The sun is bright as shinning this morning, but not as warm as yesterday, it may reach the upper 50's today, we will have to wait and see.
I did get a recording done yesterday, but we here at "Moo Productions" are having some technical difficulty getting it uploaded, but we have our best man on the job, tying to get us back on the air.
I was questioning weather or not to post this latest offering, simply put, i am not doing this for myself, but in hopes that somebody might learn something, or take away something that they seen me do, and these recordings won't be "studio quality, and my banjo tone is terrible, and i am in dire need of a fret job, so there is buzzes and intonations galore, and i make mistakes, a lot of mistakes, but i'm not trying to, nor do i anticipate ever playing at that level again, and were it not for Bernidine making a strong appearance in this latest video, i probably wouldn't post it.
I would like to reach an understanding with you guys if i am to continue this, and that is, you answer in this thread, or by PM what you would like to have me play or demonstrate, (if it is in my ability) and i can answer it, and demonstrate it in the next airing, if possible, and i will address by name(out of courtesy) the member that asked for the lick, or song.
Let me make this clear...."I am not trying to Teach" if you take something away from this, that is great. This gives me something to do, and forces me to get my banjo out, when it would normally be just sitting in its case in the corner, i am guilty of going weeks and sometimes months at a time, and never playing, so this will help get me back in shape. But for any reason, if somebody wishes me to stop, "Then It STOPS!" i'm not doing this to toot my own horn or banjo as it is, and i 'm not going to be one of these individuals that are posting and fishing for compliments.
I am very thankful and appreciative of what you guys have done for me, in the way of lifting my spirits in this very stressful time in my life, but there are 10,000 good banjo pickers out in the world, and 9,999 of them are here on the hangout, and all of them are "trying to be somebody" with the exception of ME, i am just being Kevin "Warpdrive" Hendrix, and i happen to play the banjo, and if you get something out of it, then i can say i am at least trying to contribute to the cause, and trying to make me feel better about myself, and trust me fellars, now a days, that aint easy for me to do! As "Forrest Gump says" That's all i have to say about that"!
The PMS tv was back up and running when i got home yesterday, but it was terrible, just terrible, nothing on but high school football finals here in Arkansas. I have to wait till 8 or 9 o'clock tonight before there is something i really want to watch. The opry was just so so last night, the old stars "crocked out off key Christmas Carols" and the new guest stars did things i've never hear of, but at least they were on key. Speaking of preforming way past your prime, that is another reason i am hesitant to post recordings....just saying!
Not a lot more i know to post this morning, as i said, if Moo can get the latest video uploaded, he will,..... i can surmise what it was......Me warming up with the Earls break to NO Mother or DAD, i think i then did a combination of "shorting Bread and Sourwood Mountain, then Bernidine gets up on the swing with me, and i noodle with "hot corn cold corn" and she was crowding me. and i ended with the kick off and up the neck breaks to young Earls breaks on "Oh come back to me, little Darlin" so your not missing much, other than bernidine.....really!
All right people, i'll try to check back in later in the day Y'all have a gooderun Warp!
Here's the newest video by Kevin and Bernadine. Enjoy these gems. Kevin just sitting around picking for no other reason than just to enjoy picking....and for us, I guess too. Thanks a lot Kevin, I appreciate them, and I am sure many more do too. Btw, Sourwood Mountain sounds great, haven't heard that one before.
Holy buckets - - - I can't (for the life of me) understand why you think your picking the banjo isn't all that good?? You absolutely SMOKE those strings, and you sound awesome doing it in those videos. Your playing is about as clean as it gets , and is something I could listen to all day long. Thanks for sharing!
Quick question - - In one of the earlier pages of this thread (I looked but I couldn't find your post), you mentioned you came up here to Minnesota with your band to play at the Zimmerman Fall Festival. What band were you playing with back then?? Just curious. I heard a lot of really good music on stage there over the years, but now days my memory is "fuzzy" and I don't remember or differentiate between things as well as I used to.
I enjoy reading and hearing what's happening in your neck of the woods Kevin. I listened to your latest video twice through. Real nice picking!
I had a look at Mountain View, AR on google earth - looks like you have some mighty fine hiking country to the north and west.
Also just read on wikipedia about the "murder" of Connie Franklin, with the trial being held (in 1929) in the Mountain View courthouse - the truth is often stranger than fiction!
I reckon keep those videos coming as long as they're fun for you to do.
I was at Zimmerman back in 97 i think, with The Bob Lewis Family Band, and quite frankly, we killed it there, probably the only sets in my life that i felt like a rock start, i mean the audience literally rushed the stage on our sets, and i have no idea why, but we were the "whole enchiladas " at that time, hard driving, twin fiddles, every genre of music covered and Clogging to boot.
Because it was that i was in a booked band, it was required that i be in the banjo workshop that Tom Mathis of Nechville put on, so i ended up on stage with Alan Munde, and Scott Vestal, and others that i did not know, but my eyes stayed glued on Munde and Vestal, but at the end of it, and later, Alan walked up to me and looked at the Peg Head of my banjo, because my inlay was different and he saw that i was playing one of Jim Yarboros banjos, out of Gun Barrell City Tx (i played Jims banjo and traded with him for years, and he gave me a nice compliment, so i didn't feel like i was worthy to sit at the same table with Him and Scott, but maybe it was ok to sit at another table in the same room...LOL!
Truthfully, i have a real "inferiority" complex, and still do to this day, and if for one minute, i ever thought that other people thought i was doing this for personal gain, and as i posted earlier, trying to be " a somebody", i'd sell my banjo for what i could get, and never look back, but i am tickled that so many of y'all likes my picking.
Warp. I love the little concerts. To be honest, maybe you need to stay in Arkansas and avoid the distractions of big city life in Cincinnati. Seems like you are pickin' more in Arkansas. Got a question about the bulldogs. everyone I have seen has been very friendly and good natured. But it seems like their reputation is that of a tough dog. What do you think about their nature over all. My wife wants to get a dog and does not want a big one. I have said a bulldog cause I want a dog that is a dog and not half and half. she is saying no to that and I don't want a fru fru. ken
In my experience, "especially with Bernidine" english bulldogs have the best temperament of "Any dog breed" "PERIOD" they want attention, and not attention from other dogs, they want human attention and i've never experienced such a loving demeanor out of any dog, that is why i'm so poor, keeping bernidine going so i won't have to experience life with out her, she is truly like a special needs child!
The misnomer about bulldogs is that they are lazy, i guess if you don't take of them, and not play with them, not just them, but any dog can get fat and lazy, but bernidine has been non-stop since she was a pup, she either wants to play or eat, but when she gets wore out, she sleep hard.
Bulldogs are also very emotional , meaning if you scold them, they will pout, and get sad just like a child, and when bernidine would get upset with me about whatever, she would just turn her back to me, and look over her shoulder to make sure i could see that she was giving me back side, basically, my life and soul is owned by a Bulldog!
The big downside to English bulldogs is they are a "walking VET BILL!" and right now, bernidine's heart meds run me over 100$ a month, and this has been going on 5 years now, and just weeks before we left cincinnati on this adventure, she got so sick, i honestly thought i was going to lose her and even went as far as to call a home doggie put down service to check rates, but once again, she showed here "resilience" and i got her back on the straight and narrow, and here we are.......but each day i have with her and andy, is a blessing to me, and i could not have weathered all this, without them!
In short Ken, I think you'd be happy with a English Bulldog in your life, but they are high maintenance, and one other word of Caution
"English Bulldogs are the most Heat Sensitive of all the breeds and when the temps get above 70, you should only let them out for potty breaks only, in fact, English bulldogs are a indoor dog!
This is going to do it for me today, Once again, thanks for the thoughtful posts and special thanks to Moo, he's the man that makes this possible.
I'll check in with you guys in the morning when i come up for my senior coffee ( i wish somebody would sell a Senior Banjo or give a senior banjo discount huh?) Grinch are you listening, LOL!
Any way, if i can do something for somebody, send a PM or post it here, till tomorrow, Y'all have a gooderun, Warp!
Truthfully, i have a real "inferiority" complex, and still do to this day, and if for one minute, i ever thought that other people thought i was doing this for personal gain, and as i posted earlier, trying to be " a somebody", i'd sell my banjo for what i could get, and never look back, but i am tickled that so many of y'all likes my picking.
Warp!
Ha!! I remember one year there at Zimmerman - - Larry Sparks was the headliner for the weekend, and he did a great job - - but on the last day, the Stoney Lonesome Band came on stage after him (it was a Sunday winding down the festival show - - and they literally left him lying in the dust with their complete set (they were that good). I sometimes wonder whatever happened to the folks from Stoney Lonesome. I've got some tapes I made from the festival back then. Those were some good times.
Damn it......is that Warp in this vid dmiller? That is Damn Good Bluegrass man.....and I seem to remember this name from somewhere in my memories. What a great band.
I may be wrong but ,I think that be Kevin Barnes with Stoney Lonesome. Took lessons from Jim Smoak here in the seventies.Took off like a rocket. Same kinda picker as warp though.
You know what else I like about Real People?.....they don't need any mass media to tell them what they like.....or to be influenced in any way....That's Bluegrass Buddy.....The Field People....the strongest Americans. imho of course
Damn it......is that Warp in this vid dmiller? That is Damn Good Bluegrass man.....and I seem to remember this name from somewhere in my memories. What a great band.
dc
Kevin Barnes on banjo/ Kate McKenzie guitar and vocals/ Doug Lohman bass/ Joe Trimbach mandolin/ Brian Barnes vocals and guitar/ John Niemi fiddle - - - my apologies if I've misspelled some of the names here. They got together in 1978 (thereabouts) and took their name Stoney Lonesome from a fiddle tune written by Kenny Baker which was named for Stoney Lonesome - - - a town in southern Indiana 15 or so miles south and east of Bean Blossom/ Nashville Indiana, and just a few miles west of Columbus Indiana and the I-65 interstate (which heads to Louisville Kentucky - and all points further south) that Baker named the tune after.
Oh - - I forgot to mention that the road going from Bean Blossom (in Brown County Indiana) towards Stoney Lonesome is officially called Indiana State Road 46 East - - but is locally known as the road to Columbus - - which is another fiddle tune that Bill Monroe wrote.
Stoney Lonesome was a "kick ass" band back in the day, and if you ever listened to the Prairie Home Companion show on NPR on a Saturday afternoon - - they were the house band and on pretty much every show that aired until Garrison decided to go off and be an author/ writer instead of being the host of a wildly successful (at the time) radio show. Lot's of history in these names that weren't just "pulled out of a hat" when a title for a tune or a band was needed.
Kevin and I jammed at Cherokee Park on sundays in his first summer of playing.He lived in Louisville at that time. a different Kevin than this thread though.Back to regular programming.
Kevin and I jammed at Cherokee Park on sundays in his first summer of playing.He lived in Louisville at that time. a different Kevin than this thread though. Back to regular programming.
For what it's worth - - Kevin and Brian Barnes were from the Louisville area. Kevin landed in Minneapolis first, and I remember meeting Brian at the Minneapolis airport in '78 or '79. We were both departing a flight, and he was carrying a guitar case and I had my banjo with me. We each noticed the other's case/ instrument and got to talking. Turns out both of us had just been at the Bean Blossom Festival a month or so earlier, but had not run into each other until there at the airport. I remember asking Brian what he was doing here in Minnesota, and he said: "I came up here to form a Bluegrass band with my brother". That band that was formed became Stoney Lonesome - - and the rest is history.
This is going to do it for me today, Once again, thanks for the thoughtful posts and special thanks to Moo, he's the man that makes this possible.
I'll check in with you guys in the morning when i come up for my senior coffee ( i wish somebody would sell a Senior Banjo or give a senior banjo discount huh?) Grinch are you listening, LOL!
Any way, if i can do something for somebody, send a PM or post it here, till tomorrow,
Y'all have a gooderun,
Warp!
Warp!
You still have it, man. And then some. Talk about power and tone. That RK sounds great, too.
I know all about tinnitus 1st hand, but I had to read up on hyperacusis…I’m sorry you have to deal with that. Do your hearing issues keep you from playing onstage? That right hand is a money maker.
To answer your question , "YES" the tinnitus and hyperacusis does effect my stage playing in this manner, the amount of time i've got the sounds blaring at me, coming from all directions. I'd say after about a hour or so, i'm pretty shot, and tone ceases to exist or should i say, the ability to differentiate tone is pretty much gone, and then my ears are ringing so loudly at just the slightest of noise, it's painful.
I was helping some friends of mine's band out last christmas on a couple of gigs, she has a very bad case of "focal dystonia ", and they've always lamented that i play really loud, and way to fast for them, but still i was glad to help them out, even though there way below my skill set. On this night i noticed after about an hour, i had lost ability to hear my 5th string, it was the strangest sensation, i could look down and see my thumb, hitting my 5th string but it was the same pitch as the ringing in my ears, and this was just the first set, we had three by the middle of the second set, i was just keeping time with my right hand, and the back ground noise from the restaurant and the rest of the band was all one big ringing noise, and i'm one of these people (the VA has identified me this way) that i have some anger issues with it, simply because, i just can't deal with it, this ringing in my ears is non-stop all day long and the only relief i get from it is when i go to sleep.
I love quiet, dark and quiet, not around a bunch of people talking, because i don't have to try and figure out who's saying what, and what words i might have missed, or dropped in conversation. I guess this is why i've really grown to love playing by myself, i only have to concentrate on me! Kevin
Yeah, I was afraid that was the case. I know crowd noises, the constant din of a restaurant, etc, gives me some trouble…nothing like that though.
Do you ever have that trouble with the 5th string when you play by yourself? I’m wondering if you ever experiment playing with the banjo tuned lower? I tune to E a lot and it definitely feels easier on the ears. You play with a lot more power and speed than me, so it not be ideal for you, but if you are having trouble with certain pitches maybe it would help.
Once again, thanks to all for the thoughtful responses to my video offerings, and Bernidine also says thanks.
Last night arrived with cooler temps and i found myself kicking on the heat for a few minutes to chase the chill from the room, but it wasn't a bad night, as many are here at the cabin in the woods.
PMS re-ran the Chet Adkins Certified Guitar Player special again, so that never gets old, and then there is a 2015 show that they are airing of a "Agatha Christy" novel called "And Then There Were None" and it's been good, it will conclude next week.
The nights programming for me and the kids ended with a Classical My Music Favorites special, with recordings of Orchestra compositions by the masters, which for me, (believe this or not) is something i grew up on, and love to this day. My favorite all time Orchestra piece is "Hungarian Rhapsody #2 by Franz Listz ( i think that's right). Really good relaxing music to ambien up too!
As far as my next posting of a video, i'm not sure what to do, i'd like to have some direction to go in, and the posting be constructive have some purpose, i mean the Christmas Songs were intentional, i've been doing those privately for some years now, and the follow up was in hopes that Bernidine would do what she did, and make here appearance, but i'm really stuck as what to do next, like is said, if somebody wants to hear something there working on, or get my take on a certain tune, "shout her out". I probably will try to set something up in the living room, so in these up coming cold and inclement weather days, if something is asked of me, i can record.
I don't guess i've a whole lot more to write about this morning, i've got to stop at Walley world and then to the post office, and back home to the kids, as i've said, it's turned off cold, so there won't be much milling around today, and i can't think of anything off hand that i'd like to do or work up on the banjo, so i may do a indoor sound check, maybe if i do that, i'll post a quick blurb, and y'all can see if there is a tonal difference indoors rather than outdoors, (i know with my ears, i won't be able to tell at all)!
Ok, guys, that about it for now. Y'all have a gooderun, Warp!
I am happy to present this Christmas Medley performed by Warp and one of his babies. Thanks Kevin, try to make one with your doggies on the swing.
Wow @warpdrive, an entire Christmas in a banjo! Best medley ever! I really appreciate you sharing your observations on your life right now... and your playing - your timing, note clarity, tone - which I’ll be enjoying and learning from :-) Wishing you a merry Christmas and an easier year to come for you and your pups. Thank you for sharing your music and musings. :-)
Warp, Your suggestion of send me a suggestion may get you a full time job with no pay. But, I will foster the slave mill: 2 songs I would love to hear are 1 Will The Roses Bloom (IMO Flatt and Scruggs should have had banjo on this one) and Just a Closer Walk with Thee played in G. If these don't fit into what you feel like playing, don't worry about it. BTW, I am surprised at how much warmer that part of Arkansas is compared to our part like southern Indiana or Cincy. ken
Good Morning... Well i got a late start to the day, stayed up a little later last night, watching Downton Abbey and then didn't get up till after 5 this morning and it was just a slow, why should i be in a hurry morning?
I am getting a lot of suggestions for tunes, and i'll thank all of you now at the beginning.
It might take me a day or two to work up to the more "obscure " request" MOO"! and i really don't want you to over expect what you think a hillbilly like myself can do on a tune by "Fastball" called "The Way" but i will pull it up , and watch it again and work it up and send it your way, that may have to be a personal request that you should not post.....We'll have to see huh? The rest range from Bill Emerson's freight Train, to songs out of the Earl Scruggs book and i will do my best to fill these orders, but as i said, i like names, as i told the requestor of the Scruggs book tunes, thats a lot of tunes, and i'm fairly sure, i play them all, but lets limit it to two or three of you favorites, weather there instrumental or just breaks and kick offs.
Now, on the un-banjo-related news front, yesterday i got a call that i thought i would never get, at least anytime soon.......My Lawyer in Cincinnati called to tell me that they have papers, indicating a hearing date of Feb 12. at 11AM in Cincinnati, so my parole from this county road gang, its days are numbered.
Just so you guys know, i plan to continue what i've started here on the hangout, as long as you guys are interested and my skill set doesn't faulter , i see know reason why when i move back to cincinnati, this has to stop?
It does look like there is going to be much on tv tonight, so i probably will work on some of these request, but you guys need to keep in mind, it takes me at least 30 minutes to down load a 5 minute video, maybe longer, so what i am trying to say is, if i don't get to your request right away, not to fret, it might be on the next one or the next one after that.
I had a pm from our old Buddy John Boulding this morning(banjo phobic) he was wondering if i was ok, and i guess he had heard i was in jail down in arkansas, something to that effect i guess. I assured him all was well, and asked about how he's doing, i imagine i will hear back from him before long.
Ok guys, i gots to get cracken, i've got to pull up some tunes(MOO!) and get the melody's in my head then go home and see about filling yall's prescriptions, lol!
Feel free to put my request on the back burner, I like all the requests mentioned. Whatever you feel you want to pick is alright by me. I'm enjoying the picking. And, don't go out of your way to make a video. When it's comfortable for you and you are inspired, please do them. But we will be happy with what you offer. Thanks for your time and trouble.
Thanks MOO, you guys are no trouble, and are forcing me to use my brain, something that i need to be doing anyway , so hopefully, i won't disappoint Y'all to terribly bad,.
Ok, its time to go home, see what damage i can do! Y'all take care have a gooderun Warp!
Here's another video by Kevin "Warpdrive" Hendrix. Warp, taking requests from BHO members, plays: Will the roses bloom again where she lies sleepin', Just a closer walk with thee, Freight Train, Little Darlin' Pal of Mine, Fireball Mail, The Whole World 'Round, Doug's Tune, Dooley, There is a Time/Charlene's Breakdown, and Hickory Hollow.
It's hard to pick a favorite, but right up there is a nice Scruggs version of Freight Train, A Closer Walk with Thee (tremolo style), and Hickory Hollow will blow you away. Thanks Warp. You make that rattly old banjo sound great.
Sorry I added this so late, I just saw it in my email. Enjoy.
What a joy, seeing and hearing you again after all these years (2004!). There couldn't have been a weirder occasion on which banjo players meet....
Your Dillard renditions are right there, nailed them! It's also nice hearing how you solved 'Freight Train'. A student asked me for it, so I made up a version in Dropped C as that matched the vocals. Entirely differnt, of course.
If only you'd live a bit closer, not with this broad wet patch in between, I'd drop by and come see you.
Then your frets problem would be solved too, as I had my RB-1 refretted recently with stainless by a friend and since my hands aren't stupid either he gave me an on the job training.
In spite of creeping off the frets occasionally, you've got a real 4th on that banjo, mister. What strings do you put on? My RB-1 has the GHS PF-135, but my so far RK-75 sounded best with D'Addario J60.
Even through all the sound crushing systems it has to pass until here, I still recognize your banjo (apart from the frets issue) for being a really, really good one.
And the picking.... well, you ain't changed a bit.
Wow, what a treat! I liked (loved!) Just a Closer Walk (very tasteful), Freight Train, Whole World Round and Hickory Hollow (what a power) best but they all are great!
Thanks so much for fulfilling my request! Today is St. Nicholas Day which we celebrate with small gifts and this has been my 2nd best (I'm sure you gladly accept defeat by a painted heart from my daughter).
And don't worry about my name, even over here nobody gets it right... :)
(I know there are some Boerkers in the US that probably are remotely related because it looks like all the ~150 people in the world with that name go back to one individual whose name was transcribed with a lot of artistic freedom from an ancient German name. According to some documents from centuries ago that guy was born a Boeddecker and died a Boerker. It doesn't seem likely this was done to more than one person. I'd really like to know how those US Boerkers pronounce their name! :) )
Once again guys, i am "sooooo" overwhelmed with the responses and all your gracious comments about my picking, with a gracious bunch like you guys, i could be happy to never take the stage again, this means a lot too me, knowing what i've got ahead of me.
These requests are taking on a life of there own, and i'm glad to do them, and i really mean that, but yesterday, i was almost 2 hrs downloading that 12 or 13 minutes, so what i may have to do, is start busting these up into 5-7 minute increments, and if i don't get to some of them right away, it's probably because i've never played the tune before and i have to work it up, that is what transpired this past video with Freight Train and The whole world round, those tunes had never entered my brain before they were requested.
Bruno, how good to hear from you buddy, at some point you should let the hangout know that our meeting had as much to do with "Dave Brown" the inventor of the Cheat-A-Key,"btw, i'll take the credit for Naming it. You asked about my string gauges, i use a regular light gauge but i prefer a stainless wound 4th when i can get it!
Jeff, i'll do shucking for you, but it is straight out of the "young Earl" play book, meaning i play his original tempo(maybe just a shade faster) but i detest the re-boot from the early 60's with Yankee Doodle in the middle, anyway, besides FMB, it's probably the most played Scruggs instrumental, i know it's popular in Banjo Contests!
Phillip, so glad you liked my not stoping at the one Dillard tune, "you can never have too much doug dillard!, also, thanks for going easy on me , in the pronunciation of your last name.
Chris, i'm not familiar with the Dillard material you requested, so i will need some time to familiarize myself with your request.
We got some rough weather moving up the mountain, and starting tonight, we run the risk of freezing rain and sleet, followed up by some light snow, i tell you this in case i go a few days without posting, but being used to Cincinnati Winters and going a week last year in -20 temps with only a space heater and dogs for warmth, i don't figure this mountain is going to throw anything at me i can't handle!
I didn't post yesterday and i was going to tell you guys i heard one of the best bluegrass sets on the Tuesday night opry, it was Del Mcoury and his gang, and they were in in fine fashion, they got to do a whole set, consisting of about 5 songs i guess, and of course at the end of there set, and that nights opry, they did "Christmas Times A Coming" and it brought back memories of days gone by, when i would hear Bill Monroe do it. But for me the highlight of Del's set came when him and his boys did the old Monroe Flatt and Scruggs classic "Summer Times Past and Gone" let me tell you, chills ran up and down my back, and the hair stood up on my arms, it was so close to the original, vocals and Rob's banjo break, for just a few minutes, all was right with the world.
Ok guys, i don't know what more to yak about this morning. I need to get to the post office, and them home to the kids, of course i will either come back up here to view some material for filling request, or go to the library. Once again thanks for all the great encouragement, and do remember, the vids would not be possible if not for Mike (moo) so when your thanking me, your thanking him too, and i don't take anything for granted when somebody does me a solid, and i hope to one day, get to have a face to face with you guys
(i don't know , if y'all are as ugly as me, we might have to go some place special were they allow that sort of thing)! Ok guys, till the next time
Thank you so much. Great renditions & wonderful music. I will learn a lot watching where you left hand went to get the notes and how you approached those songs. the first time I started watching you play this morning our power went out right in the middle of the video so I had to wait till later this morning to see them. Loved all your playing. What a wonderful mid week concert all done without paying for a ticket and in the comfort of our own home! Keep the sun shinnin' down in Arkansas.
ken
Edited by - From Greylock to Bean Blossom on 12/06/2018 08:54:16
A VERY strange thought, when I saw the topic title again today:
How about, when you finally DO shuffle off this mortal coil, instead of a standard funeral, get yourself mummified or taxidermified into some kind of a rig where your body is seated in a chair, and when people approach, a motion sensor causes one leg to swing sharply forward.
NOT alive, BUT still kicking!
Heck, it could be a FUNDRAISER for your favorite charity.
People who would ORDINARILY say " I could just KICK myself!" could approach your chair, assume the position, deposit some coins, and the rig would do them the service of delivering a speeding boot.
(I told you it was strange, when I started typing.)
Anyway.... Live long and prosper and keep kicking.
Warp, Who do you think is the best banjo player to come out of the Ozarks? Is it Dillard? And did you ever know a player from up Springfield way I think, named Kenny Richardson? ken
Ken, Doug Dillard is pretty hard to beat imo, i mean he had the drive, and cleanliness, and could adapt to any genre.
I have heard the name Kenny Richardson, but truthfully, i've never paid much attention to were the picker was from and much as "can he pick".
When you ask, imo, who is the best and most famous, it's probably Doug Dillard, but when i was growing up, my first Bluegrass festival i was taken too, was down in center ridge ark at the Wooten Brothers Festival, and during that era of the 70's a one Bobby Wooten ruled in not just Arkansas, but every where he went, i would be remiss if i didn't speak of him. Another famous banjo player from the Ozarks, and i only learned this when visiting the ozark museum just below springfield, "Harold Morrison" of the Wilburn brothers show was from the ozark and at the museum they even have his old bow tie banjo on display, he was a good entertainer and decent banjo picker in his own right.\
The Wilburns were from Hardy Ark!
I tell ya, right now a days, if somebody asks me who the best banjo picker is in arkansas, with out missing a beat, i'll say Robby Boone, and that's not just in arkansas, that is anywhere he goes.
Doug Dillard is pretty hard to beat imo, i mean he had the drive, and cleanliness, and could adapt to any genre.
I have heard the name Kenny Richardson, but truthfully, i've never paid much attention to were the picker was from and much as "can he pick".
When you ask, imo, who is the best and most famous, it's probably Doug Dillard, but when i was growing up, my first Bluegrass festival i was taken too, was down in center ridge ark at the Wooten Brothers Festival, and during that era of the 70's a one Bobby Wooten ruled in not just Arkansas, but every where he went, i would be remiss if i didn't speak of him.
Another famous banjo player from the Ozarks, and i only learned this when visiting the ozark museum just below springfield, "Harold Morrison" of the Wilburn brothers show was from the ozark and at the museum they even have his old bow tie banjo on display, he was a good entertainer and decent banjo picker in his own right.\
The Wilburns were from Hardy Ark!
I tell ya, right now a days, if somebody asks me who the best banjo picker is in arkansas, with out missing a beat, i'll say Robby Boone, and that's not just in arkansas, that is anywhere he goes.
Warp, I was driving from Sarkville Ms to Lebanon Mo and my car (Ford Fairmont Statonwagon) broke down in Hardy Ark. The thing would't move. Locals told me to call this old boy and him, his brother and their tow truck came to get me. Had to tow me back to their place (old farm) out on some dirt roads. I sat between the two in the pickup. The hadn't shaved much in 4 days and I felt like I was in a scene from deliverance. They looked at my car and had to order a part. I had a station wagon so I slept in the back over night. They got the part the next day, did one heck of a job fixing it up, and told me how to deal with it and prevent it. Great mechanics. I asked the guy what was such a good mechanic doing in such a small town and out of the way garage. He said he grew up in Hardy but had been the head mechanic at a Ford Dealership in Memphis. Said he got both sick of the big city and homesick for Hardy, so he just came home and set up shop. He was good! seems like there was also a good donut shop there that I used to hit on recruiting trips. Ken
Second day in a row of cloudy, misty, and overcast, and from what the weather forecast is indicating, this is just a pre-cursor to what is to come over the next 3 days, oh well!
Ken, you were talking about Hardy, now a days it is famous for it's antique shops littering both sides of the streets, and truthfully, there probably isn't any real antiques left in that town, like a lot of other ozark towns, just something to get passer byes to stop and spend a buck. Back when i was a teenager, along about the time i turned Dogpatch Down to play there for the summer, a high school friend of mine name Terry Lawrence and myself would drive up to Hardy on Saturday Nites, and play at the rock church on main street that somebody was trying to make a go of for a entrainment venue, but it never took,
From 1995 till i came to Cincinnati in 04, i lived just 18 miles up the road from hardy, just across the Arkansas line, in Thayer Mo. A lot of those small towns in that area, have old railroad depots, and they were whistle stops, but it is hilly country, and the passenger trains died out, and most people moved to the bigger cities, to the south, like Jonesboro where i was raised, and some went north, and formed small towns that could sustain a hospital and such like West plains, but most went on up a bit further to Springfield.
I heard some real good old grand ole opry pet milk shows last night on Classic opry thursday from Eddie Stubbs, those old shows are as good today as they were back then, especially at a distance coming from the crack of a portable radio.
Lester and Earl came on and did Petticoat Junction, so it had to have been from the early 60's. I tell ya, just about the time, i form an opinion of when Earls banjo sounded the best, i hear a recording that makes me think i am a lier. For me, it's a coin toss between the Bow Tie fingerboard Era, and the era i heard last night where he is using the "Gower" neck. There are some shows that the gower neck sound has it all, i must admit, but i still love the Bow tie era, and the Foggy Mt Jamboree stuff, the one thing i never seem to change my mind about is stuff after the Foggy Mt Banjo Album, when the recording Company started making the song choices, in my book, it was over, and the picking reflects it, that and age and injury, but what great material we have to draw from huh?
Ok guys, not a lot that comes to mind this morning, just awaiting the pending winter weather, and hoping there is no power outages.
"Down in center ridge ark at the Wooten Brothers Festival, and during that era of the 70's a one Bobby Wooten ruled in not just Arkansas, but every where he went, i would be remiss if i didn't speak of him."
Warp!
I'm so glad that you mentioned Bobby Wooten! He was one of the most inventive and incredible banjo players I have ever seen or heard.....he was a rock star to me, a hero, a mentor, a friend and I surely miss him. He was kind and attentive, always had time to show me a lick or just let me play that wonderful old gold plated banjo. I owe a LOT to Bobby Wooten. Did I mention that I miss him?
