steve davis - Posted - 09/16/2016:  11:22:16

I had so much fun with Vaughn Meader.
He called John Hartford once and asked him to come to Hallowell to the Speakeasy and two days later John and his son Jaimie played 2 sets there and sat at our table between sets.
Another time I went to Raoul's in So. Portland to see the Newgrass Revival and he introduced me to Sam Bush.
I never knew what new adventure he was going to come up with,next.He seemed to know everyone in the entertainment business and they all knew him.
Tom Hanks sent him a check every year to retain the rights to his life story.

What a great character Vaughn was.

Rawhide Creek - Posted - 09/16/2016:  12:54:02

memoriesofmainemagazine.com/vmeader.html

Rawhide Creek - Posted - 09/16/2016:  15:01:57

deadspin.com/5829643/dead-come...469746946

sethG - Posted - 09/16/2016:  15:56:17

quote: this reeks of you just trying to prove something to anyone who reads it. It has absolutely nothing to do with playing in a different key.

---

Originally posted by steve davis

 

I had so much fun with Vaughn Meader.

He called John Hartford once and asked him to come to Hallowell to the Speakeasy and two days later John and his son Jaimie played 2 sets there and sat at our table between sets.

Another time I went to Raoul's in So. Portland to see the Newgrass Revival and he introduced me to Sam Bush.

I never knew what new adventure he was going to come up with,next.He seemed to know everyone in the entertainment business and they all knew him.

Tom Hanks sent him a check every year to retain the rights to his life story.



What a great character Vaughn was.

---

Rawhide Creek - Posted - 09/16/2016:  20:33:21

articles.latimes.com/2004/oct/...-meader30

For obvious reasons, this event was not well-attended:

 

 

 

steve davis - Posted - 09/17/2016:  04:52:11

Vaughn could play in all keys but he liked to set his electric piano to transpose everything to C.

Rawhide Creek - Posted - 09/17/2016:  10:19:35

"It's probably very safe to say that no performer within memory ever became a has-been as quickly as the man born Abbott Vaughn Meader."

--IMdB

Rawhide Creek - Posted - 09/17/2016:  11:13:01

From April 2011:

"Bill Hader is signed on to play comedian/impressionist Vaughn Meader, best known for his JFK impression, in a biopic entitled Vaughn Meader.  Meader shot to fame overnight with a hit comedy record but his celebrity evaporated just as quickly when JFK's assassination cut his career short.  The project is set up at Ben Stiller's company, Red Hour Films, and will be written and directed by The Onion veteran Rob Siegel, who wrote The Wrestler and wrote/directed Big Fan."

Hader has described the film-to-be as "a dark comedy".

HarleyQ - Posted - 09/17/2016:  18:46:36

Who in the world is vaughn meader?? I'm 68, should I have heard of him?? .............Did he play like EARL?????

Rawhide Creek - Posted - 09/17/2016:  19:42:52

He was famous as a one-trick pony for about a year, when you were maybe 14 or 15 and likely paying attention to actual important things.

But back in those days, 15 minutes of fame lasted a lot longer than it does today!

Edited by - Rawhide Creek on 09/17/2016 19:48:35

steve davis - Posted - 09/18/2016:  08:28:36

Pat Paulsen and Fred Travalena owe their success to the ground Vaughn Meader broke.
The First Family Album set new levels of record sales.

I got to play gigs in Louisville and Soho with him.What great adventures we had.

sethG - Posted - 09/18/2016:  08:50:23

Of these obscure names, pat Paulson owed his career to the Smothers Brothers. Fred travena owed his career to John byner, and many other impressionists at that time. As rawhide's link states: VM died when Kennedy was assassinated. He quickly became a name nobody remembered.

steve davis - Posted - 09/18/2016:  08:56:40

He's a great old friend of mine,seth.I'll always remember and I was very surprised as to how many people knew him.
He knew Doug Dillard,too.
He opened the door for Paulsen and Travalena in their presidential impersonations.

sethG - Posted - 09/18/2016:  09:16:37

I'm surprised how many people know me! But it just dosnt matter.

Rawhide Creek - Posted - 09/18/2016:  11:30:11

Pat Paulsen didn't do presidential impressions; he impersonated himself as a candidate.

Fred Travalena, "the man of a thousand voices", didn't rely on doing presidential impressions, although one of his very entertaining routines in later years was doing all Presidents from Kennedy to Bush.

Jonathan Winters did impressions of both Truman and Eisenhower on television well before Meader recorded his Kennedy impressions.

Will Rogers impersonated Calvin Coolidge on the radio in 1928, so perhaps he was the ground-breaker.

Edited by - Rawhide Creek on 09/18/2016 11:36:09

steve davis - Posted - 09/18/2016:  11:42:23

Hard to say how much they were influenced by Vaughn'ssuccess,I suppose.Probably quite a bit seeing the records that his recording set.

Vaughn was a comic genius right up there with any of them.

Rawhide Creek - Posted - 09/18/2016:  15:44:37

I doubt Jonathan Winters was influenced by Meader's success.  Winters, being 11 years older, began his career considerably earlier.  Winters was appearing on television while Meader was still working New York dives.

Pat Paulsen was 9 years older and also began his career about a decade before Meader, most of it on the West Coast (where he met the Smothers Brothers).

And Will Rogers couldn't possibly have been influenced by Meader in any fashion whatsoever; he died the year before Meader was born.

Edited by - Rawhide Creek on 09/18/2016 15:52:27

HarleyQ - Posted - 09/18/2016:  19:21:56

...looked up a video. I didn't think he sounded very much like JFK..... I use to do a few lines of JFK.... Maybe I missed my calling????

sethG - Posted - 09/18/2016:  19:25:03

Harley, in context with the original posting( which got severely sidetracked), perhaps he was doing his impressions in a different key. C I assume.

Rawhide Creek - Posted - 09/18/2016:  20:36:57

Not to mention that the purchase of the album was inherently a fad; the huge majority of sales were in the first few weeks.  The sequel sold barely a tenth as well.  He was, if not a "one-hit wonder", then a "one-album wonder"--no shame in that; there have been a lot of them over the years.

As to "comedic genius", bear in mind that Meader did not write the album material, nor was he the producer.  He was merely the mimic.  

If "comedic genius" is defined by doing an impression of JFK, then Rich Little certainly qualifies.  (Little was born two years later than Meader.  One minor fact they share in common is that they were both married four times.)

Edited by - Rawhide Creek on 09/18/2016 20:50:23

Rawhide Creek - Posted - 09/18/2016:  20:44:26

quote:

---

Originally posted by steve davis

 

Vaughn could play in all keys but he liked to set his electric piano to transpose everything to C.

---

Any adequate pianist can play in all keys (you've mentioned many times that your mother could; and I know that I can).  Your statement suggests that Meader could sing only in C.

Edited by - Rawhide Creek on 09/18/2016 20:51:14

HarleyQ - Posted - 09/18/2016:  20:55:38

quote:

---

Originally posted by sethG



Harley, in context with the original posting( which got severely sidetracked), perhaps he was doing his impressions in a different key. C I assume.

---

Rawhide Creek - Posted - 09/19/2016:  12:27:16

Hear Rich Little's comments on NPR, including one about Meader "putting all his eggs in one basket" and what would have happened if Little had done no impressions except Nixon.  

Scroll down to "Remembering Vaughn Meader" and click on {> Listen):

npr.org/programs/all-things-co...12990729/

Edited by - Rawhide Creek on 09/19/2016 12:34:49

steve davis - Posted - 09/21/2016:  10:35:40

I was honored to have him ask me if I would play banjo with him in his piano bar stuff.I felt like I had arrived.

He introduced me to Noel Paul Stookey and I ended up recording there a bunch of times.Learned what to do (and not do) when recording.



He had Dad sit in with us sometimes and let him park his 5th wheel in the driveway.

One day in Dad's last days Vaughn got Tim Krekl and all the Hallowell/Augusta crowd to come down.They carried Dad's steel and amp out on the front lawn and jammed with him all day long.



I learned some great lessons from Vaughn having to do with allowing no dead air and dispensing with the occasional heckler.



Probably the best lesson was in finding the "key" to first time songs thrown at me on the spot.

He seemed to enjoy trying to trip me up.

Lenny Bruce said,"They should have dug two graves at Arlington...one for JFK and the other for Vaughn Meader."

Edited by - steve davis on 09/21/2016 10:37:35

Rawhide Creek - Posted - 09/21/2016:  20:42:26

Golly; depending on your age, it sounds like either a serious bromance or major-league hero worship.

I met Noel Stookey the first time in mid-October, 1969.  

In 1968, I was one of a glut of college students not old enough to vote but political enough to work for the McCarthy campaign for the Democratic nomination.  So I shaved and got a haircut ("Be clean for Gene") and, appropriately scraped and shorn, worked door-to-door handing out literature.  I ended up in Minnesota and met Mary Beth McCarthy, his niece, who in turn introduced me to a younger cousin from the Iron Range, to whom I ultimately became engaged.

As a consequence, I was invited to Mary Beth's wedding to Peter Yarrow in Willmar in October, 1969.  (Okay, technically my intended was invited and I was the "plus one".)  As I recall, Noel was the best man.  That wedding was also the very first public performance of Noel's "There is Love" (a.k.a. "The Wedding Song").

Peter and I hit it off.  He likes barbecue, as do I, especially Kansas City-style.  Every time our paths have crossed, we've gone out for barbecue.  (He likes ribs, I like brisket; we both like burnt ends.)  He enjoys talking about almost anything except music and the history of PP&M.  His absolute favorite subject is his granddaughters.

Edited by - Rawhide Creek on 09/21/2016 20:51:45

Mooooo - Posted - 09/22/2016:  02:05:04

huh....I thought this thread was about scales...must have some kind of computer glitch...

chuckv97 - Posted - 09/22/2016:  04:22:00

I touched Earl on the shoulder once

sethG - Posted - 09/22/2016:  06:44:11

quote: this posting seems to went awry. But I will try and keep with the ongoing theme. Do you play ' footprints in the snow' in C? That Merv Griffin sure had some nice suits. 

---

Originally posted by steve davis

 

I was honored to have him ask me if I would play banjo with him in his piano bar stuff.I felt like I had arrived.

He introduced me to Noel Paul Stookey and I ended up recording there a bunch of times.Learned what to do (and not do) when recording.



He had Dad sit in with us sometimes and let him park his 5th wheel in the driveway.

One day in Dad's last days Vaughn got Tim Krekl and all the Hallowell/Augusta crowd to come down.They carried Dad's steel and amp out on the front lawn and jammed with him all day long.



I learned some great lessons from Vaughn having to do with allowing no dead air and dispensing with the occasional heckler.



Probably the best lesson was in finding the "key" to first time songs thrown at me on the spot.

He seemed to enjoy trying to trip me up.

Lenny Bruce said,"They should have dug two graves at Arlington...one for JFK and the other for Vaughn Meader."

---

Laurence Diehl - Posted - 09/22/2016:  08:27:54

quote:

---

Originally posted by chuckv97

 

I touched Earl on the shoulder once

---

I almost shook his hand. Then he looked me in the eye and I'll never forget what he said:

"stay the hell away from me" I think it was.

AND

I'm on Taylor Swift's Twitterfeed, we're very tight.

Edited by - Laurence Diehl on 09/22/2016 08:36:15

chuckv97 - Posted - 09/22/2016:  08:41:00

I think I'll learn to play "Nashville Blues" in e minor, standard G tuning (I don't think Earl would mind)

Edited by - chuckv97 on 09/22/2016 08:41:57

Laurence Diehl - Posted - 09/22/2016:  09:24:06

Chuck, just pretend everything is in G - that's supposed to work.

sethG - Posted - 09/22/2016:  11:04:39

Sometimes when I'm working in the flower beds out front, I like to pretend I'm actually in the back of the cottage. That way, I've doubled my work and made time to tell a new tale, or perhaps spread my unfounded knowledge to the world in general.

Rawhide Creek - Posted - 09/22/2016:  12:09:52

quote:

---

Originally posted by Laurence Diehl

 . . .

I'm on Taylor Swift's Twitterfeed, we're very tight.

---

I've known Tom Swift since I was in grade school!

steve davis - Posted - 09/22/2016:  12:12:51

This thread is about the value of learning different keys,Mike.

By never knowing what key Vaughn was playing by looking at the keyboard (when he played an electric he always set the transposer to play in C) I needed to be able to play any key while in G tuning as there was usually no time to capo without entering late.

Rawhide Creek - Posted - 09/22/2016:  16:14:47

quote:

---

Originally posted by Laurence Diehl

 

Chuck, just pretend everything is in G - that's supposed to work.

---

Imagine how much simpler that would have been for Sebastian Bach when he wrote "The Well-Tempered Clavier"!

sethG - Posted - 09/22/2016:  16:19:25

quote: I wouldn't consider it a learning experience when a song leader purposely tries to trip you up on the spot. This is just rude, and embarrassing if you're in front of a crowd. Also, you are aware Lenny Bruce was being sarcastic with his Abbott meader comment?

---

Originally posted by steve davis

 

I was honored to have him ask me if I would play banjo with him in his piano bar stuff.I felt like I had arrived.

He introduced me to Noel Paul Stookey and I ended up recording there a bunch of times.Learned what to do (and not do) when recording.



He had Dad sit in with us sometimes and let him park his 5th wheel in the driveway.

One day in Dad's last days Vaughn got Tim Krekl and all the Hallowell/Augusta crowd to come down.They carried Dad's steel and amp out on the front lawn and jammed with him all day long.



I learned some great lessons from Vaughn having to do with allowing no dead air and dispensing with the occasional heckler.



Probably the best lesson was in finding the "key" to first time songs thrown at me on the spot.

He seemed to enjoy trying to trip me up.

Lenny Bruce said,"They should have dug two graves at Arlington...one for JFK and the other for Vaughn Meader."

---

steve davis - Posted - 09/24/2016:  07:13:20

I saw it as great challenge which I accepted.

I don't get the "rude" part.It's just playing to me.



I was glad to be able to keep up.I guess it would have been embarrassing if I couldn't,seth.

Edited by - steve davis on 09/24/2016 07:15:02

Rawhide Creek - Posted - 09/24/2016:  20:35:11

A more thorough treatment than most Internet articles, from Entertainment Weekly in 2003, including excepts from an interview:

maryellenmark.com/text/magazin...-032.html

Edited by - Rawhide Creek on 09/24/2016 20:41:37

steve davis - Posted - 09/26/2016:  08:03:47

The value of learning different keys is immeasureable.It's as important and fascinating as learning chords and playing by ear.

Rawhide Creek - Posted - 09/26/2016:  11:02:55

Here's about half an hour of video from Hallowell, Maine.  It's uneven.  You can start at around 6:47.  Lots of bits and pieces of Meader playing and singing.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=1gJ4ATFjHqU

sethG - Posted - 09/28/2016:  09:57:20

I try not to learn too much at once, it takes away from the time I spend on the stuff I already know.

Rawhide Creek - Posted - 09/28/2016:  23:44:44

quote:

---

Originally posted by Rawhide Creek

 

Here's about half an hour of video from Hallowell, Maine.  It's uneven.  You can start at around 6:47.  Lots of bits and pieces of Meader playing and singing.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=1gJ4ATFjHqU

---

Comic genius at about 6:53--

"Tell you about my wife, take her to the beach and even the tide won't take her out."

steve davis - Posted - 09/30/2016:  08:00:33

A great thing about being familiar with the keys is when a surprise modulation happens.

Rawhide Creek - Posted - 09/30/2016:  10:51:16

Beginning at 14:19, you can listen to Vaughn Meader speaking in different keys:

m.youtube.com/watch?v=mFL2Xn0uaro

steve davis - Posted - 10/01/2016:  05:26:47

I have great memories of my years with Vaughn.He taught me a lot about performing.

Rawhide Creek - Posted - 10/07/2016:  11:53:52

Interesting interview about who wrote the material:

loc.gov/programs/static/nation...rview.pdf

Tom Hanway - Posted - 10/20/2016:  01:22:59

quote:

---

Originally posted by Texasbanjo

 

I play bluegrass basically, so what I'm about to say pertains to that genre of music:

You can play in all the major keys without retuning your banjo from open G.  You use a capo to change from G to A, B, Bb, C, D, E and F.  You can also play all the major/minor keys without a capo or without retuning. but for me, it's easier to use the capo.

Some songs I play in D tuning such as Ruben but generally, I just use a capo to get to the key I need.  You can also play the minor keys without retuning.

I think that other genres may retune quite a bit, I know clawhammer/old time does, but I'm not familiar enough with that genre to comment further than that.   I'm sure someone will. 

 

 

---

So on the mark.  It does depend on genre, so depending, either use the capo, or use the whole neck of the banjo, even in bluegrass, that's not a bat thing, if you can pull it off.



All the best ~ Tom

Tom Hanway - Posted - 10/20/2016:  01:32:41

quote:

---

Originally posted by Rawhide Creek

 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Rawhide Creek

 

Here's about half an hour of video from Hallowell, Maine.  It's uneven.  You can start at around 6:47.  Lots of bits and pieces of Meader playing and singing.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=1gJ4ATFjHqU

---

Comic genius at about 6:53--

"Tell you about my wife, take her to the beach and even the tide won't take her out."

---

"I didn't have a great relationship with Vaughn. There just wasn't anything personal between us." I wish (((I))) had said that!!!

Tom Hanway - Posted - 10/20/2016:  01:39:59

It's such a good, and it worth repeating from here unto eternity (beyond building with withering names):



Meadar this!