Banjo Hangout Top 100 Old Time Songs

For the Tune of the Week, 2/28/14, this version is mostly from Bigfoot Stringband and Rhys Jones' fiddling. He based it on Robert Sykes (1914-1994). It's a much bluesier Black Eyed Susie than I've ever heard and I've been curious about it, so TOTW has again provided me a good learning platform. Tune in, if you haven't! I'm playing a very lightweight banjo with nylgut strings.

Banjo Billy Mathews plays Black Eyed Suzie Brown 2009

Three versions from my Skype lessons with Adam Hurt. The first one comes from the fiddling of "Uncle Norm" Edmonds (born in the 1890's) of Hillsville, Virginia and is one I arranged as an "extra credit" homework assignment. The other two come from Parley Parsons (born 1864) from near Galax, Virginia and from Paul Brown's recollection of the B part.

Melvin Wine playing "Wine's Delight" at Fiddle Tunes in 1982 (with Carl Baron, banjo and Bob Carlin, guitar).

Recorded for a Tune of the Week post.

West Virginia tune learned from fiddling of Lester McUmbers

TOTW......played in Open C

A great American folk hero song, the Tune of the Week for February 14, 2014, played on a Gold Tone cello banjo.

A great American folk hero song, the Tune of the Week for February 14, 2014, played on a Gold Tone cello banjo.

Virginia fiddler Emmett Lundy (born 1864) recorded this in 1941 for the Library of Congress. He mistakenly called it Richmond Cotillion, another tune. I've arranged three of his tunes as encouraged by my Skype lessons with Adam Hurt. This tune appears to be played more straightforward than the others I've done, which stand out more in the unique style of Mr. Lundy. In this cotillion I can picture the costumed folk dancers.

Throw The Old Cow Over The Fence

This version of Sugar Hill comes from the fiddling of Grayson County, Virginia fiddler, Emmett Lundy, born in 1864. Adam Hurt's Skype lessons provided the vehicle by which I've been encouraged to listen to, learn, and attempt my own arrangement of Mr. Lundy's tunes. I'm playing on a Gold Tone cello banjo.

I'm playing on a Gold Tone cello banjo, re-strung with nylon strings. In my continuing Skype lessons with Adam Hurt, he encouraged me to listen to Emmett Lundy's fiddling and arrange a tune for clawhammer. Mr. Lundy, from Grayson County, Virginia, born in 1864, is one of many highly-regarded fiddlers from that region. He learned from an elderly fiddler, Greenberry Leonard, born in 1812. Mr. Leonard was said to be one of the very best fiddlers from that region, so studying Lundy's style takes me way back in history. I find that the syncopated and slurred notes of this well-known tune make it stand out as unique and pretty.

I'm playing on a Gold Tone cello banjo, re-strung with nylon strings. In my continuing Skype lessons with Adam Hurt, he encouraged me to listen to Emmett Lundy's fiddling and arrange a tune for clawhammer. Mr. Lundy, from Grayson County, Virginia, born in 1864, is one of many highly-regarded fiddlers from that region. He learned from an elderly fiddler, Greenberry Leonard, born in 1812. Mr. Leonard was said to be one of the very best fiddlers from that region, so studying Lundy's style takes me way back in history. I find that the syncopated and slurred notes of this well-known tune make it stand out as unique and pretty.

Thanks for listenin'!