Best Living Banjo Player?

[Radical Activist]

Poll question: Best Living Banjo Player?

Who do you think is the best banjo player still pickin it?

I've seen Bela Fleck do things I never believed could be done with a Banjo, but I'm more partial to Earl Scruggs. All bluegrass banjo players must follow in his footsteps.

[trotsky]

1. Is Roy Clark still alive? n/t

[fertilizeonarbusto]

2. Alas, no. n/t

[trotsky]

3. What? When did that happen?

I totally missed that.

[Richardo]

7. Roy's still with us - it's Buck Owens that died.

[trotsky]

14. Whew! Well, now I can cast my "Other" vote! n/t

[GumboYaYa]

16. Roy is an amazing musician on guitar and banjo.

His girlfriend lived next door to me in Nashville for awhile. Roy would come over and sit out on theporch and play. What a treat....

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

22. Nope..Buck is alive and still performs

at his place in Bakersfield:
http://www.buckowens.com/

[Richardo]

25. Well then who the hell am I thinking of? Yakov Smirnoff?

:shrug:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

33. Maybe Hoyt Axton?

or Conway Twitty? Or Porter Wagoner? Or Chet Atkins?

:shrug:

[Richardo]

34. LOL that's quite a roster...

I swear I heard Buck Owens died - this was like 5 years ago.

I dunno - maybe it WAS Hoyt Axton. :eyes:

[Bunny]

39. Buck Owens is still alive.

:hi:

[fertilizeonarbusto]

10. I just googled, I may be wrong.

I think he was definitely rather ill, though.

[Richardo]

17. I can tell you he sure is not aging well

On the Hee Haw infomericials he looks like he's had enough plastic surgery to float the Bismarck (I have no idea what that means). Cheek implants the size of hen's eggs. :scared:

[fertilizeonarbusto]

26. Aw, that sucks.

BTW, I was named after Clemente. I'm a Puerto Rican named "Roberto" living in Pittsburgh. As you can imagine, I get a lot of drinks bought for me here. ;-)I was born in Sept. '65 when he was neck and neck with Pete Rose for what turned out to be his first batting crown. My mom (big baseball fan) named me for him for luck. Anyway, thanks for honoring my country's national hero with your avatar and quote.

[Richardo]

27. That is great, fertilizearbusto

I'm a native Pixburgher, and my Dad and I stayed Bucs fans even after we moved to California in 1960. We had to go to Dodgers games to see the Great One play. And we did every chance we got.

:thumbsup:, Roberto...!

[fertilizeonarbusto]

28. My honor, really

I met him once I was very little. He was such a gentle man and a gentleman.
Too bad yinz left Da Burgh :hi:

[madrchsod]

4. bela fleck

earl is the zen bango master but age slows one down

[bertha katzenengel]

5. Ralph Stanley

[Wickerman]

6. Is ralph stanley still living?

I know Carter died. I always liked Ralph's style.

[Radical Activist]

9. He's still around.

I like him but didn't think of him in terms of his banjo playing.

[Wickerman]

18. great voice, true

his banjo playing int he Clinch Mountain era and the early Stanley Bros stuff was incredible. Hate to say I am not too current on him.

[sasquatch]

23. That's who my vote is for

[WeRQ4U]

8. Steve Martin

[Bake]

48. C'mon, SM is a good player but not a pro.

I know kids in Mississippi who could smoke him. But he did help make the banjo "cool," and for that I'm grateful.

Bake

[WeRQ4U]

73. I was just being goofy.

I don't know a single professional banjo player. He was the first to come to mind.

[MuseRider]

11. Bela

I am not a big banjo know it all but I have seen that man play his banjo spectacularly in so many different genres that I have to go with him.

[Bake]

51. I've never forgiven Bela for breaking up New Grass Revival

And I'm firmly convinced he's responsible for that.

Nevertheless, "County Clare" is a masterpiece. I don't care for his Cosmic Hippo stuff, although I respect his chops.

Bake

[GumboYaYa]

12. Dr. Tim Lake deserves mention in this list, but I voted for Bella. n/t

[Radical Activist]

13. I saw both Earl Scruggs and Bela Fleck perform at Bonnaroo

over the weekend, so that was the inspiration for this poll. :)
It was gratifying to see Scruggs get the kind of enthusiastic response he deserves from all audiences.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

15. Your poll is for people who have never heard Alison Brown

She can outpick the whole LOT of them!

Click on this link and give a listen:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000000ENJ/ref=pd_sxp_f/104-9692024-9759154?v=glance&s=music

[Radical Activist]

19. True, I've never heard of Alison Brown.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

20. All the people in your poll have

check out the link I edited it in

She is formerly with Union Station...Alison Krauss' band

[MuseRider]

24. Ohhhh nice!

I listened briefly to samples of the samples. Very nice. Thanks, I am sending this to my youngest son, I think he would like this.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

31. She also is an inventor

She invented a quite unique electric banjo

[MuseRider]

32. I am going to have

to look into her. I love musicians who do that. Future Man of the Flecktones and I had the longest conversation about his inventions. Just awesome. So many new things and so many good players, it is difficult to keep up. Thanks, anytime I can find someone new I am all excited.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

35. Buy the disc I linked to

Mambo Banjo is one of the most incredible pieces ever written for banjo..ass kicking..and her runs and rolls are amazing.

[MuseRider]

36. Thanks I will.

I did not listen to that one, going over to hear the sample now.

Banjo is incredibly hard I hear. Have you ever played it? I have not but have friends who were very gifted musicians who took forever to become competent on that instrument.

Edit the sample was way too short!

[Bake]

72. "Electric banjo" is an abomination.

Some things were meant to be acoustic. Period.

I had a pickup in my banjo -- a Shadow transducer -- years ago when I played with a country band, but I took it out and haven't used it in years. That's what a good mic is for.

Bake

[ClintonTyree]

21. Doug Dillard...

helluva picker. He used to be one of the "Darling Family" on the Andy Griffith Show. I've seen him at a couple of Bluegrass Festivals and I'll put him up against anyone.

[terrya]

29. George Segal is a decent banjo player.

I don't know if he's the "greatest", but he's not bad.

[Bake]

49. Segal plays a tenor banjo

I don't think that's what we're talking about.

Bake

[Redstone]

30. How the hell can you leave out Tony Trishka?

His licks on Peter Rowan's "Hiroshima Mon Amour" still give me chills.

There'a also Butch Trucks...

Redstone

[FizzFuzz]

44. I was thinking of Tony Trischka too. And Alison Brown!

Tony Trischka has a recent one out that has all different styles, old time clawhammer (a fav for me) with one that has William S Bourroughs reading. Love it!!

don't know Butch Trucks, but if you're recommending him, I better check it out.

I'm teaching myself banjo...just a beginner. Ooooh its hard to keep up the discipline (yeek)

[Redstone]

52. Are you learning clawhammer or bluegrass style?

Clawhammer gets easier to learn as soon as you get that right-hand clawhammer motion down. I haven't played in years because of a physical problem, but I bet I could still do it. Like riding a bicycle.

I've been seeing that Alison Brown name throughout this thread; I'll have to check her out.

Good luck with learnign to play. Banjo was always my favorite to play, even moreso than the Autoharp.

Redstone

[FizzFuzz]

55. Scruggs style. I have some teaching videos by Murphy Henry

I like her alot, and she teaches well. She recommends learning 3 finger first, that's the most important foundation. Then if you want, pick up clawhammer later. Lately I've slacked off--dang its hard to sit down and get at it again. Grrr! (at myself for having no focus!)

But I reallllly like that clawhammer sound. I have a bunch of banjo CD's for inspiration....can't remember some of the names right now.

this is the first stringed intrument for me. (ok a little guitar when I was 10 or something, but that was too short a time, doesn't count.)

Do you think you could play a little now, or is the physical problem too much? Do you have a banjo still? I've got a Deering Goodtimes. No resonator, but that's ok. Its got a nice sound.

[Redstone]

58. No, I can't hold my left arm up for more than a minute or so,

so anythng like guitar or banjo, or even my beloved diatonic-conversion, maple-topped Autoharp is out of the question. (Autoharp's a pretty personal instrument because you essentially hug it while you're playing.)

But I'm gonna buy myself a Dobro pretty soon. I think I can do the lap-steel thing.

The one kind of banjo-picking that I think never got enough attention is Reno style (like Scruggs, but only two fingers). Check it out, you might like it.

Deering's a good banjo. No resonator is actually more "authentic" for clawhammer, matter of fact.

Keep at it!

Redstone

[FizzFuzz]

61. ohhhh...that sucks, Red

:(

But a dobro is a good idea! You should do that!!!!
I was interpreting Alison Krauss's show recently (ASL--american Sign Language), and the guy on Dobro was amazing. That reminds me, it made me want to check out some Dobro CDs.

No I don't know Reno style. I am a rank beginner!!! Can I whine to you every now and then about needing my ass kicked to practice?

yeah, clawhammer doesn't use a resonator. I really like the sound of it--seems awful hard to find anyone who plays that style, at least around here.

Do you know Roscoe Holcomb? He was a "real" West Virginia mountains musician. I have a CD of his. Takes a little getting used to that high lonesome nasal singing, but its real roots, which I love.

I taught myself harmonica couple of years ago. That was easy enough I could mostly rely on having a good ear and rythm. Jammed at some local open mics; some people liked my playing. Woo! That was cool, I even had a kick ass night a couple of times! LOL!

[Redstone]

67. Yes, alison Krause's dobro player is about the best there is,

and can you tell I'm stalling here, trying to cover up the fact that I can't remember his name? (No, it's NOT the drugs that makes me forget, it's having had four concussions.)

Keep working at the banjo, expecially since you've discovered the joy of palaying in public. I did that for a living for a while, then ofr more years just part-time (which I preferred to doing it full-time), and let me tell you--when you get a night when you have a good audience, and you're "on" at the same time, it's better than cocaine.

Keep at it. Send me a tape when you've made one.

Redstone

[FizzFuzz]

68. Hahaha!!! You have an inflated impression of my skills!

Now, a video of my Sign performance skills, I would have no shyness about--I am damn good, one of the best. (she said, flipping her hair and casting all modesty aside.)

But music...ahhh hem, ... haw....hem..haw. (I've been hanging around tailors and mules. ;) ) (better than ghosts and snakes, though---> boo. hiss.)

You're right, performing, especially when you're on, and the audience is with you, is such a high. After various interpreting gigs, boy was I high. But I had to learn that its a very ephemeral kind of high. Really a good idea to not get too attached to it.

So you played for a living? What was the band? Where did you play, and what kind of gigs? The local jams here have kind of died down (my fav pub went downhill after the locals got pissed at the owner for standing on Main St doing peace vigils after the goddamned Turdweasel put us into a war.)

[Redstone]

69. Down in Houston, mid-to-late 1970s. There was an

oil boom, and all the bars had to have live music to compete, so it was a seller's market---you didn't have to be very good. I went down there chasing a girl, and found that I could actually get paid for playing, as long as I turned my folk /classsical guitar / old-time mountain music background into country pronto, which wasn't really hard, given that I'm a natural lunatic.

First band was called R.T. Redstone and the Bucksnort Ginslingers, and we had fun but didn't go too far (unless you count Beaumont, and I don't.)

Second was called Austin-Western which was a better name and a b eter band and we went a little further (all the way to Katy once, I think), but then I got sick of Houston and of working at night and the goddamned drunks throwing stuff, and getting in trouble with the cops when I broke beer mugs over theri heads when they threw stuff.

Fun for a young guy, though.

Yes, you're right, it's an ephemeral high. Learn to enjoy it as such just the once in a while, and it'll stay sweet.

It's been REALLY nice talking with you, fizzfuzz. Bit I have to stop and go to bed now, or I'm going to go to the upstairs closet and start digging. There's a handmade Yairi guitar in there whose cedar soundboard glows like honey, and the abalone-shell trim reflects like Australian opals...

Redstone

[Bake]

70. That would be Jerry "Flux" Douglas

And he is the KING of the resophonic guitar (you can't call it a "Dobro" anymore because Gibson will sue you to protect its trademark, corprit bastids!).

He is on EVERYBODY'S records, it seems! Check out his work on Tony Rice, "Manzanita." Or any of a zillion other records.

Bake

[Bake]

59. Get the Scruggs book.

If you want to learn to play like Earl, get the real thing. "Earl Scruggs and the Five-String Banjo." It shows you note-for-note how to play Scruggs style, including exact transcriptions of some of Earl's greatest hits. I taught myself to play using it over 30 years ago, and it's still in print. And still the best thing on the market.

And get the CD of Flatt & Scruggs, "Foggy Mountain Banjo." At least eight of those tunes are transcribed in Earl's book (or The Bible, as banjo players refer to it). These are the banjo canon, the tunes that you will inevitably be expected to take a break on at jam sessions.

Another incredibly helpful tool is a software program called "The Amazing Slow-Downer." It slows down any .WAV or .MP3 without changing the pitch (unless you want it to) or degrading the sound quality.

For video/DVD instructional materials, I recommend checking out Homespun Tapes -- they've got a website and their stuff is uniformly excellent.

Good luck, and good pickin'!

Bake

[FizzFuzz]

63. Thank You, Bake! I will save this post so I can have the reminders

so you used it to teach yourself...OK, sounds like a plan, then! (I've probably already got most of the "canon" on various CDs already....)

My biggest problem is and has always been practicing. You ever have that problem? I think that's what separates musicians from noodlers--noodlers are those of us who, when we have nothing to do, will distract ourselves with all kinds of stuff, like--um--oh--websurfing, for instance---while musicians can't wait to spend any free time with their music.

Seems to me....

[Bake]

50. Do you mean Butch Robins?

An incredible player. Butch Trucks was/is a percussionist with the Allman Brothers. I think.

Bake

[bbernardini]

37. What about Michael Miles and the guy from Hayseed Dixie?

HUH? HUH?

[Mr.Green93]

38. Steve Martin

not.

[Radical Activist]

40. I'm glad you put not

I was getting annoyed at the Steve Martin posts.

[enigami]

41. the Kid from deliverence of course

he is still living I hope

[Radical Activist]

43. LOL! n/t

[greendog]

64. Eric Weissberg played the banjo on the deliverence soundtrack

n/t

[trof]

42. Clarence Rufus Mosely

A friend.
4 string banjo.
5 string banjo.
6 string guitar.
12 string guitar.
He has Martins, naturally.

Hell, he could play one of these:

[Telly Savalas]

45. Tom Delay

[Bake]

46. Too many good ones to pick just one

Earl is THE MAN, of course, and we banjo pickers bow twice a day to his altar because without Earl, none of us would have a clue what to do with the damn thing.

But wow. Best living? Earl's getting on in years, and his disciples have done pretty well for themselves:

J.D. Crowe (probably the ultimate Scruggs Disciple!). Look up "drive" in the dictionary and you'll find Crowe's picture. If I *had* to pick just one, it'd be Crowe. Drive, taste, timing; he's got it all and has for years.
Sammy Shelor
Jim Mills (currently playing with Ricky Skaggs)
Bela Fleck (for his sheer genius, but he doesn't have a lot of "drive" for bluegrass)
Bill Emerson
Alan Shelton (famous for the "bounce" in his playing)
Ben Eldridge (Seldom Scene; I love the sparkle in his playing)
Rob McCoury (Del's "other" son, doesn't get near the credit he deserves)

Too many to pick just one. Ask about guitar flatpickers, and the answer is obvious: Tony Rice.

Bake

[retread]

56. Guitar flatpickers-- Not so obvious. Unless Doc Watson has passed.

*

[Bake]

57. Doc's GREAT, no doubt.

Tony says that Doc is one of his primary influences. But c'mon. Have you LISTENED to Manzanita? Unit of Measure? TR Plays and Sings Bluegrass? Mar West? Native American? Tony is the MAN on guitar.

Bake

[retread]

60. Tony Rice has a stunning body of work, especially after

David Grisman. I lean more toward "traditional". I like Norman Blake and the stuff Tony did with him. I think Doc Watson played on a couple of tracks on the second one they did didn't he?.

[Bake]

71. "Blackberry Blossom!!!"

Norman, Doc, and Tony!! Three totally different, immediately recognizable styles. I think it's on Blake & Rice. Fantastic record. Tony and Norman have recorded together several times.

I saw Doc years ago at the old (now-defunct) KFC Festival in Louisville, KY. He did a set of "Doc-a-billy" stuff, with Mark O'Connor on fiddle, Sam Bush on mandolin, etc. that just blew 60,000 people totally AWAY!! By the end of the set, EVERYBODY was on stage with him -- Charles Sawtelle, Byron Berline, Dan Crary, Tim O'Brien, O'Connor, Sam B., and gawd knows who else. It was one of those "historical moments."

Bake

[retread]

47. Earl Scruggs could lay down his banjo and never hit another lick and

he would still be the greatest living banjo player.
It is almost impossible to find a modern banjo player who did not learn the Scrugg's Roll!

[Bake]

53. Amen. And every banjo player would have to agree.

Except for Sonny Osborne, of course, who thinks HE'S the greatest living banjo player and if you don't believe it, just ask him.

Bake

[Radical Activist]

54. I'm impressed with all the replies to this.

Its cool that we can have an extended serious discussion about banjo players, and I've read about some great players I didn't know about before. DU rocks!

[greendog]

62. Honorable mentions for Alan Munde and John Hickman

Two fine melodic style banjo players.

My vote in the the above poll goes to Mr. Scruggs. I'll second all the enthusiasim for Alison Brown.

[Dervill Crow]

65. Roy Clark.

[bridgit]

66. fleck...

:thumbsup: for shear musicality & innovation

[Greyskye]

74. Gotta go with Bela

I don't think that there is a musical style out there that he can't do brilliantly on the banjo!

Classical music on a banjo; who'd a thunk it?