jbaker7 - Posted - 11/12/2010:  07:11:24

Hi Steve,
I went to Frederick High School for about a year. My parents moved to Md. from Richmond Va. when I was about 11. Are all of the Dairy Farms gone now?....Jack Baker

thetexan - Posted - 11/12/2010:  08:21:49

All of us who play the banjo are descendents from those who came before us and shaped and influenced our pedigree. Earl is the great grandfather at the head of that line and as such is worthy of respect and admiration if for no other reason. Earl could have been a bad player for that matter and still be in the paternal position deserving our esteem.

But he wasnt a bad player and he was, essentially, arguably, the creator of what most of us here imitate. And as such, again, worthy of our thanks and esteem.

Earl used to be one of the greatest players (compared to his contemporaries). His best years, when compared to some of todays great players, might not be ranked so high. Neither would Arthur Ashe be able to hold his own against some to today's great tennis players. But the comparison is unfair on its face because banjo playing technology and styles change. Earl's playing, if adjusted for banjo playing inflation (if you please) would be in a world class league.

For example, guys like Pat Cloud, Bela, Jen and a few others have taken banjo to another galaxy and are all better than Earl. Or are they?......really. They are all stylistic pioneers charting what is and was new territory at their stage of the game. Christopher Columbus and Neil Armstrong were both pioneers whose accomplishments can probably be thought of as comparable......while at the same time completely different. Each stood alone yet was and is revered for what they accomplished.

Earl, his banjo, and his music represent one of the irreplacable ingredients that make all of us who we are with respect to bluegrass and the bluegrass banjo. There is virtually nothing in bluegrass that does not bear his DNA. That can only be said for a few people. In fact I challenge anyone to do or create something in bluegrass that is unique and devoid of anything Earl. I dont think it can be done.

That makes Earl Scruggs something more than just another player against which we compare our music or style or talent. When I hear Pat Cloud play I hear Earl. When I hear Bela or Jen play, there is Earl.

Earl is the Columbus of bluegrass banjo.....not necessarily the only pioneer but certainly one of the first and most influential. Everytime any of us pick up the banjo and make whatever attempt we can at playing it we are, in effect, playing a tribute to Earl Scruggs. Don Reno would say the same thing.

lethegoodtimesroll - Posted - 11/12/2010:  08:26:04

Whatever. I'm just wondering how Ron Stewart and larry Perkins can break forum rules and personally attack someone for no other reason that some guy has an opinion. A gentleman and professional like Mr Earl Scruggs would have never said the things that Ron and Larry did.I dont care what your credentials are both of you guys were wrong.

Edited by - lethegoodtimesroll on 11/12/2010 08:34:20

jbaker7 - Posted - 11/12/2010:  08:35:33

Chris,
Huh? Larry and Ron did nothing but praise Earl and state the truth as Earl himself did about the origins of Earl's own brand of 3 finger picking banjo.

Not meaning to argue with you but this kind of post of yours will continue this thread until a Mod mercifully ends it...I'm totally stumped by your post Chris...Jack Baker