TheChief - Posted - 12/24/2018:  07:46:28

"MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOODNIGHT."

I saw a sign in a restaurant yesterday that invited us to come celebrate the "holiday" with them and it got me to thinking. I thought we were celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. 

s

rbfour5 - Posted - 12/24/2018:  08:17:44

Well, my family is celebrating the Birth of our Savior. Not sure what these "Happy Holiday" folks are celebrating. In England, a vacation is a holiday....



Merry Christmas to you and your family Sonny!

Edited by - rbfour5 on 12/24/2018 08:18:15

robbieroof - Posted - 12/24/2018:  08:56:14

Agreed!!. Merry Christmas!! Grateful for the birth of my Savior!!

TheChief - Posted - 01/01/2019:  15:19:28

Man, am I liking the curly Maple arm rest? Absolutely beautiful. And I could be wrong, but I think the banjo actually sounds a bit better. Thank you Doug. You do great work.

s

bluegrassjunkie - Posted - 01/01/2019:  19:08:29

Glad you like it Sonny. It's one of my best ideas. I really enjoy working with quality hardwoods and providing a comfortable armrest for musicians.
Thanks for the great feedback. I'll send you an email in response to your private message.
Doug Campbell
Little Mountain Music

KD Banjer - Posted - 01/01/2019:  19:21:05

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheChief

Earl and I became pretty good friends. Bout 1965. I visited some. I learned a valuable lesson.

DO NOT, under any circumstance, shoot pool with Earl. He was good. If you wanted a shot, you break and hope something goes on the break. After that, you may as well put your stick up.

Greatest banjo player...Pretty darn good pool player...boy could shoot some pool!!

s

---

That's a great story, Sonny...  

Thank you for sharing it.

When you were living in Ohio... What was the bluegrass scene like there like at the time?

I know there were a lot of Kentucky transplants looking for work in the bigger cities... Were there a lot of Kentucky bluegrass players at the time you were playing in Ohio?

TheChief - Posted - 01/01/2019:  22:21:29

KD, The Bluegrass scene consisted of several Bars that featured live music. I guess for what it's worth Dayton was a hot bed for Bluegrass Music in the late 40's and 50's. Lots of folks had come from the southern states for work and those who didn't go all the way to Detroit stopped in Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus, and other places along the way. 

Some of the notables were:

Red Allen, Frank Wakefield, Carlos and brother Lonnie Brock, The Burns Brothers, Dorsey Harvey, Noah Crase, Paul Mullins,  Wesley Campbell, Claude Stewart, Jerry Williams, Boyce and Billy Edwards, Carl Eldredge, Benny Birchfield, Glen and Vivian Watson, Donnie Collins, Red Spurlock...and I'm sure there are more but my memory is not as good any more. Bobby and Me too!!!!

'Twas a fun time for sure although I was too young to really enjoy it for the most part.  

s

Edited by - TheChief on 01/01/2019 22:24:35

TheChief - Posted - 01/01/2019:  22:27:16

Thanks Doug!
s

KD Banjer - Posted - 01/02/2019:  03:09:17

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheChief

KD, The Bluegrass scene consisted of several Bars that featured live music. I guess for what it's worth Dayton was a hot bed for Bluegrass Music in the late 40's and 50's. Lots of folks had come from the southern states for work and those who didn't go all the way to Detroit stopped in Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus, and other places along the way. 

Some of the notables were:

Red Allen, Frank Wakefield, Carlos and brother Lonnie Brock, The Burns Brothers, Dorsey Harvey, Noah Crase, Paul Mullins,  Wesley Campbell, Claude Stewart, Jerry Williams, Boyce and Billy Edwards, Carl Eldredge, Benny Birchfield, Glen and Vivian Watson, Donnie Collins, Red Spurlock...and I'm sure there are more but my memory is not as good any more. Bobby and Me too!!!!

'Twas a fun time for sure although I was too young to really enjoy it for the most part.  

s

---

Thank you for sharing that great piece of history, Sonny. And your banjo wisdom.

It would make sense that southwest and middle Ohio would be on the path for Kentuckians on their way to Detroit or Chicago, but I just wasn’t aware of any SW Ohio bluegrass scene when I was growing up in Oxford, OH (on the Indiana border where Miami University is) in the 1970s and 80s.

Do you you know if the bluegrass scene in Ohio faded as folk music (and electric country) became popular in the 60s and 70s?

I know that you and Bobby changed with the times and began using amplified instruments during bluegrass shows. (I think, if I remember correctly) you were the first major bluegrass musicians to amplify your instruments).

TheChief - Posted - 01/02/2019:  13:25:54

It was out of necessity that we did that. It worked well for us for about 8 years. When we no longer needed it we went right back to the music that we grew up playing and loving.
I'm not sure if we were the first to do the electric thing or the "drum on the road and everywhere" thing. I know JD tried it for a while among others and I'm not sure how that worked out for them. We had one ingredient, my Brother's voice and I believe that made it work so well for us, and too..we had guys, Dale Sledd, Ronnie Reno, and Bobby's son Robby who believed in what we were attempting to do. They were GOOD...musicians and singers. We were all on the same page...Thank you Lord!
Children having a big time.
Fun to reminisce sometimes. Thank you for asking and listening.
s

TheChief - Posted - 01/02/2019:  13:54:44

KD...yes it did fade drastically in and after the 70's and I'm not really sure why. We left Dayton in 1964 but continued to play the area and always had decent crowds, not huge, but decent...and we continued to sell records well in the Ohio market. 

I remember playing Memorial Hall in Dayton in 1976 as part of the Merle Haggard show and as "hometown boys" the vice mayor presented us with the "Key to the city!" Then I  remembered thinking, as he was doing his presentation, that we were also given the key to the city in our birth place, Hyden, Kentucky..population 400...it was mounted on a 10x18 heavily varnished piece of Oak...SO...The Dayton, population app. 200,000, "key to the city" was a small key, about 1 inch long stapled to a white paper square. It was about a 2 inch square. I couldn't help myself, I laughed...not loud, but kinda to myself. But, I still have them both...No more proud of one over the other. Bobby and I never discussed it but next time I see him I'm gonna ask him about that! 

s

KD Banjer - Posted - 01/02/2019:  17:59:05

We are all so grateful to hear your wise experiences and stories, Sonny.

Thank you.

TheChief - Posted - 01/03/2019:  06:47:35

Dayton has become sophisticated...all new buildings, etc. The bars I mentioned are part of history now. All gone 

Every weekend they were all packed with hillbillies...our kinda folks who loved that banjer music. Down in The Willer Garden, Blue Moon of Kentucky, and The Kentucky Wildcats basketball. Man oh man!

Whole different world...gas was 18 cents a gallon, milk .58 a gallon. Them there was the good ol' days. Lester and Earl...every morning at 5:45 on WSM AM radio. You won't believe this, but...I picked up WSM, on a hilltop in Los Angeles and heard Lester and Earl. I did...1959 or 60. My goodness.

The Friendly Inn, Circle bar, Engles, The Ring Bar, Ruby's White Sands, and Charlies Night Club out on Wayne Ave....then we had the folk music hangout, The Lemon Drop, and its clientele.  

I'm glad I lived during that time. 

s 

TheChief - Posted - 01/03/2019:  06:50:40

But I also get carried away when I talk about those times...seems I just don't know when to quit. Sorry.

s

Mark Cox - Posted - 01/03/2019:  07:30:58

You don’t have to be sorry Chief, you can talk all day and none of us are going to care, in fact that’s what we want. In fact I have my account set up to where I get an email every time somebody makes a post on this thread so that I make sure I do not miss anything YOU say. You gave us all a scare last year. It was sure lonely on here for a while. This tribe is glad to have its Chief back!

KD Banjer - Posted - 01/03/2019:  18:33:27

Hey Sonny...

What do you see as the future of bluegrass music (and of the banjo)?

Where do you think banjo music will be in 20 to 50 years?

During your lifetime, you saw the old time & bluegrass banjo start in the Appalachian regions, go from being popular in Jazz and Dixieland bands to mainstream country through the Opry, and then in the 70s move into rock and jazz (Bela Fleck), become popular through world-wide media in "The Beverly Hillbillies," the films "Deliverance," "Bonnie and Clyde" and "Oh Brother Where Art Though?" .

All that time, traditional banjo (and bluegrass) still has been played by the bluegrass faithful.

Where do you see the banjo (and bluegrass) venturing into next?

How do you see it changing?

Thank you again for sharing your wisdom and experience.

Edited by - KD Banjer on 01/03/2019 18:34:19

TheChief - Posted - 01/05/2019:  14:36:00

I'll think about that and get back to you. Kinda hard to give you an answer right off the top of my head.

Hey, Banjothon is next Saturday...Not certain, but I'm thinking about going. Just thinking about it.

There was an old country song..."I don't know if I will or not but I've got it on my mind!" So that's where I am right now.

One of my closest friends, JW Smith lives in Knoxville, and that would give me a chance to see him for a meal or two. Known Jim almost 50 years. He plays Mandolin and was one of the founders of the original Pinnacle Boys. 

Also need to talk to Matt "BLUECHIP pick and UGLY TUNER" Goins, and Dean "FINGER PICK" Hoffmeyer. I bet they'll be there. Those are definitely the Pick men!

Tomorrow, lest we forget, is Earl's 95th birthday and the 12th anniversary of my experience with a light stroke. That hain't no fun, but it could have been a lot worse..Thank you Lord!

s

Edited by - TheChief on 01/05/2019 14:40:01

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 01/05/2019:  15:45:59

Hope you get to go and have a great time. If you do go and J.D. is there also, I would love to hear your two cribmate banjos doing some double banjo together. That would be some sounds with historic significance imo.

ken

Edited by - From Greylock to Bean Blossom on 01/05/2019 15:50:04

TheChief - Posted - 01/10/2019:  15:00:16

KD

You're asking about the future of Bluegrass Music. That's hard to answer. If we had more traditional bands then I would say that is the direction it's going in and will continue, but I get the feeling that more and more we are seeing educated business people who are really more interested in the $ involved. I'm wondering just how much time spent learning the trade itself and the history of Bluegrass music. It's too easy now with all the electronic equipment designed to teach you to play....In my day there were no distractions, no phones, no anything but the banjo and Bill Monroe on a battery radio Saturday night at the Grand Ole Opry. It's a different world now, so it's hard to predict which-a-way it'll go. Most of the traditional people have gone on and the rest of us will follow sooner than we want to believe. So, it's really up to you.

Not much of an answer huh? Best I could do.

s 

KD Banjer - Posted - 01/10/2019:  15:11:09

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheChief

KD

You're asking about the future of Bluegrass Music. That's hard to answer. If we had more traditional bands then I would say that is the direction it's going in and will continue, but I get the feeling that more and more we are seeing educated business people who are really more interested in the $ involved. I'm wondering just how much time spent learning the trade itself and the history of Bluegrass music. It's too easy now with all the electronic equipment designed to teach you to play....In my day there were no distractions, no phones, no anything but the banjo and Bill Monroe on a battery radio Saturday night at the Grand Ole Opry. It's a different world now, so it's hard to predict which-a-way it'll go. Most of the traditional people have gone on and the rest of us will follow sooner than we want to believe. So, it's really up to you.

Not much of an answer huh? Best I could do.

s 

---

Great answer, Sonny...  Thank you.

You, by sharing your experience and wisdom, are helping the bluegrass and banjo tradition continue and live in the future.

Did you ever think about writing a book (or have you already written a book) about your life and experiences?

TheChief - Posted - 01/10/2019:  15:23:49

A book has been in the writing for about 4 years now. It's been jinxed from the git go. But, we plod along.

s

TheChief - Posted - 01/10/2019:  15:25:33

This day has past.

KD Banjer - Posted - 01/10/2019:  15:26:35

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheChief

A book has been in the writing for about 4 years now. It's been jinxed from the git go. But, we plod along.

s

---

That's great, Sonny...

Maybe people will look forward to reading it, and it certainly will add important knowledge to the history of bluegrass.

davidcava - Posted - 01/10/2019:  15:33:54

Do you think Bluegrass Banjo playing is becoming predictable Sonny? I don't want to say that the greats like yourself were rebellious, but I think this is what made a lot you guys play differently? A rebellious nature?, in a good way. Scruggs never played the same thing twice, like yourself, and all the other greats that separated from Monroe, but stayed inline of a "form", but could achieve their own sound. Why is it that there is such a strict structure to what I hear in Bluegrass Banjo playing today?

TheChief - Posted - 01/10/2019:  16:16:20

In my opinion, very few put enough time into practice. And, needless to say, it doesn't matter what you are trying to achieve you simply must practice. The Banjo is a tough instrument and without many hours of strenuous practice you are gonna sound like a trained musician who reads it from paper...and that's how most sound. I've said this before and I'll say it again for those who missed it the first time. When I was trying to learn as an 11 year old kid, I played (practiced) many hours per day. Many won't believe this but I played the banjo 8-12 hours, until my fingers bled. I'm not saying all should do that but I'm trying to emphasize the amount of time I put into it. I know Earl and Don Reno did too. I think Earl was more structured than me, for one. For me, every day was a new experiment with the banjo. I played what I heard in me head. (That's Scotland coming out)  

s                                  

OldNavyGuy - Posted - 01/10/2019:  16:27:10

I personally don't ever remember complaining that I wasn't progressing fast enough or asking how long it was going to take to play Foggy Mountain Breakdown at speed.

There wasn't anyone to complain to back then.

I was too young for the South High Street in Columbus, OH bluegrass scene.

As a 12 year-old kid, I just knew I loved the banjo.

TheChief - Posted - 01/10/2019:  21:36:39

Jim..When you said "no one to complain to"...I think when Earl was learning, there was literally no one to even ask if it sounded good or bad...No One knew! Must have been a weird feeling, huh?

s

rbfour5 - Posted - 01/10/2019:  21:58:03

Sure hope you are able to make the trip to Banjothon. It will be my first time to attend, and I’m really looking forward to it!
Great people and great banjos!

ManjoMan - Posted - 01/11/2019:  02:48:49

This may be a little off-topic, but today, Google is honoring Earl Scruggs. Check it out!

RayD - Posted - 01/19/2019:  13:48:38

Chief, what's up with your Chief Banjo site besides not being up?

TheChief - Posted - 01/21/2019:  10:00:34

Ray, honest answer...That thing has been a pain in the "you know what" since It went up. I've paid several different people to do it over and I have the same result...So, if you know me at all, you will know that I put up with a loser for so long then it goes in FILE 13....which is the final resting place for this web site...if you want to call it that.

When the next rocket goes up, I won't be in it....nor was it me that figured out just how it worked and how to get it off the ground....It takes a ROCKET SCIENTIST to do that...which I am NOT.

BUT...once upon a time in the far distant past...way back yonder, as Ralph would say "Many YERS ago" I could play Cripple Creek!!! 10/4...Thank you Lord!

s 

bluegrassjunkie - Posted - 01/21/2019:  11:47:04

Bluegrass Festival Memories:

Here's a pic from 1995 at Paradise Lakes Bluegrass Festival in Bristolville, Ohio. Diana helps me with the Thinline Armrests and wanted me to share this with you. There's a collage of memories on the wall in my workshop. She always enjoyed seeing you at the festivals.
Hello from NE Ohio.
Doug & Diana

Diana/Sonny 1995

 

TheChief - Posted - 01/21/2019:  13:41:48

Well, sometime when you overstate, whilst trying to be a funny man, the material that you state comes back and bites you in the "you know what/where"....

As in this case. Judy, my betrothed, has been fighting with people about the problems with that %$%#$$ website, and lo and behold, there has been movement...unbeknownst to me. She has page one, with a picture of me and Steve Martin...banjo playing best friend lawyer from Kentucky (Go Cats) and it looks pretty good. So could be, for the millionth time...I spake out of turn and...and quite obviously said way too much. 

I'll let you know more about the website as it progresses. I appreciate your patience. 

s

TheChief - Posted - 01/21/2019:  13:46:00

Hello Diana. You and Doug do a pretty good job on the wood thinline armrests. I love the look and the improvement in the actual tone. It's slight, but it's there.
Thank you,
s

TheChief - Posted - 01/22/2019:  11:40:58

TODAY IS BILL EMERSON'S BIRTHDAY.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ONE OF OUR BEST BANJO PLAYERS...EVER!

 

spoonfed - Posted - 01/22/2019:  11:58:43

well, I just had a birthday recently and, I play a lousy Rocky Top !!!

TheChief - Posted - 01/22/2019:  14:54:07

Well, Happy Birthday to you too Mr. Spoonfed!

s

Spike2 - Posted - 01/23/2019:  12:30:33

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheChief

Well, sometime when you overstate, whilst trying to be a funny man, the material that you state comes back and bites you in the "you know what/where"....

As in this case. Judy, my betrothed, has been fighting with people about the problems with that %$%#$$ website, and lo and behold, there has been movement...unbeknownst to me. She has page one, with a picture of me and Steve Martin...banjo playing best friend lawyer from Kentucky (Go Cats) and it looks pretty good. So could be, for the millionth time...I spake out of turn and...and quite obviously said way too much. 

I'll let you know more about the website as it progresses. I appreciate your patience. 

s

---

Leave it to Judy to come to the rescue! 

TheChief - Posted - 01/26/2019:  10:06:45

Today is Doug Hutchins birthday. Doug is a long time friend, picker, and tremendous supporter of Bluegrass music.

Happy birthday Douglas.

s

TheChief - Posted - 02/03/2019:  08:16:12

Jason Carter, fiddle player extraordinaire for The Del McCoury Band, and including Del, has both just withstood Big Old Birthdays. Jason's age is unknown to me but Del has just entered the "CLAN OF EIGHTIES" which includes several of us old men and women pickers.

So...HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO YOU ALL!

AND....Bobby and I, along with Jim (Posthumous) and Jesse, Mac Wiseman, and Buddy Griffin each received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from GLENVILLE STATE COLLEGE of Glenville, West Virginia. The ceremony was held Friday, February 1st at The Country Music Hall of Fame's Ford Theater here in Nashville. Presiding over the ceremony were, Dr. Tracy Pellett, President of the college, the board of directors. Megan Darby, assistant professor of music and Director of The Bluegrass Music Degree program, and she also plays in the Glenville Bluegrass Band, who performed several tunes with Buddy playing the fiddle. Mac Wiseman, who is quite ill and was not present but Ronnie Reno accepted for him. The Larry Stephenson Band performed, as did Ronnie Reno with Larry and his band. 

It was quite a day. Humbling to say the least, surprising yet grateful that people remember and appreciate what all of us old timers did. It makes the cars, and two lane highways, and lets not forget the one room schools and worn out theaters and court house steps....I'll stop right there. It almost sounds like complaining doesn't it. Far from it. The Music business in general, and Bluegrass in particular has been VERY good to me and the above gripes are nothing but words. Looking back...yes, it was a rough way to go, but we didn't know any better. Much like in the beginning we were very very poor, but we didn't realize it...we didn't know any better. ENOUGH!

Dr. O....how bout that?

s 

















 

chuckv97 - Posted - 02/03/2019:  08:35:49

Congratulations,, Dr. Sonny !  (That has a nice ring to it   :-)

Edited by - chuckv97 on 02/03/2019 08:37:55

RandyB - Posted - 02/03/2019:  10:05:30

Congrats Sonny.

monstertone - Posted - 02/03/2019:  15:40:59

Congratulations Sonny, or should I now address you as Dr. Osborne?  Well done. You earned it. 

rbfour5 - Posted - 02/03/2019:  16:33:32

Congratulations to you and Bobby- The Dr. Osborne Brothers!

phb - Posted - 02/04/2019:  00:23:54

Congratulations, Dr. Osborne! We are very happy that you travelled that rough road.

jlsorbit - Posted - 02/04/2019:  06:28:50

Congratulation Sonny. Well deserved.

RB00 - Posted - 02/04/2019:  07:10:40

Doc Osborne has a nice ring to it as well! Congratulations!

derekanjo - Posted - 02/04/2019:  07:57:07

It was a great day at the Hall of Fame last Friday. It's a humbling experience to perform in front of so many people that changed my life; my nerves were shook. It's a memory that I'll cherish forever.

Sonny, I've got that banjo out today and am working on that thing you told me not to do. ;) ;)

 

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 02/04/2019:  09:08:07

Congratulations Sonny on a wonderful award. It is great to see institutions of higher learning acknowledging the music that we all love.
ken