother did. (I'm talking about Hank Williams senior) As a 14 year old kid trying to play the banjo with Bill Monroe on two occasions I talked to MR HANK, and one night saw him encore 7 times on the Grand Ole Opry,1952, back when the Opry was the GRAND OLE OPRY!

Mark;

Sunday after they had decided to split, Earl called and told me of the situation and said they had a date the following Tuesday night in Sandy Ridge, North Carolina which was too late to cancel, and asked if we could fill in for them. We had nothing going and I agreed to do it. Before the show I explained to the audience what had happened and informed them if they would rather have their money back they could do so. That was our first time to play Sandy Ridge. We played it some 30 times after that night. As I remember, no one asked to be reimbursed. It seems as though Earl told me they had worked that date 25 times. Also seems as though I remember it as a one room school, which has long since been torn down. 

Someone brought a newspaper clipping to me, which consisted of a 4 line paragraph, of which I still have. It read:

"THE OSBORNE BROTHERS WILL REPLACE LESTER FLATT AND EARL SCRUGGS"

That's all!

.I thought it was funny and intended to show it to Earl, but didn't get around to it. The last date they worked was Meadeville, Pennsylvania, which we also were on that date, and consequently did the first date after the split. Strange little turn of events.

s

Edited by - TheChief on 01/08/2016 11:20:52

Jim1 - Posted - 01/08/2016:  13:27:45

Sonny,   Since you mentioned Hank Williams I have a question about Hank JR you may know.  Seems I heard one time that he used to either go to you or Earls house for banjo lessons.   Any knowledge on that?   Thanks Jimmy

TheChief - Posted - 01/09/2016:  08:03:14

RANDALL HANK WILLIAMS. Born in 1949. Old Hank died New Years day, 1953.

He might have gone to Earl, I don't know and had not heard that, but he did come to my house regularly for a period of about a year...to learn how to play the banjo good enough to play it as part of his stage show, which he did for a number of years. He didn't just play the banjo, he did this as part of the show where he would go to each instrument and play part of a tune, ending the bit with Foggy Mtn. Breakdown, which I had shown him how to play.

Junior had a Sonny Osborne model Vega banjo which he reportedly got mad for some reason and flung it across the stage, then he had a wreath pattern RB3 which he had bought from Paul Craft, flung it across the stage too. Why? I don't have any idea. I DID NOT see these acts take place, I was told of them after the fact.

He came to my house once for a lesson and handed a small paper bag to me. He said he bought out a music store, and thought I might want these. The bag contained about 150 old National finger picks. That would have been about 1965. I used those picks for the remainder of my career...38 years.

Lots of stories floated around about some of Junior's antics. Wild things he was supposed to have done. I knew him as a pretty darn good guy. Never once did I see him disrespect anyone, or be rude.I liked him, still do but haven't seen him in years.

s   

Jim1 - Posted - 01/09/2016:  10:00:38

Thanks Sonny.  Great stories!   I think we all  love hearing these old stories from the old days.         I wish I had a bag of those picks. 😉    Think I would think twice about letting him hold my chief tho.  😬

markbyrum - Posted - 01/09/2016:  11:42:22

Sonny,

Thanks for posting your recollections about the Sandy Ridge NC show you all did in place of F&S. I especially like that newspaper clip: Osborne Brothers replace Flatt & Scruggs. I expect Earl would have gotten a kick out of seeing that.

Thanks again,

Mark

Edited by - markbyrum on 01/09/2016 11:43:08

HPNomad - Posted - 01/09/2016:  19:00:31

I'm not sure if anyone has ever asked you this on the forums Sonny, but I'm curious about this "Banji-tar" you played in this video.

VIDEO: Ashokan Farewell (composed in 1982 by Jay Ungar) - The Osborne Brothers
(click to view)

 

TheChief - Posted - 01/10/2016:  10:47:19

At the time it was the only one of it's kind. I named it The Guitjo. It was built by Greg Rich for Larry Mcneely for use of the Glen Campbell TV show. I don't think it was ever used and when Larry moved back to Nashville, he consigned it to George Gruhn.George showed it to me, I bought it. I still have it.

I will probably mis spell this but, It's a copy of a Macafari, French classical Guitar.Doesn't have much volume but has a beautiful tone if not played very hard. I had the inlay, fingerboard, and refinish jobs done to it.

GUITJO

s

HPNomad - Posted - 01/11/2016:  01:11:35

I love that little Reuben solo you did in this one, also that look you and Bobby give eachother like

"We're playing Reuben?"

"Yep, we're playing Reuben."

Edited by - HPNomad on 01/11/2016 01:11:53

VIDEO: Don't Let The Smokey Mountain Smoke - Osborne Brothers
(click to view)

 

TheChief - Posted - 01/11/2016:  06:07:24

That was in Sweden, with Paul Brewster and JD Brock. 1987 I believe.

Looked as though we were having a good time, huh? We were. Had come from a long tour in Germany and Paul lost his passport. Cost me a few coin to get him home. Paul was a fine rhythm guitar player as well as great harmony singer.

Observe closely and you'll see I was playing a SONFLOWER STELLING banjo.

s

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 01/11/2016:  06:29:05

That must have been a great concert. It looks like this is the one where your banjo medley came from. Those folks in Sweden had it good!

ken

 

rbfour5 - Posted - 01/11/2016:  07:34:45

Do you still own that Sonflower Sonny? I thought that I saw an ad for a Sonflower model that supposedly owned by you at one time. How did you like that Stelling?
Thanks
Dean

TheChief - Posted - 01/11/2016:  12:30:05

That was the same show my banjo medley was from. Crowd surprised me. Full house as I remember. I think this was Stockholm. Might be wrong on that. Almost 30 years ago.

My Sonfrlower Stelling was a great banjo, some of the best workmanship of any instrument. First quality banjo for sure.. 

Brian Blaylock swears he has that banjo. I don't have any idea where it is.My reason for letting it go was I couldn't keep it in tune. Geoff must have used something other than ebony in the fingerboard. That banjo would NOT stay in tune. I gave it back and he promised to correct the problem before he resold it. I heard that it went to San Diego, then rumored that Brian had it. I think if he had it, he still has it, although you said you saw an add for a Stelling that I had owned. It would have to be that banjo, it's the only Stelling I played.

S

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 01/11/2016:  15:33:48

Sonny,

 A bunch of questions for you if you don’t mind:

1.As I understand it, the Sonflower was curly maple. What were the rim and the bridge? Did you have anything else put on it that was not standard Stelling? Were all the metal parts stock Stelling?  What input did you have on this banjo?

2. Stelling is now selling a Sunflower  with a Tony Pass rim. When you quit using the banjo, did Stelling keep selling a banjo with the same specs you played but changed the 2^nd letter in Sonflower from O to U?

3.When I see Banjo Medley on youtube it is posted by HEDGEHOGGAS.  Is this the only recording of your Banjo Medley? Does anyone sell a cd of that whole concert? Was this a professional recorder or was it just a fan in the stands?  It would be a tragedy if this was taken of the internet. IMO it is the finest banjo playing ever.

4. Your hands looked like they could rip a phone book. Was that just from playing or were you lifting.

Thanks,

ken

Edited by - From Greylock to Bean Blossom on 01/11/2016 15:34:52

HPNomad - Posted - 01/11/2016:  16:20:22

quote:

---

Originally posted by From Greylock to Bean Blossom

 

Sonny,

 A bunch of questions for you if you don’t mind:

1.As I understand it, the Sonflower was curly maple. What were the rim and the bridge? Did you have anything else put on it that was not standard Stelling? Were all the metal parts stock Stelling?  What input did you have on this banjo?

2. Stelling is now selling a Sunflower  with a Tony Pass rim. When you quit using the banjo, did Stelling keep selling a banjo with the same specs you played but changed the 2^nd letter in Sonflower from O to U?

3.When I see Banjo Medley on youtube it is posted by HEDGEHOGGAS.  Is this the only recording of your Banjo Medley? Does anyone sell a cd of that whole concert? Was this a professional recorder or was it just a fan in the stands?  It would be a tragedy if this was taken of the internet. IMO it is the finest banjo playing ever.

4. Your hands looked like they could rip a phone book. Was that just from playing or were you lifting.

Thanks,

ken

---

There is a song on "The Essential Osborne Brothers Collection" which features a song titled "Bluegrass Concerto" and it follows the Sweden performace.

TheChief - Posted - 01/13/2016:  20:27:18

I didn't make any changes to the Stelling. It was curly Maple, Maple rim, Frank Neat bridge..5/8, Ebony over maple, All Stelling hardware.

It was a beautiful banjo and it sounded like every other banjo I played. I just couldn't keep it in tune. Jeff kept it for a couple weeks and when I got it back, I still couldn't keep it in tune, he sent it to Snuffy Smith who went over it for a week..neither could find anything wrong. Sent it back, I took it to Alaska and tuned for a week. Stelling is a good guy. He paid me for my endorsement, took the banjo back and I lost track after that.

As I remember, Stelling was building a SUNFLOWER before my arrival so he simply changed it to SONFLOWER. I might have that in reverse order but it would be easily checked.

I have the complete Sweden performance somewhere. The original banjo medley was recorded on CMH records  sometime near 1978-80. The album title is Bluegrass Concerto. Neat album. My brother played some great mandolin. He is not only the best vocal I ever heard, he originated the mandolin style most players today are playing.First appearing on 6 RCA recordings we made with Jimmy Martin in 1953-4. I also produced an album for CMH entitled, BOBBY AND HIS MANDOLIN. If you like mandolin playing, and Kenny Baker's fiddling, you will need to find it.

I began running and working out at the YMCA in Hendersonville in 1970. When I was home, I built up to 5 miles a day running (which was a lot for me) until my knees and ankles gave out, then I walked 10 miles a day until Father time and Mother nature said that was enough.

I gave it up about a year ago. Now I walk my dog and do my best to tear two pieces of paper at once. No phone books.

s

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 01/13/2016:  20:32:16

Thanks Sonny.

10 miles a day is huge!

ken

Edited by - From Greylock to Bean Blossom on 01/13/2016 20:34:32

HPNomad - Posted - 01/14/2016:  00:05:18

Sonny, I heard in a video that the Grascals covered a song you and Bobby did. It's called "Hear That Lonesome Whistle Blow, Son". Now I can't find any album you guys put out that included that song. Care to fill me in?

TheChief - Posted - 01/14/2016:  07:26:19

Album titled, "Some Things I Want To Sing About" and the song title is "CAN'T You Hear That Whistle Blow Son" on Sugar Hill records.

10 miles a day is a lot but once you get into it, it becomes part of your job, and responsibility to yourself, or that's how it was for me. If I were still able to do it, I would!  Rotator cuff surgery several years ago put a screeching halt to lifting so I just gave it up completely.

s

Edited by - TheChief on 01/14/2016 07:42:58

bbanjoboy - Posted - 01/14/2016:  14:16:34

Since you're kind of on the subject of "Sonny Osborne" models, what's your take on the 93 Rich & Taylor that Elderly as for $2500? To me that seems like an absolute steal. It's hard to touch any decent banjo for that kind of money and if I'm not mistaken it would have been one of the upper models of the R&T lineup.. I have no idea what you/Frank are charging for a new Chief, but surely it's got to be nearly double...How would you compare the two?

bbanjoboy - Posted - 01/14/2016:  14:17:14

PS, any idea what that R&T would have cost new?

TheChief - Posted - 01/14/2016:  14:47:48

The original Rich and Taylor was a great banjo. $2500 for one, if it's original with the tone ring and everything in tact, that is a gift. The original tone ring was Berlisle and I really liked that banjo, but it had one flaw, in my opinion. The neck was too wide and shaped wrong for my liking. I tried to get them to reshape it, and they kept saying they would but it never happened. Actually, I never had an answer as to why they wouldn't change it. So, I had some work done on the neck of MY personal R and T banjo.

Greg Rich knows what he is doing when it comes to making banjos. It's a shame they couldn't make that company work.

The Chief is less than double as you suggested, $4595 for all models, and all are Gold with the exception of the Rocky Top model. Workmanship on the Chief is unmatched by anyone,other than Stelling. Frank Neat knows material, and has a touch assembling it. With the Chief there are NO shortcuts. If there is a problem, it's corrected. I stand behind them 100%.

To compare the two...Because of the neck issue, I would say the Chief is a better playing banjo, sound and tone is about the same. The R &  T might be a bit louder and but not quite as sweet for slow ballad songs...which was my thing. Price of a new R and T in 93 was in the teens, as I remember. Maybe like $1700 to $2000. So if that banjo is still Original, it's a gift at $2500. If I were still performing, I would buy it.

s

Edited by - TheChief on 01/14/2016 14:52:09

bbanjoboy - Posted - 01/14/2016:  14:54:03

What's so crazy is I believe they actually have 2 of them.. here are the links..

elderly.com/rich-taylor-sonny-...-1993.htm

elderly.com/rich-taylor-sonny-...-1994.htm

They look like amazing banjos to me and like you said, they seem like a steal..

Mike Rowe - Posted - 01/14/2016:  15:27:51

elderly.com/rich-taylor-sonny-...-1993.htm

elderly.com/rich-taylor-sonny-...-1994.htm

Edited by - Mike Rowe on 01/14/2016 15:29:39

Jeff Markham - Posted - 01/15/2016:  23:19:39

I had an R&T Sonny Osborne Deluxe (gold-plated) with the Kulesh 10-hole tone ring and the neck was re-profiled (or replaced?) to a more Gibsonesque profile by R&T themselves.  After I purchased my Chiefs, it did not get played much, but it was a FINE banjo.  I just thought that the Chiefs sounded better...and they have the GREAT Neat necks.

TheChief - Posted - 01/19/2016:  14:44:16

You know, I made a RARE mistake!!!!!

Really, I said the R&T had a Berlisle tone ring when actually it had a KULESH all along.  I hate to admit that, but it's the truth.

s

bhrb75 - Posted - 01/20/2016:  05:16:57

Wasn't it the Tennessee 20? Man that's been a long time ago.

TheChief - Posted - 01/20/2016:  05:47:28

As I remember, my banjo had a Kulesh tone ring but I do remember the one they called the Tennessee 20...but I also remember something funky about that tone ring.That's gonna take some research...I'll have to get back to you on that.

s

HPNomad - Posted - 01/24/2016:  04:07:14

Sonny, I know I've emailed you beforehand about "John Henry Blues" which you did on your "Bluegrass Instrumentals" album. I've got the tuning down, but I can't for the life of me figure out how to play it. Do you by any chance have tabs on how to play it?

bbanjoboy - Posted - 01/24/2016:  05:46:13

Was that the ring with 20 large holes in it ??? 

Lester Crowe - Posted - 01/24/2016:  08:22:41

I've had a few R&T's and they all had the Kulesh 10 hole which is 10 standard sized holes. Kulesh also made a "Big 10" ring with oversized holes. The standard 10 hole ring the R&T's had in them is the best ring Kulesh ever made IMO. Totally agree with Sonny, the necks are not nearly as comfortable to my hands as the necks Frank makes but the R&T's are real bargains in today's used market.

CoolBlue80 - Posted - 01/24/2016:  09:37:09

Not to go off topic here but! Aron, the Rocky Top Banjo and I! Aron let me touch the banjo, I am so honored to have been there!

Rocky Top Banjo!

 

TheChief - Posted - 01/25/2016:  06:13:47

Corey;

Keep messing with that tuning. Pick out the tune of John Henry, and use as few open strings as possible. To my knowledge there are no tabs. If you just cant get it, contact Bill Evans and ask him to tab it for you. He's the best and he has all Osborne material.

Kenny and Mark. I just don't remember but I think my banjo had 10 standard size holes. I really wasn't interested in the Tenn 20. There was some controversy floating around about that ring. 'Twas said to have been made by a couple guys in Oak Ridge, TN. I heard it was a pretty good ring. If I were still playing, and those banjos were still available, I would buy both. go directly to Frank Neat and have him make a neck for each of them. Keeping the old necks for originality. Then if the tone rings were not original, I would put a Blaylock ring in them. (A Sonny Osborne Chief Blaylock tone ring)  Either way, you would have SOMETHING. Honestly, if they would have straightened out the neck issue, I would have played it to the end. But, they wouldn't. WHY? I haven't the slightest idea. Who would want a banjo neck 1/4 inch wider than it should be. It was terribly hard for me to play.

s

TheChief - Posted - 01/25/2016:  06:21:42

Mark Shafer in TX.

Home of Don Macafee. Great banjo player.

The Rocky Top banjo is a great instrument and is in good hands with Aaron. He's a fine player and a good guy to boot. Aaron McDaris has a new CD out which you should get. Titled "All About The Banjo". Really neat playing and Rhonda sings one song too.

Surprises me that he would allow you to touch it though....:-)>

s

Edited by - TheChief on 01/25/2016 06:24:54

bbanjoboy - Posted - 01/25/2016:  06:58:06

LOL..that sounds like converting an old Gibson tenor.. put a new ring, a new neck, and you'll have something... LOL.. all that's left is some metal, a rim and resonator.. I always wondered why Jimmy Cox didn't get more credit.. for years he made the only good rims and resonators available.. For example Gibson in the 90's... All Jimmy cox parts, a FQMS neck and the tone ring of the hour...... why not just buy a Cox banjo and have SOMETHING... LOL.. Speaking of that.. does Frank make the rims and resonators on the chiefs???

rbergesch - Posted - 01/25/2016:  07:53:43

quote:

---

Originally posted by bbanjoboy

 

I always wondered why Jimmy Cox didn't get more credit.. for years he made the only good rims and resonators available.. For example Gibson in the 90's... All Jimmy cox parts, a FQMS neck and the tone ring of the hour...... why not just buy a Cox banjo and have SOMETHING... LOL..

---

You are Right ON!, bbanjoboy...Jimmy has said the same thing, in one form or another, many times, usually with a bemused chuckle.  He was talking about a Gibson that someone traded in for one of his banjos; he put a Cox rim and tone ring in it, and  he then sold it out locally.  I've since heard the banjo many times; and it's a killer... 

I mentioned it to him one time and he told me the story, and then he added, "It's a Gibson, I guess, at least around the edges..." LOL!

PS-  He's also said that Frank Neat has made more Gibsons than Gibson has.  (Take it for what it's worth...)

Edited by - rbergesch on 01/25/2016 07:58:06

TheChief - Posted - 01/25/2016:  08:45:17

I saw TOM EWING at Shoney's restaurant a couple days ago. First time in 20 years. Tom played in Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys band for a number of years. Nice man. He was the only Guitar player, including Jimmy Martin, who could make the third string run (that has become standard procedure for Bluegrass Music), ring like Lester Flatt, and Lester invented it. All through Lester's career, or I should say the part of his career I was familiar with, (34 years) and I never once heard him miss that third string run.

Earl played the Banjo with Lester Flatt and was also a member of that Bluegrass Boys Band.

s

CoolBlue80 - Posted - 01/25/2016:  13:42:42

Sonny, I did not ask to touch it, I touched it before I realized what I had done....and then it was tooooo late, I was lucky he did not knock me out. I scraped the cells off the end of my finger and encapsulated them in glass afterwards! ha-ha... That all about the banjo CD was in my other hand, It is a fine bit of tuneage!

Edited by - CoolBlue80 on 01/25/2016 13:58:06

CoolBlue80 - Posted - 01/25/2016:  18:31:20

Sonny, all joking a side, Aron is an incredibly nice fellow. We talked for several minutes after the show, he told me all about how he acquired the banjo. The whole night was an awesome treat for my wife and I, more wonderful memories to share. I have to ask, did you play that banjo at any of the Hugo OK festivals? If so it is not the first time I have been close to it, just not this close.

TheChief - Posted - 01/26/2016:  09:00:10

I most certainly did play it at the Hugo festivals. Some, if not all. We were there several times.

That's really a great CD and he gets more tone out of that banjo than I ever could. He also has a Chief banjo, which is a replica of the Rocky Top original. Pretty good banjo. He recorded with it, sounds pretty good.

I'm glad he's showing off that banjo and giving it the attention it deserves.

s

CoolBlue80 - Posted - 01/26/2016:  10:31:01

I am considering a Chief banjo now that you told me that, but have to wait until after I get out of nursing school, I have had an RK-35 for a little over two years now that I set up myself, it has to do until then, it has an awesome bark for a 900.00 dollar banjo. Hopefully some how, some where in the near future I will get to hear a Chief live. Not many places here local have banjos of any quality any more. Now about Aron getting more tone out of that banjo, he is an awesome player, but you two are two very different style of players, I remember it sounding pretty sweet in your hands back in the day, and inspiring a young banjo picker wanna be.

chuckv97 - Posted - 01/26/2016:  10:59:37

Darn..I wonder if that's what Aron was playing at the Blueberry Festival last summer. I was a long ways from the stage so didn't see it up close. If I'd have known,I would've taken some pictures and tried to talk to Aron about it. Gosh, what history!

Jim1 - Posted - 01/27/2016:  08:00:38

Hi Sonny.  Where can you get Aaron's new CD? I've looked everywhere but can't find it.   Also I saw the other day that back in the day you injured your little finger really bad.   What happened and when was that? Was it your picking or fretting hand?    Just curious 😊    Thanks Jim