rbfour5 Says:
Tuesday, December 1, 2015 @9:14:51 PM

Awesome like always- thanks for sharing Mike

5Twang Says:
Wednesday, December 2, 2015 @9:07:56 AM

Dean,
Thanks for your kind words. I was a mere lad of 60 at the time we played that festival. Now that I'm on the doorstep of 70, I have to look backwards more than forward.
Those guys in the band were contemporaries of Darcy and Mark that you knew in Montgomery back then. Their parents would bring them to my bluegrass saloon, where they heard some very good musicians from time to time and they were customers and students at the music stores where I worked in the '70's and '80's.
The banjo I'm playing on El Cumbanchero is a 2002 Osborne Chief, with an original Huber ring. It is one of the last ones build with the Huber ring. It's been a good performer, even in my hands.
Regards, Mike

rbfour5 Says:
Wednesday, December 2, 2015 @12:03:27 PM

Mike,
Were the band members with you, former Southbound Glory members? (Brian Jackson, Norman Bone, Steve Kervin I think? I saw where Steve passed away either late 2015, or earlier this year) What were you playing on "Little Rock Get Away"; almost thought Carl Jackson was playing!
You're the best Mike!
Dean

5Twang Says:
Thursday, December 3, 2015 @12:53:25 PM

Dean,
You are too kind. You also have a keen ear. I did poach some of Carl Jackson's ideas on the second part of Little Rock, when I modulated to C. But, the main
body of the G and C versions are Alan Munde all the way. Only he is brilliant enough to think about playing Little Rock in G, and then he did some very tasty
things when it went to C.
I built the banjo I played on Little Rock Getaway. It is a Bill Sullivan pot that I bought from Bill in 1988. It is frosted gold, with a bronze flange. Bill was almost
giving the bronze flanges away. He said he liked them, but that the purists only wanted pot metal. I built a maple neck with a style 6 Gibson pattern and the
resonator is maple also.
The guys playing with me on El Cumbanchero were in the same age group as your friends in Southbound Glory. But, they have maintained an involvement in all
all kinds of music these last 40 years. They would buy the hard-core bluegrass LP's at my music store and they learned it well. But, they are equally adept at Country,
Rock and Roll, Blues, and Pop music.
Thanks again for listening. Mike

rbfour5 Says:
Thursday, December 3, 2015 @4:27:17 PM

I hope you have more to post Mike- always great to listen to your picking!
Thanks again for posting!
Dean