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WVDreamin - Posted - 07/29/2022: 16:18:44
This week I'm presenting a contemporary old time tune - "Hickory Smith" written by Greg Canote. I wish I had more information but I can't really find any. It is in the key of A and if you fiddle, it is in the Calico/Black Mt Rag/Troll tuning aka AEac#. There's not much presence on Youtube other than a solo fiddle of me and a couple with the Canotes themselves, which is a shame since it's such a fun tune to play and has some interesting turns. As a bonus, it's not all that difficult.
Here's the Canotes playing "Hickory Smith" in a medley with the song "I Ain't a Bit Drunk"
And I've included a raw recording of some of the Barn Owl Band playing it with me: Merle Hall on Banjo, Jon Duvick playing guitar and Marty Miller on the doghouse bass.
Edited by - WVDreamin on 07/29/2022 19:24:56
banjered - Posted - 07/29/2022: 20:15:15
That was delightful! Seems we are into Hickory lately. We sometimes play a tune called Hickory Jack here locally. It is a 3 part modal but played in the key of A. Perhaps someone can do a TOTW with it and keep the Hickory fires burning. Keep'em rolling out! banjered
banjered - Posted - 07/29/2022: 20:31:26
Oops. Should have said played in standard A tuning but comes out modal. Carry on! banjered
JanetB - Posted - 07/30/2022: 11:55:42
Another good choice and fun performance, Billy! I put out a couple of feelers to learn more about the tune. Hopefully they pan out. I listened to Hickory Smith on Slippery Hill (Canote Brothers), though I'm puzzled why their tunes are listed as being from California. It was nice and slow, more clear for learning. There's a measure in the A part where Greg Canote does a variation, so I got that in my recording, too, but not on the tab. Regarding "hickory" tunes, Tom, I know two now, including Hickory Leaf by Owen Snake Chapman.
WVDreamin - Posted - 07/30/2022: 12:13:42
Very nice, Janet! I forgot about the Slippery Hill link and that variation is fun too. I need to spend more time with this one, it's been awhile since I learned it.
hweinberg - Posted - 07/30/2022: 13:42:39
That's a fine tune, and thanks, Janet. Larry Edelman has a documentary about the the brothers. "The Canote Twins", that's due out next year. thecanotetwins.com
JanetB - Posted - 07/30/2022: 21:51:28
That looks to be an interesting and also entertaining documentary, Howard. The Canote Brothers are such remarkable musicians and so fun to watch. Craig Evans did an epic interview of them in his DVD series "Conversations with Old-Time Performers & Banjo Builders, Vol. 6."
I was able to reach out to Jere Canote with our query to learn more about the tune and here is his response: "Greg Canote wrote Hickory Smith many years ago on a Calico tune writing spree! It was named after the eldest son of John and Mary Smith. We met them at a concert. All their kids had colorful names." (My response to that story is to note the total contrast between the parents' very common names and their children's colorful names, as Jere put it.)
Hopefully we'll hear from the banjo player who accompanied them in the link above, the very talented Brendan Doyle, also a BHO member.
BrendanD - Posted - 08/01/2022: 04:10:25
Aw, thanks for the shout-out, Janet. Greg and Jere and I met over 45 years ago, when we were all in our mid-20s, and we've been dear friends ever since! I've played many hundreds (thousands?) of hours with them over the years, and much of my style and musical sensibilities have been formed by those decades of musical and personal connection with them. They are unique (bi-nique?) and wonderful human beings, and terrific musicians - as anybody who's spent any time around them knows. And pretty much any encounter with them involves a good bit of laughter!
I don't have much to add about Hickory Smith, as Jere Canote has already filled in Janet on the story behind the tune name. But I highly recommend that people go the web site <thecanotetwins.com> that Howard Weinberg posted about the wonderful film that Larry Edelman (himself a terrific musician as well as the best square dance caller I know) is making about them. If you need cheering up, just watch the trailers on the Videos page of the site, and consider donating to the film project!
Edited by - BrendanD on 08/01/2022 04:12:21
