Great topic!!

Hard to pick just one. Ron Stewart has a few killer kickoffs on the Boxcars records. Jeffreys Hell get me pretty excited every time!

Earl Scruggs' kick off on "My Wandering Boy" has some of the best tone I've ever heard. It's included on the 1964 album "The Fabulous Sound of Flatt & Scruggs", living up to its name!

Kinda hard to Earl on Hot corn, Cold corn ! Ain’t it ??

Earl's opening pinch on Shuckin' the Corn #1. It's unimaginable how he got that tone with a hide head and 1950s recording technology. The same pinch capoed in A on Blue Ridge Cabin Home doesn't even come close, as good as it is.

Two banjo kick offs I wish got more respect would be: Rudy Lyle's odd kick off to On My Way Back to the Old Home by Bill Monroe (never duplicated), and Crowe's odd kick off notes on Jimmy Martin's "Rock Hearts".

But seriously, as far as a complete opening BREAK, it would have to be Earl's 1951 kick off break on "Tis Sweet to Be Remembered".  Just beautiful, and he never cut anything like it again in his career.   When someone is presented as a dedicated Scruggs picker, this is always what I ask him/her to play for me.

Ben Eldridge on “Honey, You Don’t Know My Mind” , with Tony Rice 

https://youtu.be/bX12kzod0RI?si=dr3ial64wOQS44yC

Eddie Adcock on Matterhorn. Bill Emerson did a fine job on this one, too.

Tom Adams on „unwanted love“ with the Johnson Mountain Boys. Hardest driving banjo ever.
youtu.be/Vg06cKQD2qs

How about this one with Charlie Cushman?

Leavin' On That Evening Train - Claire Lynch

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Originally posted by Brian Murphy

I know what will probably be the No. 1 answer (off Rounder 44). I'll nominate Jason Burleson's ko on In the Gravel Yard off Lonesome Pine. Gets me every time.

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The man does know how to kick a song! But good as Gravel Yard is, I prefer his kick to Pikeville Flood. That one gets ME every time!

More Burleson,, the kickoff to “Blues on Blues”

youtu.be/Wv21xQhmgCo?si=0k44HnIp6ocnYmOD

Bela on can’t stop now, NGR

I like earl on "little girl in TN"

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Originally posted by randybartlett

I like earl on "little girl in TN"

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I second that motion, Randy! 

Earl Scrugg's kickoff for "Saro Jane".

Earl on Get In Line Brother. Especially hot for a gospel song!

I will go with JD Crowe on The Old Homeplace. Can't recall that tone anywhere else.
Anyone surprised?

Another strong contender is Reno playing the walk up notes at half speed then exploding into full speed on Charlotte Breakdown.

Porter Wagoner Show at 6:16 on the timer.

youtube.com/watch?v=x572Y3JCnJ...t_radio=1

I agree with Culloden.
Adcocks kickoff to Matterhorn blows me away everytime i hear it. The crack of that archtop makes it sound like he was on the Matterhorn when he did it.

I don't know about "the greatest of anything" except one thing. but here in kickoff conversation is a little more of a full version, but who here won't enjoy this..AND I think it is one of the great kickoffs in bluegrass music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufekALbt7kw&t=20s

Ken

Up vote to "Matterhorn" both the Italian and the Swiss versions.

Earl's 3/4 kick on "Over The Hills To The Poorhouse" & "Poor Rebel Soldier" are some of the best examples on how to carry a lead break in waltz time.

One I always liked. Sounds strangely detached from the lyrics but I never tire of listening to Don's intro on "I Know Your Married."youtu.be/ztB3bMIRypc?si=oNewXHPbPXPbqTry

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Originally posted by chuckv97

Ben Eldridge on “Honey, You Don’t Know My Mind” , with Tony Rice 

https://youtu.be/bX12kzod0RI?si=dr3ial64wOQS44yC

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Chuck ...... that's a killer for sure!

When I get past my 3 favorite banjo players: Earl, JD, Sonny, I come quickly upon Paul Silvius. What great energy and tone..sparkling ....everthing. this one is a little delayed kickoff, but to me it is brilliant on No Not A Word with Joe Val:

 http://joe val not a word from home

http://joe val not a word from home video

Ken