Banjo Hangout Top 100 Old Time Songs

Thanks for listenin'!

From the playing of the Lewis Brothers. Tom Schaefer on fiddle, Bob Douglas on mando, and I'm on the banjo. Collectively we're known as the Tune Jerks.

For the TOTW, 1/24/14, from the fiddling of Earl Collins.

As played by Grayson County, Virginia fiddler Emmett Lundy, who was recorded by the Lomax's in the 1940's, and arranged for clawhammer banjo by Adam Hurt. Marking my first anniversary of taking lessons from Adam, this is played on my Mac Traynham Whyte Laydie banjo with Adam's fiddling. He sent me the fiddle recording as part of a Skype lesson where he taught me this version of Piney Woods Gal. After a year I feel I've only just begun to learn from the depth of Adam's resources and through his talent.

Just a simple frailing tune. I had most of this composed awhile back but finally got around to adding a final part so thought I’d record and post it. In Double C tuning (gCGCD).

Just a simple frailing tune. I had most of this composed awhile back but finally got around to adding a final part so thought I’d record and post it. In Double C tuning (gCGCD).

Learned from Alan Jabbour's fiddling, who learned it directly from West Virginian fiddler Henry Reed, recorded by Alan extensively in the 60's. This tune is different from Billy in the Lowground. Contacting Alan was easy and he's most helpful to answer my questions about the tune.

In Rayna's CD "Ways of the World" I kept listening to two songs over and over--both turned out to be her own compositions. She's an amazing fiddler--one of my all-time favorites.

For the Tune of the Week, 1/3/14, based on Franklin George's addition of a third part which may have been learned from Oscar Wright. The original seems to have been learned by Henry Reed listening to a steam-powered calliope! This is the first tune I ever worked out when first learning clawhammer in the 70's, so it's good to re-visit and learn more about it now. I start it off here in waltz time, then speed it up to 4/4 time to get ready to go over the waterfall.

For the Tune of the Week, 1/3/14, based on Franklin George's addition of a third part which may have been learned from Oscar Wright. The original seems to have been learned by Henry Reed listening to a steam-powered calliope! This is the first tune I ever worked out when first learning clawhammer in the 70's, so it's good to re-visit and learn more about it now. I start it off here in waltz time, then speed it up to 4/4 time to get ready to go over the waterfall.

For TOTW 12/27/13. I've been glad to learn a piece played by the great Uncle Jimmy Thompson of Grand Old Opry fame.

For TOTW 12/27/13. I've been glad to learn a piece played by the great Uncle Jimmy Thompson of Grand Old Opry fame.

aEAC#E with autoharp

Me playing banjo with Clare Milliner at a jam in Tucson. George Flink on banjo uke, Bob Denton on Guitar. It was the last tune of the night, and the highlight for me. Walt Koken was in the kitchen cleaning up.

For the ToTW. A little bit lower than A tuning.