1935tb-11 - Posted - 04/28/2022:  06:01:01

quote:

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Originally posted by 5 String

Gene Parker of the original Lost & Found is definitely underrated and overlooked. Ajax couldn't take off what he played on the banjo.

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yeah boy,,,, gene was a beast on the banjo,,, i got his struttin album around here somewhere... great great banjo picker....

O.D. - Posted - 04/28/2022:  10:10:22

I don't believe I've seen Richard Bailey 's name mentioned or Tom Adams, or Noah Craze, or
Joe Mullins.

All fine players

Everett

Ira Gitlin - Posted - 04/28/2022:  11:57:15

Tom Adams isn't exactly "underrated"!

Bradskey - Posted - 04/28/2022:  13:30:58

Charles Wood

O.D. - Posted - 04/28/2022:  13:43:46

quote:

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Originally posted by Ira Gitlin

Tom Adams isn't exactly "underrated"!

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Not under rated ,just don't hear his name and the others  I mentioned talk about much here.

Everett

miatatom - Posted - 04/28/2022:  15:46:19

Richard Bailey (Steeldrivers, Roland White). Butch Robins (Bill Monroe). Richard is so very tasteful. Butch a master at serving the song.

Slue Foot Sue - Posted - 04/29/2022:  10:59:43

quote:

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Originally posted by KentuckyBoyBanjo

I was reading an old post from back in 2000 about underrated and overlooked Banjo Players. But I didn’t see Greg Corbett mentioned anywhere. Sadly Greg passed away in August of 2014. But he has always been one of my biggest influences. His work with Charley Waller and the Country Gentleman was magnificent

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Slue Foot Sue - Posted - 04/29/2022:  11:02:36

Regarding post about William Holden. I can update. Bill retired from trucking and Texas in 2017. He then moved back to Tennessee and became engaged to his friend of forty years, SuzAnne Simmons. Bill passed in his sleep in November of 2021.

banjo1930 - Posted - 04/29/2022:  11:33:17

Has Chris Warner been mentioned yet? Definitely one of the best bluegrass banjo players of all time. And a real great person too!

Edited by - banjo1930 on 04/29/2022 11:33:45

Dale Diehl - Posted - 04/29/2022:  11:58:50

They come and go.
Look at Wernicks, and Trishka's book,
Masters of the Five String Banjo. There are pickers in there that no one coming up today ever heard of, but they were the best of the best.

We lost John Hickman last year.
I remember, a guy named Richie Dotsin that played with New Tradition, he was a hot, bluesy, melodic picker.
Lot's of youngin's won't know who Allan Munde is, a great teacher, who shaped a lot of up and comers.

And there's lots of guys like Jim Britton who gave it up for a regular paycheck, or in Jim's case to serve the Lord.

bamabanjo - Posted - 04/29/2022:  15:40:31

My first two teachers , Jim Smoak and Rual Yarbrough. Both toured extensively and recorded seminal cuts with Bill Monroe and, perhaps most importantly, they were/are unbelievably generous with their extensive knowledge of banjo playing and bluegrass music in general. I think that Jim is still picking, not too certain as to whether , or not, Rual is still alive.

Two outstanding players and true gentlemen !

Ira Gitlin - Posted - 04/29/2022:  16:03:36

Tony Furtado doesn't get talked about much these days, but he's still active--though not so much in the bluegrass realm--and still great.

Oldtwanger - Posted - 04/29/2022:  17:24:28

Tom Neal

Tremendously versatile, powerful, clean Bluegrass picker.  He did wonderful work with Cliff Waldron, Dick Staber, Bluestone, and many others.

Lost to Covid this past January. 

o2playlikeEarl - Posted - 04/29/2022:  17:33:59

I’m devastated that no-one has mentioned me. ;-)

Edited by - o2playlikeEarl on 04/29/2022 17:34:20

Don Borchelt - Posted - 04/29/2022:  19:13:11

quote:

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Originally posted by o2playlikeEarl

I’m devastated that no-one has mentioned me. ;-)

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You have to famous and widely admired before you can be mentioned in the overlooked and under appreciated thread.  ??

But I would add BHOs old buddy Jim Reed, one of the very best.

steve davis - Posted - 04/29/2022:  20:33:33

Many of the names are more at home on a favorites list it would seem.

southerndrifter - Posted - 04/30/2022:  18:08:07

Let me mention one more........Billy Edwards (Shenandoah Cutups).

mtnbiker55 - Posted - 05/01/2022:  04:02:01

quote:

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Originally posted by HuberTone

*Bluegrass banjo only for this post* I like the term "overlooked" that the OP used. To me, the overlooked players fall into two categories:



1. Pickers that have had stints in well-established, highly visible bands that for some reason have never gotten the appropriate credit despite the band's successes. For me this includes players like:



Alan O'Bryant (Nashville Bluegrass Band)

Jason Burleson (Blue Highway)

Allen Shelton (Jim & Jesse)

Brad Campbell (Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver)

Craig Smith (a lot of major-label studio work in the 90s)

Wayne Fields (Southern Blend)

Gene Parker (Lost & Found)

Barry Crabtree (Larry Sparks)



2. The guys who can be well-known among the banjo community but not much elsewhere. Hidden gems, if you will. (This is the list that can get super long). Player like:



Eric Ellis

Robbie Boone

Jim Denman

David Carroll

Donnie Poindexter

Barry Collins

Kenny Cantrell

Jonathan Dillon

Tony Mabe

Lloyd Douglas

And I'm omitting a ton for the sake of space

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And Donnie Little-banjo player with Wayne Taylor and  Carnegie Tradition.  Recorded the recent #1 song-Train, Train, Train.  

Great teacher and person, too!

RB-1 - Posted - 05/01/2022:  08:51:24

One of my absolute heros, Obi Barthmann from Bavaria, Germany.

His 'Banjo Landscapes'  remains a gem, no matter what.

Anyone fond of banjo, should be aware of this unassuming, quiet, friendly super picker....

1935tb-11 - Posted - 05/02/2022:  06:07:34

another one of my favorites i listened too when i first started out was johnny whisnant,, he played a lot in full chord style back-up and i learned much from listening to his records with carl story,,the church brothers and the bailey brothers,,, he had a syncopated style that was different from many and he said he learned 3 finger from clay everhart. i guess thats why his version of maple leaf rag has that feel to it.

cold hands luke - Posted - 05/02/2022:  11:52:28

thx to the op

great thread

arnie fleischer - Posted - 05/02/2022:  14:55:05

Still more come to mind:

Eddie Shelton (his album "Expedition" is one of the great banjo recordings)

Jerry Keys (Paul Williams and the Victory Trio)

BB Bowness (Mile Twelve)

Lynn Morris (I know she was playing guitar with her band in the years before her stroke, but a great banjo player)

Pat Sauber (Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands)

Jeff Scroggins (one of the most entertaining, and physical, banjo players to watch as well as listen to)

Larry McNeely (I stole much of his version of "The Grey Eagle" on Byron Berline's wonderful album "Dad's Favorites."