What, if any, "Earl Encounters" have you had that you can share? I've had a few "lightweight" encounters with King Earl and one a little more involved. I'll share mine once this post gets a little traction. Greg Earnest (on BHO) has what I think is the greatest Earl story I've ever heard. On my various encounters the one amazing takeaway is that the man was one of the most humble I've ever met.
So, let's hear of your Earl Encounters.
Not Earl but I saw The Nashville Grass and I shook Bill Morones hand! Up here in Canada no less!
I met a him a few times over the years, but had one really interesting encounter near the end of his career involving some drama that I didnt think a man of his age could get into.
My favorite banjo legend encounter happened when i was working a summer at bean blossom. I ended up hanging out int he house there with Jimmy Martin and his band, listening to Jimmy tell stories in walks dr ralph with some bluegills hed caught from the pond there. Besides being a vegan at time, I would NEVER eat fish out of that pond, except that day, you're damn sure I ate Ralph's catch and enjoyed every bight of it. Jimmy pulled out one of Ralphs banjos from his case and gave it to me to play. It was the first time i tried to play a banjo and I havnt stopped trying since. I dont think ive improved much either ;-)
Sunday Aug. 30 1964, Sunset Park in Pennsylvania. Flatt & Scruggs were the featured act, playing 2 sets.
They did "meet and greet" with many fans out behind the stage near their bus.
I was mighty shy but my mom and dad asked Earl for a picture with me, and my mom snapped it. I was 10 years old and not yet playing banjo.
I had the photo enlarged and took it to IBMA Owensboro KY one year when Gibson had Earl sit and autograph Gibson posters and the like. My now sister-in-law took the photo to Earl and he signed it as you see. I was too shy (still) to speak to him at age 44 or so.
I did have the opportunity a couple of years later to participate in a recording session Nashville with Earl on banjo. I shared it on the old Bgrass-L and got my ass and the producer's ass in quite a jam when Louise Scruggs objected to me quoting Earl on a few things.
Edited by - The Old Timer on 09/20/2023 19:41:00
quote:
Originally posted by bubbalouieNot Earl but I saw The Nashville Grass and I shook Bill Morones hand! Up here in Canada no less!
Post-Earl or when Flatt had McCormick?
Collectors corner?
Back in 1957 - 58 or so, Lowes hardware opened their first store in Winston-Salem. At the grand opening they had some Gran Ole Opry stars there. No stage, just everybody standing out in the parking lot. I remember Minnie Pearl was walking thru the crowd with the price tag attached to her hat. My sister and I weaseled up front when the music started. There we were just 5 feet in front of Flatt and Scruggs. It was my first exposure to the banjo. Fell in love with it instantly. I remember Sears had their Silvertone(I think) 5-string for $24.95. I begged and begged my parents to buy me one but never got it. Later saw the Earl Scruggs Revue in person.
Around 1979 or 80, when I was working at the Sho-Bud store in Nashville, Earl brought his banjo in for repairs.
I carried Earl's banjo up to the repair department, where Gene Wooten worked on it.
:-)
In the late '90s or early '00s (I forget exactly), Earl came to DC to testify at some Congressional hearings concerning copyright law. Doug McKelway, a very good nonprofessional/semiprofessional picker, was a local news anchorman at channel 4 at the time, and he got Earl and Louise to come out to the station. What he didn't tell them was that he also invited a bunch of local banjo players, including me, Mike Munford, Dick Smith, Ross Nickerson, and I forget who else, along with some backup musicians.
As the Scruggses walked through the newsroom on their way to the studio, the local banjo players--who were concealed among the newsroom cubicles--all stood up and started playing "Foggy Mountain Breakdown." We then followed them to the studio for a brief jam, which Doug incorporated into a piece that was aired shortly thereafter. (Doug always seized any opportunity he could to do a music-related piece on local news.)
In 1967, Dad took me to see F and S when they played at my elementary school. I got to meet the band after the show, and recall Earl being friendly to a very shy young 'un.
Edited by - AGACNP on 09/21/2023 08:33:22
I got to see him play in Fort Collins, CO in 2010. It was one of those outdoor shows where they block off streets. I got there several hours early and stood in the very front. About midway through the show I looked back and was amazed how many people had filled the streets behind me. It was shoulder to shoulder for 3 blocks!
I’m the mid-70’s when Mr. Scruggs was touring with his boys, and I was in law school, I went to see them in a small venue around Harvard Square. I brought his book and hung around outside the stage door, waiting for him to come out. He signed my book, and that’s my forum pic. I tried to teach myself the banjo, but school and life happened, and the banjo went under the bed for about 50 years. the book disappeared over the years, but I picked up the banjo again a few years back, just before Covid.
My son and I were standing in the lobby of a theater where we just saw Earl with his boys .
There was a very long line at the meet and greet table,bit no Earl
Seconds later Earl walks out of the men's room an arms length away from me.
I looked at the line,then at Earl who looked rather tired and thought maybe next time,it wouldn't be fair to the others who had been patiently waiting.
quote:
Originally posted by O.D.My son and I were standing in the lobby of a theater where we just saw Earl with his boys .
There was a very long line at the meet and greet table,bit no Earl
Seconds later Earl walks out of the men's room an arms length away from me.
I looked at the line,then at Earl who looked rather tired and thought maybe next time,it wouldn't be fair to the others who had been patiently waiting.
I might have over-stepped the boundaries of politeness so my son could have the experience of saying HEY to Earl. But generally I try to avoid shaking hands with people who have just come out of the men's room - and sometimes their hands are wet - eeew!
Your Attachments
The closest I got was owning a Gibson ESS with Earl's signature in the reso.
For years, I dragged my students to the Hardly Strictly Festival in San Francisco. The Earl Scruggs Review and Ralph Stanley usually played the same day. I would tell them that they'd be able to tell their grandchildren that they saw both of them play.
