gibson49classic - Posted - 05/03/2018:  10:59:16

You can’t have that “rock solid right hand” without being petrified, can you? Maybe that’s where that comes from? Earl had it, Sonny has it, Kenny has got it. I’m seeing a pattern here ; )

Timeless1952 - Posted - 05/03/2018:  20:41:05

The Ryman is a different thing all together Buddy. I hadn't played the Opry in a while and I had just started back into music with Rhonda Vincent in 2000. One of the 1st things I did with her was the Opry and at the time it was being held in the Ryman. She was just using different Bass players. We'll just leave his name out of this although he would tell you same story. He had never played the Opry in either place. He was sweating so bad that it looked like golf balls poping out on his head. I felt so sorry for him. I kept telling to calm down and relax. His words to me was "It's Bad Enough Playing The Opry & On Top Of That,,,, It's The Ryman!!!" I thought he was going to have a heart attack, really! Speaking of the Ryman ,,the thing I remember most about the 1st time I played there it was HOT. It was in July and the place had no air at the time. They used to open the windows in the back of the building. They sold these Fans to try to keep yourself cool. It didn't help very much but they sold a lot of them and that's about all you could see from the stage was those fans moving. When they moved the Opry to the New Opry House and when the curtain went up the fans that you bought in the Ryman were gone because the New House had air conditioning. I thought it looked strange. Hope you get to play the Ryman one day so you can get back to use.

When I said the "Greats"   Sonny Osborne would have to fit into that. NO DOUBT.

K

Edited by - Timeless1952 on 05/03/2018 20:45:21

Brett - Posted - 05/04/2018:  05:44:34

Mr. Sonny, did you ever notice the very unusual guitar left hand chords Don Gibson used to use? I just happened to think, was he a tenor banjo player who adapted to guitar, do you know?

stringman711 - Posted - 05/04/2018:  19:07:03

Don studied Django Reinhardt. He didn't play the banjo. He was one of the finest rhythm guitar players ever. I met him at the Opry in the nineties. Great songwriter, singer. Wrote and recorded some of the biggest hits ever. Oh Lonesome Me, I Can't Stop Loving You, Legend In My Time, Sweet Dreams, Blue Blue Day, Etc. When I went to work for the Osborne Brothers in the late nineties playing rhythm guitar, I played a lot of those same chord patterns that Don used. I studied Don's playing a lot. I realized early on there would never be another Lester Flatt (the best). I tried to style my rhythm playing as a mixture of Don Gibson and Jimmy Martin. (I worked with Jimmy 4-1/2 years) I then realized I didn't come close! I just did my best to match what Sonny was doing on the banjo the best I could, as well as Bobby and the rest of the group. I am very thankful to have been there nine years in that capacity.

TheChief - Posted - 05/05/2018:  16:24:26

Don Gibson, Jack Greene, and Doug Greene were closest to Homer Haynes, (the best of all) that I ever knew on a professional, as well as personal level. Homer being the "Homer" part of Homer and Jethro. AND, Jethro Burns was one of real stylist mandolin players of his time to ever play the instrument...most people wouldn't believe that. Those two were very funny, and both very sophisticated people. I played and recorded with both, and trust me, theyb were the real deal..

Dana told the story about Don Gibson.

s

chuckv97 - Posted - 05/05/2018:  18:28:45

I remember reading an interview with Chet Atkins ,,,him saying Homer Haynes was the best rhythm player he ever played with.

El Dobro - Posted - 05/05/2018:  19:55:43

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheChief

Don Gibson, Jack Greene, and Doug Greene were closest to Homer Haynes, (the best of all) that I ever knew on a professional, as well as personal level. Homer being the "Homer" part of Homer and Jethro. AND, Jethro Burns was one of real stylist mandolin players of his time to ever play the instrument...most people wouldn't believe that. Those two were very funny, and both very sophisticated people. I played and recorded with both, and trust me, theyb were the real deal..

Dana told the story about Don Gibson.

s

Didn't you all play together on the Wade Ray fiddle album?

---

bhrb75 - Posted - 05/06/2018:  04:51:10

Always liked this from Homer and Jethro...

youtu.be/o0mGFjAySTw

TheChief - Posted - 05/07/2018:  06:36:09

Yep...I recorded with Homer, Jethro, Ray Edenton, Henry Strzxvyxzzylki (Bass player I couldn't pronounce nor spell his last name) Wade Ray played he fiddle.

Fiddle album.

s 

gibson49classic - Posted - 05/07/2018:  07:38:24

youtu.be/SlaUOXgN_P0

Here is the album in question. 

Brett - Posted - 05/07/2018:  20:08:50

I’d heard Earl bought and played a Gibson guitar from Don Gibson that had the neck thinned down, but I’ve only seen pix of Earl picking the D-18 he got in the big trade from Reno, which later had a truss rod installed. Wonder whatever happened to Earls d18?

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 05/08/2018:  17:22:28

Sonny, A silly question. I was watching (youtube) you and your brother play Kentucky on the Opry. Bobby introduced Raymond Huffmaster and it struck me that Raymond was always sitting when he played with y'all. Why was he always sitting? Boy would I love to see your show again on a Bean Blossom Saturday night!

Hope your having a good week.

Thanks,

ken

youtube.com/watch?v=flYfk-46MPs

Spike2 - Posted - 05/08/2018:  23:26:23

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheChief

Yep...I recorded with Homer, Jethro, Ray Edenton, Henry Strzxvyxzzylki (Bass player I couldn't pronounce nor spell his last name) Wade Ray played he fiddle.

Fiddle album.

s 

---

I was going to ask if you could pronounce that last name of Henry's for me. 

mike gregory - Posted - 05/09/2018:  00:53:42

Just a wild guess, but I would guess that Henry Strzelecki's name would be pronounced

HEN-ree Strezz-ah-LECK-ee.

Any friends or relatives who know how HE said it, please let me know.

And having a hard name to handle is why show biz folks frequently change them to something manageable.

For example, Wisconsin's own David Darwin Pedruska is a LOT better known as

Dave Dudley

Texican65 - Posted - 05/11/2018:  20:33:40

Hey Chief!

Sorry to bug ya with old Vega questions, but I sure love ‘em...especially with you behind the controls of one. I’m trying to get my Scruggs dialed in, and I can’t think of anybody better that would have more experience than you. I’m just wondering what kind of tailpiece you thought was best on them, and how you positioned it above the head? Also on the head tension....super tight or not so much? Thank you very much.

There’s an old black & white program showing you playing a Vega, “Cripple Creek”, “Billy in the low ground”, and some others...sounds soooo good!

Dow

phb - Posted - 05/12/2018:  00:11:45

quote:

---

Originally posted by mike gregory

Just a wild guess, but I would guess that Henry Strzelecki's name would be pronounced

HEN-ree Strezz-ah-LECK-ee.

Any friends or relatives who know how HE said it, please let me know.

---

I don't know how he pronounced his name but I think the Polish pronounciation would be something similar to:

Str - gel - lets - key

mike gregory - Posted - 05/12/2018:  04:59:55

Soft G? Seems legit!

phb - Posted - 05/12/2018:  06:19:02

Yes, a soft G. The Polish letter would probably have a little dash on top of the Z and possibly one through the L which would turn the L in to something like the W in "wha-wha". Polish is a language so complicated that I find it hard to believe that all Polish people know how to speak it...

davidcava - Posted - 05/28/2018:  17:45:31

Sonny, I have a question about your Granada. What was it about this banjo that had you purchase it? Was there something special about this banjo? I've been involved in another thread about prewar Gibson banjos, and the debate goes on and on, like many other issues on this site. There's no one on this site that can answer better than you. Is there magic in some of these old Gibson banjos or not?

Sincerely,
David

monstertone - Posted - 05/30/2018:  09:07:42

quote:

---

Originally posted by davidcava

Sonny, I have a question about your Granada. What was it about this banjo that had you purchase it? Was there something special about this banjo? I've been involved in another thread about prewar Gibson banjos, and the debate goes on and on, like many other issues on this site. There's no one on this site that can answer better than you. Is there magic in some of these old Gibson banjos or not?



Sincerely,

David

---

Sonny talks about in Masters of the 5-string banjo.

TheChief - Posted - 06/14/2018:  13:09:12

I apologize for being absent for so long. My heart needed overhauled and on the night of May 10 it couldn't wait. Centennial hospital had a deal going so I reluctantly went (in an ambulance) and they found a bit more than I expected...that was 5 weeks ago today. Still doing rehab but getting a little better daily.

s

RayD - Posted - 06/14/2018:  13:18:30

Sonny, we're just thankful that you are on the road to recovery!

chuckv97 - Posted - 06/14/2018:  13:20:26

Great to hear you’re OK, Sonny. You’ve got a big heart - they’d need 5 weeks to overhaul it. 

Edited by - chuckv97 on 06/14/2018 13:20:42

bulldog bob - Posted - 06/14/2018:  13:33:40

Get Well soon

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 06/14/2018:  14:54:47

Sonny,
Many of us have been down a similar path and it is nervewracking and confidence draining. But full recovery and even better health should follow. Look at Dr. Ornish and Dr Esseltyn books. I hope you reach full recovery soon. our thoughts and prayers are with you.
ken

Spike2 - Posted - 06/14/2018:  22:00:54

Centennial Hospital had a deal going, huh? One too good to pass up? I'm glad you took the ambulance to get that good deal. I've been wondering where the heck you've been. Glad to see you here, my friend. You've been missed.

markbyrum - Posted - 06/15/2018:  03:22:35

Hope you continue to recover Sonny. I'm praying for you.
Mark

Steve Bruce - Posted - 06/15/2018:  04:19:00

Praying for a complete recovery! Prayer changes things!

kevin chilton - Posted - 06/15/2018:  04:24:12

Prayers going up for you Chief.

jlsorbit - Posted - 06/15/2018:  04:33:46

Get well soon, Sonny.

John J - Posted - 06/15/2018:  04:43:53

All the best to you for a speedy recovery!

jrimes - Posted - 06/16/2018:  09:39:47

Pullin for yah Chief! If your heart is anything like you, it's too ornery to quit!!
Josh

klantes - Posted - 06/17/2018:  11:10:15

I hear that sense of humor returning; does my own heart good.

davidcava - Posted - 06/17/2018:  11:28:56

Be Well Sonny. Wishing you the best of course.

chief3 - Posted - 06/17/2018:  12:50:54

Just so you know, you're in Pam and my thoughts Sonny. Get well soon.

Mooooo - Posted - 06/17/2018:  13:00:48

Get Well Sonny. The sooner the better.

TheChief - Posted - 06/17/2018:  13:53:06

Lots more of you out there than I thought. 

You all know what I think of you...there's none better.

I thank you from the bottom of whatever they left.  I'll be back to normal before long. Thank you for the thoughts and well wishes.

s

El Dobro - Posted - 06/17/2018:  19:48:52

Wow, good to hear you're coming along, Sonny!

fgodbey - Posted - 06/17/2018:  21:07:43

Sonny, I've been off the Hangout for good while myself & only just learned of your recent "adventure." Glad to hear you're on the road to recovery & hope you're up & at'em asap. Take care! --Frank

Craig_B - Posted - 06/18/2018:  04:48:11

Keep getting better each day, Sonny. We're all pulling for you!

bcampbe5 - Posted - 06/19/2018:  09:49:41

I'm glad you're doing well and on the road to recovery Sonny! Wishing you all the best.

Texican65 - Posted - 06/20/2018:  09:26:57

Keep on a’ kickin’ Sonny...you’re my inspiration!

Dow

Bk2olKY - Posted - 06/20/2018:  10:08:29

Sonny, Wishing you the best!! Glad to see you are doing well. You really can't imagine how much most banjo players appreciate your significant contributions. We may not all express it, but that doesn't mean we don't feel it. I watched that RT instructional video over and over, just to be able to come up with a close approximation. You are in our thoughts and prayers!!

Road Dog - Posted - 06/27/2018:  04:31:01

Sonny, Wishing you a speedy recovery. I think of you every time I pick up Chief #82 - my all-time favorite banjo. Thanks!

Mooooo - Posted - 07/04/2018:  08:38:40

Happy 4th Sonny. America the Beautiful - Sonny Osborne

banjobob1961 - Posted - 07/04/2018:  14:04:29

Wishes for a speedy recovery Chief!

1935tb-11 - Posted - 07/06/2018:  23:35:19

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheChief

Lots more of you out there than I thought. 

You all know what I think of you...there's none better.

I thank you from the bottom of whatever they left.  I'll be back to normal before long. Thank you for the thoughts and well wishes.

s

---

dang sonny ,, just saw this.. i don't get on here as much as i used too.   i am so glad it went well and you are recovering...

we all getting some age on us...had my ekg... stress test and heart cath last year and he said all looked good so i guess thats good to

know,,,,,  hard to believe i will retire next year,,,, looking forward to it too,,,,  best wishes and we'll say 

a little prayer for your 100%  healing.      take care hero !!!!!!

terry m

Edited by - 1935tb-11 on 07/06/2018 23:38:02

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 07/14/2018:  05:09:48

Sonny,
Many of us are thinking about you and praying for you. We miss you on here and hope your rehab and recovery are going full speed.
ken

TheChief - Posted - 07/21/2018:  08:57:50

To be honest, not too well, but in reality as well as could be expected. I'm hoping to improve though.

Along with the heart surgery and it's rehab rules, which consisted of a lot of sitting which made me victim of a UTI which has it's own set of rules. Hopefully the antibiotics program they have me on will do It's job. Appears to be working well so far.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.

s