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Playing the Banjo
Playing Advice: Clawhammer and Old-Time Styles
ARCHIVED TOPIC: List of Old Time Players?

Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/364211

6stringedRamble - Posted - 05/21/2020: 06:32:31

Over the years I've picked up here and there the names of old time players born in the early 20th century or late 19th century, Olla Bell Reed, Dock Boggs, Roscoe Holocomb.

Has anyone ever posted an exhaustive list of these players?

What about a list of prolific contemporary old time players? I think that would be harder since old time themes seems to be tied to "old times". Also anyone with any level of ability and a youtube account can publish recordings for the public for free. Still though, there must be several who really stand out.

Edited by - 6stringedRamble on 05/21/2020 06:34:46

hoodoo - Posted - 05/21/2020: 06:57:10

Technically, in my mind anyway, anyone who plays an instrument (in this case the banjo), adheres to a tradition and sticks to it is an old-time player. The few that you mentioned were lucky enough to be recorded. The list would be way too long.

Joel Hooks - Posted - 05/21/2020: 08:52:00

That depends on your definition of "old time"-- Fred Bacon was considered an "old time banjoist" in the 1920s and 1930s.

He was born in 1871.

youtube.com/watch?v=k5If2LQrr14

youtube.com/watch?v=IaBKZOasmTw

youtube.com/watch?v=ZZZhHXFC4Uo&t=18s

janolov - Posted - 05/21/2020: 11:57:21

Here is a little list from my head of players that were born around 1910 or earlier. Many of them made recordings in the 1920's and 1930's, and also during the "folk revival" (or what you call it) in the 1960's and 1970's.

Uncle Dave Macon youtube.com/watch?v=jXqk2mPtPo0

Lily Mae Ledford (Coon Creek Girls) youtube.com/watch?v=JSx3uEtEA5k

Samantha Baumgarner youtube.com/watch?v=yjFuEgf4hq...t_radio=1

Bascom Lamar Lunsford youtube.com/watch?v=RdZvWdZS7KM

Rufus Crisp youtube.com/watch?v=nZIxi_45iUk

Buell Kazee youtube.com/watch?v=WbWD8H7IMN0

W. A. Hinton youtube.com/watch?v=LHZjmECGp_E

B.F. Shelton )2-finger) youtube.com/watch?v=TZoMGhyDTgI

Wade Mainer (2-finger) youtube.com/watch?v=kkexeI2N6YA&t=61s

Fred Jenkins (3-finger) youtube.com/watch?v=d0w-cFVV8OA

Mack Woolbright (3-finger) youtube.com/watch?v=27VbHEfjcPs

Arthur Smith youtube.com/watch?v=V-V_m0cBBLA

Frank Proffitt youtube.com/watch?v=EfPdCveqQRw

Gus Cannon youtube.com/watch?v=pyx0aBWGyAU

Pete Steele youtube.com/watch?v=J3OvqAECH78

Wade Ward youtube.com/watch?v=fldZZRKnWbI

Roscoe Holcomb youtube.com/watch?v=r9XsObAmEJQ

Dock Boggs youtube.com/watch?v=OM8NqHzQ6i0

Doc Watson youtube.com/watch?v=eeoSslSsUjM

Clarence Ashley youtube.com/watch?v=VwlOO8RG-og

Morgan Sexton youtube.com/watch?v=Huyu2sAJZvU

Maybelle Carter youtube.com/watch?v=aQ5DBcqL-_4

Tommy Jarrell youtube.com/watch?v=UD9yYiOv6HU

Fred Cockerham youtube.com/watch?v=hjYcWj_HPhQ

Kyle Creed youtube.com/watch?v=BM5IL4djhxM

Oscar Jenkins youtube.com/watch?v=UQ0kZbHMsdI

J.P. Nestor youtube.com/watch?v=s3rII2gxz6E

Hobart Smith youtube.com/watch?v=hIc_Yau3sJE

Glenn Smith youtube.com/watch?v=7CZvhS98GNM

Charlie Poole (3-finger) youtube.com/watch?v=rL4J-XIAKvw

George Pegram (3-finger) youtube.com/watch?v=Kjkbo6iTfgs

Snuffy Jenkins (3-finger) youtube.com/watch?v=241G1mSO8Mc

Dock Walsh (three-finger) youtube.com/watch?v=MSQkO0psiCk

Grandpa Jones youtube.com/watch?v=qEQsEzJ223A

Stringbean (David Akeman) youtube.com/watch?v=JMHbTMOzsEA

Kirk & Sam McGee youtube.com/watch?v=1nm4Y8lezEs

Hattie Stoneman youtube.com/watch?v=1ogGl2_26V0

Fate Norris (played with Gid Tanner) youtube.com/watch?v=z9kbImnLMRY

Edited by - janolov on 05/21/2020 12:12:51

6stringedRamble - Posted - 05/21/2020: 12:32:50

quote:
Originally posted by janolov

Here is a little list from my head of players that were born around 1910 or earlier. Many of them made recordings in the 1920's and 1930's, and also during the "folk revival" (or what you call it) in the 1960's and 1970's.

Uncle Dave Macon youtube.com/watch?v=jXqk2mPtPo0

Lily Mae Ledford (Coon Creek Girls) youtube.com/watch?v=JSx3uEtEA5k

Samantha Baumgarner youtube.com/watch?v=yjFuEgf4hq...t_radio=1

Bascom Lamar Lunsford youtube.com/watch?v=RdZvWdZS7KM

Rufus Crisp youtube.com/watch?v=nZIxi_45iUk

Buell Kazee youtube.com/watch?v=WbWD8H7IMN0

W. A. Hinton youtube.com/watch?v=LHZjmECGp_E

B.F. Shelton )2-finger) youtube.com/watch?v=TZoMGhyDTgI

Wade Mainer (2-finger) youtube.com/watch?v=kkexeI2N6YA&t=61s

Fred Jenkins (3-finger) youtube.com/watch?v=d0w-cFVV8OA

Mack Woolbright (3-finger) youtube.com/watch?v=27VbHEfjcPs

Arthur Smith youtube.com/watch?v=V-V_m0cBBLA

Frank Proffitt youtube.com/watch?v=EfPdCveqQRw

Gus Cannon youtube.com/watch?v=pyx0aBWGyAU

Pete Steele youtube.com/watch?v=J3OvqAECH78

Wade Ward youtube.com/watch?v=fldZZRKnWbI

Roscoe Holcomb youtube.com/watch?v=r9XsObAmEJQ

Dock Boggs youtube.com/watch?v=OM8NqHzQ6i0

Doc Watson youtube.com/watch?v=eeoSslSsUjM

Clarence Ashley youtube.com/watch?v=VwlOO8RG-og

Morgan Sexton youtube.com/watch?v=Huyu2sAJZvU

Maybelle Carter youtube.com/watch?v=aQ5DBcqL-_4

Tommy Jarrell youtube.com/watch?v=UD9yYiOv6HU

Fred Cockerham youtube.com/watch?v=hjYcWj_HPhQ

Kyle Creed youtube.com/watch?v=BM5IL4djhxM

Oscar Jenkins youtube.com/watch?v=UQ0kZbHMsdI

J.P. Nestor youtube.com/watch?v=s3rII2gxz6E

Hobart Smith youtube.com/watch?v=hIc_Yau3sJE

Glenn Smith youtube.com/watch?v=7CZvhS98GNM

Charlie Poole (3-finger) youtube.com/watch?v=rL4J-XIAKvw

George Pegram (3-finger) youtube.com/watch?v=Kjkbo6iTfgs

Snuffy Jenkins (3-finger) youtube.com/watch?v=241G1mSO8Mc

Dock Walsh (three-finger) youtube.com/watch?v=MSQkO0psiCk

Grandpa Jones youtube.com/watch?v=qEQsEzJ223A

Stringbean (David Akeman) youtube.com/watch?v=JMHbTMOzsEA

Kirk & Sam McGee youtube.com/watch?v=1nm4Y8lezEs

Hattie Stoneman youtube.com/watch?v=1ogGl2_26V0

Fate Norris (played with Gid Tanner) youtube.com/watch?v=z9kbImnLMRY

Sweet! This is what I had in mind. I have to sample quite a few of these guys over the weekend! I hope a few of them will move me as much as a Boggs or Holcomb.

Cheers!

Lew H - Posted - 05/22/2020: 11:22:14

As hoodoo mentions, there are many more who were not recorded. Let's say commercially recorded. Folklorists in the Ozarks recorded some other banjo pickers, such as Joe Craft and Bookmiller Shannon, who only had local reputations. Then there's all those old time black banjoists in stringbands that could be listed.

OregonJim - Posted - 05/22/2020: 16:48:09

Janolov, I cannot thank you enough for offering up this treasure chest. This opens a whole new world for me. I'll spend a few days going through these.

Jim

scribble - Posted - 05/23/2020: 08:58:34

Glad I stumbled across this, great list of players to check out!!!

Anyone got similar recommendations for black banjo players bar the ones found on this compilation:

folkways.si.edu/black-banjo-so...ithsonian

Lew H - Posted - 05/23/2020: 20:00:59

It took me a while to dig up this link to a bunch of recordings of a black string band.
gribbleluskandyork.org

Paul R - Posted - 05/24/2020: 12:23:15

Elizabeth Cotten may be known for her unique guitar playing, but she sure could handle the banjo as well.

Didn't Ralph Stanley come from an Old Time background and play some clawhammer? And Don Stover played clawhammer as well as Bluegrass. Example: "Things in Life". youtube.com/watch?v=CCIBgiVvM7o

Edited by - Paul R on 05/24/2020 12:28:27

scribble - Posted - 05/27/2020: 05:17:42

Tried to do a bit of digging to add to the list and found these:

Jimmie Strothers - cripple creek
Nashville Washboard Band - soldiers joy
Sid Hemphill/Lucius Smith/Will Head/Alec Askew - John Henry

Not sure how to classify Abner Jay this but well worth checking out too:

youtube.com/watch?v=GWg5YEe3SpI

6stringedRamble - Posted - 06/07/2020: 06:50:12

quote:
Originally posted by OregonJim

Janolov, I cannot thank you enough for offering up this treasure chest. This opens a whole new world for me. I'll spend a few days going through these.

Jim

Yes! Thanks for the awesome list of old time players. Checking it out now. Some great stuff here

Edited by - 6stringedRamble on 06/07/2020 06:50:37