Billy Fraier

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Long Neck Banjo

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... for those of us who prefer the tuning and singing differences the LN provides. All questions & help welcome!

273 Members, Created 1/30/2011 -

Administrators: TonyS (owner) , Gary Blanchard , pastorharry , vega long neck

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From PickinFool on 11/3/2014 5:47:55 PM

While on my current road trip with wife and friends to the Big Bend area of Texas, I had breakfast yesterday (11/03/14)at a cafe in Marathon, Tx. Out front of the building was an old gentleman playing his long neck Vega 5 string. Poor fellow was playing for tips and of course I helped him out. Found out later it was Billy Fraier, apparently a known folk musician of the late '50's and beyond. I told him I was dabbling with the long neck and he gave me some tips. "Take your time, and take it slow". He has two 50+ year old, dowel stick long neck Vegas. I think he's 80 years old now, apparently has only one useful eye, but still playing his 5 string.

8 Comments
	coalandice says: 11/3/2014 5:54:49 PM His website billyfaier.com/ his donation to UNC www2.lib.unc.edu/mss/inv/f/Fai...illy.html his Banjo Hangout page banjohangout.org/myhangout/hom...?id=17289 and one of his biggest fans banjohangout.org/blog/22795
	mainejohn says: 11/3/2014 5:59:57 PM I've been a fan of Billy Faier since the 50's...he's a folk icon from that period and has been a guiding force in my banjo life. I finally met him three years ago and spent an afternoon with him in NY playing the banjo, singing, etc. Happy to hear he's still alive and well.
	wesrichards says: 11/3/2014 6:24:49 PM Billy is 83... and if he's playing for tips these days, that's a cryin' shame. Check out his website billyfaier.com/
	calypsojimmy says: 11/3/2014 6:30:44 PM Billy Faier is one serious dude. Met him a couple of time in Woodstock NY. He's on my short list of top 10 favorite 5-stringers. TO: coalandice: thanks for all those links. I knew of his billyfaier.com web page, but the other stuff is really important.
	calypsojimmy says: 11/3/2014 6:41:12 PM Billy Faier is one serious dude. Met him a couple of time in Woodstock NY. He's on my short list of top 10 favorite 5-stringers. TO: coalandice: thanks for all those links. I knew of his billyfaier.com web page, but the other stuff is really important.
	phdm says: 11/3/2014 10:08:36 PM Next to Pete Seeger, Billy Faier is the senior most master of the longneck. Trivia fact – Mr. Faier did the tabbing for the printed sheet music of Pete Seeger's "The Goofing-off Suite" issued in 1955 by Pete. Pete selecting Mr. Faier to do his tabbing says it all. If you can find one, Billy Faier was the cover article in the June, 2008 addition of Banjo Newsletter, volume 35, number eight.
	BobLusk says: 11/4/2014 5:49:08 AM Billy used to play for tips all he time in Woodstock. He had a regular spot off the village green. I think he just enjoys doing it!
	PickinFool says: 11/4/2014 5:00:02 PM Let me be clear, he was playing for tips in front of the cafe but also had a stack of his CDs for sale. I wanted go back to the cafe this morning(Tues.), visit with him again, and buy some of his CDs. Cafe was closed today, thus he was not there, and I had to head back home. Missed opportunity. I think I'll go to his website and order a few.
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