TheChief - Posted - 02/28/2018:  08:31:18

Earl playing a Kay? That's a new one for me. I'd like to see it.

Tim:

You've had #5  a long time, huh?

I kept my banjos set at 90-92 and I set the tension dial nearest the rim. I guess it's all according to what you want to hear from your banjo. Higher the number, the brighter the sound. For some reason, someone got the idea that back in the skin head days a banjo was supposed to sound heavy, dull, basie, or however you want to describe it...which was wrong. We tried everything to get a brighter, sharper sound. Lower tailpiece, smaller strings, thinning the ebony part of a bridge, Tighten the Rogers 3 star head to a quarter turn away from breaking. It was rumored that once Earl had a pie pan in his resonator. (I never saw it nor asked him about it) 

Here is the kicker...to keep a banjo sounding anyway near right, it was an every day job. And hope it didn't rain..

In my experience, a plastic head doesn't need nearly the amount of adjusting as in the skin head days. When I got it set where it sounded good to my ear, I didn't mess with it. Tuning after every song also seems to be the norm in this day and time. To "itch" his own.

s

Edited by - TheChief on 02/28/2018 08:33:45

deestexas - Posted - 02/28/2018:  10:25:49

Here's Earl with Junie and Horace.

 

El Dobro - Posted - 02/28/2018:  19:29:23

The latest issue of BU has a photo of Earl and his Vega.

rbfour5 - Posted - 02/28/2018:  20:39:37

Earl with a Baldwin style D....."Say what"?!?

Earl and Dean Webb

 

laceyth9 - Posted - 02/28/2018:  21:00:01

Sonny,

I've had #5 since Aug '05, when I bought it from Dale Perry. Before Dale, Dana Cupp had it. I think both men would like to have it back, but it has a permanent home here. That banjo has been used on at least 7 albums (4 with my family, 3 by Dale when with Doyle Lawson) and played on the Grand Ole Opry (assumed by Dana). Lot's of good stories for the grand-kids.

Dale Perry and I with #5

Dana Cupp and #5 at the Roberts Center in Wilmington, OH

bcampbe5 - Posted - 03/01/2018:  09:57:44

That is a great banjo Tim. I remember Dale letting me play it when he came to Michigan. I seem to recall it having a Huber ring... Or am I mistaken? Could be.. Either way, it sounds amazing.

laceyth9 - Posted - 03/01/2018:  10:14:37

It had a Huber ring originally but I converted to a Blaylock upon advice from Dale Vanderpool. He had converted his Chief (#1 I believe) to the Blaylock and liked it better. I ended up taking the banjo down to Frank Neat and traded the Huber for a Blaylock. I wish I had kept the Huber just for originality. Too late for that now. No regrets though. The banjo sounds great and Sonny stands behind the Blaylock ring.

Tim L.

deestexas - Posted - 03/04/2018:  13:10:11

Here's a nice illustration of Sonny and Bobby on stage at the WWVA Jamboree.   This appeared in the October, 1959 issue of Esquire.  Tom Allen ( who did many Flatt & Scruggs album covers) did several  pieces for an illustrated feature( "Country Music Goes to Town")  to accompany Alan Lomax's "Folk Music With Overdrive" article. 

 

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 03/05/2018:  08:48:49

Sonny,

I just heard that Kenny Ingram left the Larry Stephenson Band due to health reasons. I hope it is not bad.

bluegrasstoday.com/new-edition...for-2018/

Ken

CAPT Steve - Posted - 03/05/2018:  10:04:43

Sorry to see Big K having to come off the road. He's a treasure! Hope he's able to regain his health.

TheChief - Posted - 03/05/2018:  12:14:24

Kenneth is on here a lot, maybe he'll come on here and explain it to us, before I try to tell you and get it messed up more than a football bat!

s

chuckv97 - Posted - 03/05/2018:  12:36:55

football bat ?? Is that sorta like a hockey hoop? 

Wishing Mr. Kenny Ingram all the best of health. Saw him and Herb Pedersen doing a very entertaining banjo workshop a few years ago at Blueberry.  

Edited by - chuckv97 on 03/05/2018 12:39:15

derekanjo - Posted - 03/07/2018:  15:22:42

Kenny is the best, and one of my bigger influences...but I've still got my work cut out for me.

TheChief - Posted - 03/11/2018:  13:45:12

Chuck, this is truth.

Long ago, probably 1947...I was about 9 or 10 years old... my Dad and I were listening to the University of Kentucky play football which was broadcast on Louisville's 50,000 watt powerhouse, WHAS radio. A lady who was visiting us asked my Dad how many points would it count if someone kicked a home run.

My Dad just shook his head and stared at the floor.

s

chuckv97 - Posted - 03/11/2018:  14:48:56

Haha!  She didn’t happen to be a blonde, was she?  ??   

Edited by - chuckv97 on 03/11/2018 14:52:57

El Dobro - Posted - 03/12/2018:  20:27:55

Ok, how many?

TheChief - Posted - 03/13/2018:  09:22:42

I was young but I do remember my Dad just shook his head and looked at the floor. The woman was his sister's daughter...

s

TheChief - Posted - 03/13/2018:  09:30:57

I'm a NJ Devil! Compliments of el dobro

Edited by - TheChief on 03/13/2018 09:31:59

 

TheChief - Posted - 03/13/2018:  09:39:36

Man, what a terrible picture...I told JD that we were making funny looking old men...I believe I was right.

But, it is what it is.

s

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 03/13/2018:  10:17:13

Sonny, I been in tennis all my life and never got tired of seeing Laver, Gonzalez, or Connors because the had "IT". they could play and they could fight. Same with Ali, Coach Knight Stan the Man, Bob Gibson, and Bill Monroe. As Mr Evans sang about, "be proud of the grey in your hair" cause it ain't about always being the prettiest (like CMA wants), it is about the having the "IT" factor.
ken

rbfour5 - Posted - 03/13/2018:  10:19:03

Nah- just great guys Sonny!

chuckv97 - Posted - 03/13/2018:  20:48:42

Now you’re talkin’, Sonny!

TheChief - Posted - 03/14/2018:  12:53:31

What? Funny looking old men? 

s

chuckv97 - Posted - 03/14/2018:  13:50:00

Naw...Devils cap...,,,, what!.no Predators cap?
Here’s a funny looking old man.....ME!

TheChief - Posted - 03/15/2018:  10:13:47

Hey Chuck, El Dobro sent the cap to me and I wanted to scare him real bad with that picture. I must to have known him for over 40 years. 

I'll say this for you though...you're right up there with me, JD, Earl, Ralph, Kenny, Benny Birchfield, Larry, Bobby....etc!!

It's been a pretty good ride though..Huh?

s

chuckv97 - Posted - 03/15/2018:  14:19:28

Thank you, Sonny. I knew I had something in common with that list......and I knew it wasn’t my banjo pickin’ ! Hah



(scare a Joizy-ite? tough to do)

pretty much fun so far,, just waitin’ to see what the hey’s gonna happen next.....

Edited by - chuckv97 on 03/15/2018 14:27:30

El Dobro - Posted - 03/15/2018:  18:41:24

Hey Sonny, you make the hat look good!

momo - Posted - 03/16/2018:  10:29:05

Sonny you recorded some cuts with Chet Atkins, how did that come about. Do you recall how many and what the tunes were.

chuckv97 - Posted - 03/16/2018:  11:15:16

I had a Chet album (lost’em years ago) or two with Sonny on it. Seems I recall “Wabash Cannonball”, “ Lonesome Road Blues”, and “Oklahoma Hills”, and others I can’t remember now.

hi Retro...if you listen to this radio interview, Sonny tells a hilarious story about being in the studio with Chet.

Here's a link to a WORKING archive of the interview.

Part 1: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mvzqmYZYZDMUOGxT7Xn6ce-Smm14g3ZX/view?usp=sharing

Part 2: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aE9jvBhe2T1ZeMmttCe6L-TL1a-Ljtuk/view?usp=sharing 

Edited by - chuckv97 on 03/16/2018 11:17:53

TheChief - Posted - 03/18/2018:  08:55:55

Retro;

I did do a couple albums with Chet. Perfect gentleman and a genius guitar player who came from scratch to make it big time. I don't remember the actual tunes..One was Hunting Boots, and another was Lonesome Road Blues.

On the down side, we wanted to be signed by RCA in 1963 but he turned us down. That same day we signed a Decca (MCA) contract which was the turning point of our career. Thanks to Owen Bradly and The Wilburn Brothers in general and Doyle Wilburn in particular.  

My acquaintance with Chet came after he had recorded Siemprè,(see-em-pray) an instrumental I had written. He liked my playing, or he needed a banjo player and I was the only one available...probably the latter!

s

El Dobro - Posted - 03/18/2018:  18:03:05

I read that after playing on a song with the Louvin Brothers, Ira asked Chet if that was the best he could do.

TheChief - Posted - 03/19/2018:  08:29:18

I'm not totally sure Ira would have been that direct with Chet, other than in a joking way. But then, I knew Ira pretty well and if Chet would have done something really bad (doubtful) he might have been caught up in the moment and actually said something like that. These are some of the finest musicians in the world and they have a respect for one another's ability that is unimaginable and some of the things that are said in a recording studio are never taken seriously. Just sayin'

s

El Dobro, tell me again what your avatar (if that's the right word) is although you told me a few years ago, I have forgotten.

TheChief - Posted - 03/19/2018:  08:51:54

I was just informed by Terry Eldredge that Hazel Smith, (Terry Smith's Mom) died last night.

Smith and Eldredge are two of the founding members and mainstays of The Grascals, and both were very important in the career of The Osborne Brothers. 

s

rbfour5 - Posted - 03/19/2018:  08:54:09

So sorry to hear the news; thoughts and prayers for Terry, his family and friends.

chuckv97 - Posted - 03/19/2018:  09:00:19

My condolences and prayers.

TheChief - Posted - 03/19/2018:  10:17:06

Edited by - TheChief on 03/19/2018 10:23:07

TheChief - Posted - 03/19/2018:  13:06:47

The Terry Boys, El and Smitty. Both were with the OB over 12 years. Two of the best we could ever hope for.

Edited by - TheChief on 03/19/2018 13:08:56

 

gibson49classic - Posted - 03/19/2018:  16:29:50

Here they is’ 

El Dobro - Posted - 03/19/2018:  18:29:23

I caught up with Terry on Facebook. RIP

El Dobro - Posted - 03/19/2018:  20:11:53

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheChief

I'm not totally sure Ira would have been that direct with Chet, other than in a joking way. But then, I knew Ira pretty well and if Chet would have done something really bad (doubtful) he might have been caught up in the moment and actually said something like that. These are some of the finest musicians in the world and they have a respect for one another's ability that is unimaginable and some of the things that are said in a recording studio are never taken seriously. Just sayin'

s

El Dobro, tell me again what your avatar (if that's the right word) is although you told me a few years ago, I have forgotten.

---

Speaking with people that knew Ira, you just never knew what he was going to do. At one end, there was the "Once More" story, but then at the other extreme, there was the DJ convention episode.

My avatar is a Genuine Hoyt-Clagwell Prewar Gibson Flathead Verifyer. I've owned it for some time now.

 

TheChief - Posted - 03/20/2018:  08:59:28

Good picture of Charlie, and you of course. In younger days. He was totally different from Ira. To be honest, I've always thought Ira to be a split personality. On one side, he knew the bible as well as anyone I've ever known. On the other side, he was totally the opposite. My goodness, what a talent though. One of the best ever at what he did.

So, Don...that's a Hoyt-Clagwell Genuine pre war Gibson flathead "Verifyer" EH? You know what, I've been acquainted with a few of those flatheads in a period of 50+ years, taken them apart completely and put them back together again. I'm talking about every screw and bolt, tuners of every description, friction 5th string pegs, brackets, tail pieces, heads, coordinating rods, washers, necks, tone rings, resonators, rims, both one and two piece flanges. The Franklin Dictionary & Thesaurus says that a verifier establishes the truth, accuracy, or reality of....Could you be a little more specific?

How long have we known one another Don, 40...45 years? You're a good friend.

s  

TheChief - Posted - 03/20/2018:  09:17:18

I'm sure there are dozens of young banjo players out there, some good, some not so good, depending on how much time they invest in practicing. Two of the most talented children that I know are Brandon Henson and Lincoln Hensley. Brandon from Charlotte, North Carolina and Lincoln from Flag Pond, Tennessee. Both are good, REAL good. You'll be hearing more from them...remember those names.

Every now and then they send obscure pictures from the past. Lincoln sent those two posted above. 

Long, Long ago.

s

El Dobro - Posted - 03/20/2018:  18:38:21

Charlie really had his hands full with Ira. Every time I met Charlie, he was pretty calm. One time though, I made the mistake of mentioning Ken Nelson. Whoa, did he get fired up. He would have made a trucker blush. Never did that again. I first introduced the Verifyer back in 2006 on the BHO. Here's a thread that will give you some insight on it. banjohangout.org/archive/63644  

Thanks, Sonny. Thinking about it, it must be around 35-40 years. Talk about time flying. Do you remember the time the Brothers played the last Berryville Festival and were told you weren't getting paid? I remember all of the other bands turning their buses around and heading back up the hill, but Bobby and you stayed and still played the festival. That really impressed me.

Edited by - El Dobro on 03/20/2018 18:40:30

TheChief - Posted - 03/22/2018:  08:52:15

Berryville, Virginia, I do remember doing that. We always thought it wasn't the people who paid to see us, nor our band members who was at fault. Whatever the reason, the weather, poor advertising, the entertainers, or whatever...there wasn't enough people who came, or the promoter took off with the $. Still not the fault of the folks who came expecting to see a show, and we were already there so we did a show, and paid our band. We absorbed the loss. I thought it was a bit selfish on the part of the guys who wouldn't play because It happens to all who do this for a living. To us, more or less, maybe a half dozen times in our career, but we were lucky to have enough fans who showed up. That's been a long time ago Don, you have a good memory. 

S  

Edited by - TheChief on 03/22/2018 08:55:05

El Dobro - Posted - 03/25/2018:  05:43:09

I also remember what you said when you got back on the bus after finding out. 

Edited by - El Dobro on 03/25/2018 05:43:46

TheChief - Posted - 03/25/2018:  09:29:29

I'll bet it wasn't pretty....You gotta take the bad with the good. No one wants bad things to happen, but they do, and they always will.

s

El Dobro - Posted - 03/25/2018:  12:56:39

It wasn't bad. "Bobby, he did it to us again".

chuckv97 - Posted - 03/25/2018:  13:21:20

Sonny, I heard you talk about this on that Mac and the Bluegrass gathering video. You said Carlton Haney ( I think it was) hated to see three people coming to him about money; You, Doyle Lawson, and JD....hah

Edited by - chuckv97 on 03/25/2018 13:21:49

TheChief - Posted - 03/27/2018:  09:57:17

I guess I should clarify something involving my website...if you really want to call it that.

For some months now we have been trying to contact the lady who has *(had) been taking care of such things as changing and tweaking the information on that site, with NO success. Numerous calls have gone unanswered, messages to her have fallen into the same black hole. I can't explain why she chose to suddenly avoid contact, but she did...and she lives right here in town. 

So we finally succeeded in just taking the whole thing down. It was created to help get the word out, and help sell The Chief Banjo, which it did. So due to the fact the banjo is now selling itself the site is actually no longer needed. We might put another up but that's kinda iffy. 

As Raymond Huffmaster  The best driver, friend, good guy...ever, would say(as he drove our bus late into the night) when an all night country station would play something that he would consider "not country"....CAH LICK UH!!!  He said that as he turned the radio off!!

s