Bill Runkle PAGES Bill Runkle

Interview by Tom Mindte, Introduction by Tom Adams "He'd say, 'Play it like that. Nobody else plays it that way."' Well, if you've heard any recordings from the 1970s by Bluegrass Hall of Farner Del McCoury-classic hard-driving bluegrass hits such as High On A Mountain, Rain Please Go Away, and I've Endured-you've already been introduced to the banjo playing of Bill Runkle. As a member of McCoury's Dixie Your one-stop Pals, Bill toured and recorded with Del for the better part of a banjo source!

Toll-Free (USA only) 888-473-5810 or 517-372-7890 1100 N. Washington Lansing, Ml 48906 decade. Only Del's son Robbie Bii/RunkleandDe/McCoury.l975 has held down the banjo player spot for a longer time. Born in 1939, Bill still lives in the tiny community of Brogue, Pennsylvania, just about a mile from his family's home place. Bill's grandfather played the 5-string banjo-not in the clawharnmer or 3-finger style, but by using a flat pick "the way you'd pick a ," Bill says. Bill's introduction to bluegrass banjo couldn't have come "'n1 immersion from a better source. Listening to the Grand Ole Opry on the radio "Total banj!. " ~~ .AND in his dad's '46 Ford, Bill was captivated by the sound of Bill BLUEG~AN.JO Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys featuring a twenty-something oLD ~vet. Mielngan Earl Scruggs on the banjo. olivet College of the ll'Orll's Bill credits another (and future) Blue Grass Boy, Bobby Wit!'~~ & TEACJIERS Diamond, with showing him a lot when Bill took up the banjo 'f()P p.wu~»- June 1-4, 2017 in 1959. In just a short while, he was playing full-time in a group BLUEGRASS called "The Country Four," working square dances three nights a Janet Beazley, Greg Cahill, OLD TIME Ryan Cavanaugh, Steve Cooley, Roy ~drade, Cathy Barto~ Para, week. This led to a six-year stint in a band led by Pennsylvania's Bill Evans, Gerald Jones, Riley Baugus, Bob Carlin, popular radio personality AI Shade. Ned Luberecki, Rex McGee, John Hermann, Bertram Levy, Alan Munde & Mike Sumner Joe Newberry, Ken Perlman, As the 1960s came to a close, Bill found himself subbing Henry Sapoznik & Dan Walsh from time to time with Del McCoury's Dixie Pals. When banjo ALONG WITH player John Farmer left the band, Bill began a tenure that lasted NEW! Minstrel Banjo Track with Greg Adams, Seth Swingle Plus: Keith Baumann (Dobro, ), Pat Donohue (fingerstyle guitar), Don Eubanks nearly eight years. During that period he played banjo on several ' (bass), Caleb Klauder (mandolin), Peter Knupfer (fiddle), Dave Para (flatpick guitar), You McCoury albums, including 1973's "High On A Mountain." On Chris Rietz (fingerstyle guitar), Kenny Smith (flatpick guitar), Bobby Taylor (fiddle) & more ll!llm subsequent records, Bill sang lead on the duets when Del would midwestbanjocamp.com move to the high tenor vocal. Instruments • Ken Perlman & Stan Werbin, Bill describes the band's sound-" sang to the PAGElO APRIL2017I fiddle. Del McCoury sang to the banjo. He the band Bill Runkle & Smith Hollow, Tom Mindte: We're at Bill Runkle's house wanted that driving roll on the banjo when Bill's 2015 release on Patuxent, "Lonely in Brogue. When you were born, Bill? he was singing." Del recorded several of Tonight," features Bill's banjo work front Bill Runkle: January 7th, 1939. Bill's compositions during that time. and center with four original instrumentals BNL: Was there music in your family? Eventually, Bill and the other members including Marching Through Glenville, BR: Yes. Very much. Both my grandfathers of the Dixie Pals left Del and formed a which is also featured on the 20 14 release played the fiddle. My Grandfather new group, Square Deal, with Dee Gunter "The Patuxent Banjo Project." Smith died when I was seven, so I don't on guitar, playing throughout the mid­ At 75 , Bill said, "I don't know what remember him playing. But grandfather Atlantic region and recording the album my life would have been without bluegrass Runkle, he lived right across the road, on "Country Boy Rock N Roll" in 1985. music." Well, Bill, just keep on laying the the Gum Tree Road. And we didn't have Square Deal was followed by Dixie Dukes thumb to it! - Tom Adams (adapted from no TV, so we got together and played and eventually, Bill spent several years CD liner notes) music most every night. I was eight when away from the music. I started to play the guitar. And his other Back on the 5-string and leading Interview conducted June 29, 2016: grandson, on the Warner side, he lived

G tuning. By Bill Runkle, tab by Ian Perry. Marching Through Glenville Source: "Lonely Tonight," Opening break: G F C G

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by Bill Runkle & Smith Hollow, Patuxent Records ~ VOL.XLIV-6 bouse upstairs, he played some guitar, and both my sisters and my mom ll? played the piano. And we had jam sessions bout every night of the week. ? BNL: Does your family have any Appalachian roots? Like Del and !thers some of the others that migrated up to this area. -ather BR: No. My grandmother Smith was born and raised in Maryland. don't And my grandmother Runkle came from Wilmington Delaware. father BNL: Was there a lot of in this area? td,on BR: Oh yes. Mostly old-timey country music, fiddle; we had a lot of have square dances.lt was a big thing around here. Dover PA, right over 1layed "' here in Faun Grove. When I started, we played over at Shrewsbury when on Saturday nights, and on Sundays we played up near York in a other bam some guy had fixed up for dances. We played three nights a lived week. Five bucks a night! That's hard playing. [laughter] BNL: Yeah. That's about what I got playing in bars. 'erry. RB: I just turned nineteen when I got married, and in less than a year ght," I had two kids. And I wasn't making much money working for a Ford dealer down here. 85 cent an hour, it was tough raising two kids, and we didn't have insurance. If I had to pay the doctor, I had to pay everything. It was unreal. So the fifteen dollars I made New from Patuxent:A mix of songs and playing, it helped. tunes from this talented young playerand his back­ ~ BNL: There were a lot of country music parks back then. up musicians. 1\mes include Sockeye, No Longer BR: Oh yeah, my dad and mom liked country music, and we used to a Sweetheart of Mine, Armadillo Breakdown, The go to Sunset Park just about every Sunday. I saw everybody, from Bells of St. Mary's, Dixie Breakdown, Lonesome & & Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Bill Monroe, Flatt Scruggs, Reno River, two Benzing originals and more, Smiley, Sons of the Pioneers, Tex Ritter. Everybody. It was fun, and I miss those times. I think I was about four years old when I http://www.pxrec .com/ first heard Bill Monroe on the Grand Ole Opry. My dad had a '46 ' Ford, and the Opry would fade in and out on our radio in the house, so I'd go out to his car and listen to the radio. Several times I run the battery dead. BNL: You were listening to Earl, weren't you. BR: I didn't know it at the time, but I was. And man, I just loved it ever since. It never left me. And so we just started playing. But when I was about eight, it didn't matter it if was Reno and Smiley, Stanley Brothers, Jim and Jesse, Flatt and Scruggs, whoever it was at Sunset Park, I would tell my brother-he's eight years older than me; he had his driver's license-I'd say, "Now I don't know what you're going to do Sunday, but I know one thing you are going to do, and that's take me down to Sunset Park, whether you like it or not." And he would take me. BNL: You started on guitar. When did you get your banjo? With more than 25 years of BR: I was about nineteen when I started. There was two banjo design leadership, Nechville players around here. Bobby Diamond used to go and see Flatt stands at the forefront of the modern banjo. The revolutionary & Scruggs all the time. So he picked up some stuff, and Gerald Helimount does the job with less hassle, less weight, fewer parts Flaherty, when he was a young boy, he used to be on television and 1nore options for enhanced every Saturday morning. And he was a pretty good banjo player playability and cusromization. NechviUe is your clear choice too. But then I found about Del [McCoury]. And Del was playing for now and the future. banjo then for Keith Daniels. The first time I met Del, I was working at the Ford place, and he was driving a dump truck. And Del stopped in and got gas. So that must have been 1957? Anyway, it was a good time around here. Everybody liked country music. Actually, when I started playing guitar, we played rock and roll. rle & And early rock and roll was pretty big around here as well. That's •/low, what I started playing. ~ords BNL: It was pretty close to country in those days. What bands were PAGE 12 APRIL20171

you in in your younger years? BNL: So you were with the Country Four. BR: The first job I played was with Dean Did you play with anybody else before Burke-he's passed away now. I was you went with Del? just beginning to play the banjo, and he BR: Yeah. I played with AI Shade; he had called, asked if I wanted to play a job. I a country band, steel guitar and stuff. He said, Dean, I ain't good enough to play came over and wanted a banjo player, and in a band. And he said, Oh you're good I said, Well, you talk to my wife. If she enough; I've heard you. Come on up. So I says I can play, I can play. So I went in went, and that was my first job. And it was the other room, and that's how we did it. up on the roof of that Tropical Treat. And I So then he asked me to do a 45 record, kept playing-this was when I was about so I did. So at about this point AI said 20-and then this guy who had a pretty he wanted to go bluegrass, and so Jerry good band called Porky and the Travelers, Lince, from the Country Four, he came and who was a heck of a country singer. with us. And Charlie Stump on bass. And He started these square dances over in AI, and his wife Jean. I think I recorded A loving homage York, and wanted to know if Dick Laird three albums with him. And then I went to the great Don Stover could get a band. And Dick's brother in with Del, for almost eight years ... law, Jerry Lince, played fiddle. So me and BNL: What year did you start with Del? Barnes' first acoustic Dick got together with Jerry, and Richard BR: 1970. But I had played some shows bluegrass recording Laird, Dick's daddy, and Charlie Shaw. with him before that. Filling in for featuring an all-star band. We called ourselves the Country Four. Donnie Eldreth, who played banjo with That's how we started. And one guy called him at that time. Then John Farmer came Produced by Nick Forster, from Columbia and wanted us to come and played for Del for about a year. But with Mike Bub, and do a radio show, on Redline, WGCB, Donnie worked at Chrysler, and he had a Jason Carter & Chris Henry but they didn't want to pay us anything. hard time getting off during the week. We But I was on the radio for 25 years, we used to go over to Lancaster, they had live www.dannybarnes .com played on the radio every Saturday. bluegrass shows on channel 8, WGAL; was BNL: Did you just do live stuff, or spin the old sheriff, he had a show that I did take records up there too? several with Del. But then one day Del pla) BR: We did live stuff, and after I took called and said I need a banjo player. I PRO BANJO PARTS over and started being a DJ, I'd have couldn't quite believe it, and so I said, *Bulk Discount for Builders* live bands-Del, and other bands­ just for one day? And he said, no, I need a they'd come and play. And they'd bring full time banjo player. I said, You got one! BR: in records for me to play. And I did BNL: Awesome. BNL: everything to help. And I did that show BR: At that time I was separated .. . DeP for 25 years, and I never got one cent for BNL: So you didn't have to ask .. . BR: I that. Just did it to help promote bands and BR:No. bluegrass. Course it would help get jobs, BNL: Let's backtrack. You said Bobby that's what the whole thing was about. Diamond and someone else was around And it was fun, but it was hard work. here. Did they show you stuff on the pic Because I was running my service station banjo? BR: over here, seven days a week, from 6 in BR: Oh yeah. Bobby helped me as much Unplated, Nickel, Gold, the morning to nine at night. So I didn't as anybody. Because even after I ended Also Engraved Parts have much free time. They wanted me to up playing with Del, I'd get together with soed the whole afternoon up there, but I Bobby. He had a carnival, and didn't work said I couldn't. over the winter, and he'd come down here BNL: And it probably takes as long to plan three nights a week, and we'd play. And a radio show as it does to do it. argue, and say you're not getting this BR: Yeah, and then when I started playing righ~ ... And he was just a fun guy, you , ctiiw~t~~a for Del, then we were gone just about know. He played for Bill Monroe for a INST-RC.IMENTS' every weekend. And so I had to record little while. the show sometime during that week. On BNL: And Red Allen. Missoula, Montana reel to reel tape. But then I would make a BR: And Del too; he was part of the original (406) 327-9925 couple of copies that they would just keep band, and Bobby actually named the band www.GregBoyd.com there, in case I couldn't make it, and then The Dixie Pals. They played all the little they'd just play one of those tapes. bars around Baltimore. Which I did too. VOL. XLIV--6 I 'BB..Qjo Ne-vvsLet:;t,er PAGE 131

Four. But at one point Bobby switched over to BR: We went to Kilgore, Texas a couple ~fore fiddle. And we used to have this old man of times. Oklahoma. Canada, and up into Bob Perry on Gum Tree Road who said he knew a Maine. Boston. That's a tough trip up to Signature II Picks e had 1000 fiddle tunes, and I believe he did. Boston. I minded that trip-all that traffic, Bubby Caswell. And Bobby was going you know. I don't know how many times 3rd hole in band is eliminated back there to learn this stuff off of him. we came down through New York, and to prevent cracking, 216 941-8927 And Bubby was a good fiddler, but like a got in the wrong lane, and wound up down lot of fiddlers, he was a little stubborn. But at the baseball stadium. Oh my. One time $19.95 he'd show you stuff. I wish I'd been more we had a booker over there, and took us cord, into the fiddle, now that I think of it. But I through Chinatown. Well, that was a said was just crazy about the banjo. mistake. I think Del was driving, Jerry Jerry BNL: There's a biography of you on the was out the right side, I was out the left, came website AllMusic.com, that says, in and we had about three inches clearance OBAL'~' il www.cobaltbp.com And Eugene Chadbourne's opinion, the Dixie Pals were just playing on weekends, for fun. What do you have to say about that? Julv 21-29. 2011 • Arlington Texas BR: Well, it was fun. Ain't no question about that. But it wasn't just for fun. I mean, that's the only reason Del stuck with it. We weren't making any money, that was the problem. I couldn't leave my job. It's just like Jimmy Martin, he was hounding me for twenty years. Wanted ad a me to sell my service station and move to Athree dav camp tor .We Nashville, buy a station down there, and live play for him. But I couldn't do that. But it Bluegrass &Clawhammer Banio, AL; was fun, don't get me wrong. I wouldn't I did take a million dollars for the fun we had Mandolin, Flatpick &Finuerstvte Guitar, Del playing. But for the money we made, you •er. I might as well call it just for fun. Fiddle, Sonuwritinu, Dobro, &Bass said, BNL: But you guys really worked on your eed a music. Bluegrass Banjo Flatpick Guitar Mandolin one! BR: Oh yeah! BNL: How many albums did you cut with Bill Evans Tim May Dix Bruce Del? Gerald Jones Dix Bruce Gerald Jones BR: I think it was four. "High on the Alan Tompkins Robert Bowlin Mountain," "Our Kind of Grass" on Fiddle obby Rebel. Then we did one on Revonah. OldTime Banjo Fingerstyle Guitar Gretchen May und BNL: Well, give me some stories about Lee Thomas Sam Swank Robert Bowlin the picking with Del. David Hamburger BR: Del never said, "Boy, you're not doing Songwriting Bass that right." And some of the stuff I still Wil Maring Dobro lrl Hees play now is stuff that he told me to play. TBA More teachers He's say, "Now play it like that every time, added soon what you just played, cause nobody else does that. Play that." Beginner Banjo Boot Camp • Ensemble classes BNL: Would he get his banjo out? this BR: Oh yeah. He'd play my banjo. He did Songwriting I Vocals • Instructor Jams . you that a lot. And plus, practically the whole Topic Based Classes • How to Play in Church for a time we were driving on the bus, some of us were playing. Practicing. We never really had that much time to practice. AcousticMusicCamp.com ·ginal Except going from job to job. Cause we call or email Gerald Jones: band were playing two or three nights a week, and sometimes we'd have to drive a ways. 214-236-0783 little [email protected] too. BNL: What's the farthest you went? PAGE14 APRIL20171

on either side. Del said, "Don't you ever But I learned a lot. J.D. Crowe showed play some of it, but I'm still a Scruggs take us through there again ... " me stuff, Bill Emerson showed me stuff. man. But, it was different. I knew Bill. BNL: Did you ever play twin banjos with Porter Church was one of the greatest banjo Last time I saw him was over here-a Del? Onstage? players I ever heard. He was as steady as a friend of mine had a bar across the river, BR: Yeah. We used to do it. .. We had a thing rock. He played with Bobby Diamond and in Pickaway. And he was doing a banjo we'd do once in a while, since Donnie and Red Allen and them, and Bobby really workshop, and charged $50 to get in. I and Del all played banjo, we'd switch it liked Porter. I sold him the first Gibson So I went, and I went up and talked to around. Everybody'd switch instruments. Mastertone I had. A gold-plated Granada, him for just a minute; I didn't sit in on And we did Foggy Mt. Breakdown that one of those ball bearings. I took the ball it. But they said he was trying to show night-! started it in G, then Del played bearings out, and put a flathead tone ring people chromatic style banjo. But you it, Donnie played it, Gene played it on in it. He was playing for Red Allen. And I can't just show that to people; they have the fiddle, then Bill Poffinberger on the forgot who bought Porter's banjo-one of to learn that. That's got to be taught, you mandolin, then Donnie played the fiddle, the New York banjo players. And about a know. And they didn't think they got their switch it around like that. Then when we year ago, I was talking to Jim Mills, and I money's worth-the beginners. It was all got around, I put the capo on for A, said that's the one banjo I'd like to know way over their heads! Some of that stuff's and played it just as fast as I could. And what ever happened to it. He said he knew over my head. I know the basics; how I mean to say, the people went wild. I where it's at: out in California. I had to it's supposed to be done, but I can't do it couldn't hear nothing. Just screaming and borrow money and make payments on that perfectly in time, like Bill did. But Bobby hollaring. And Ken Alexander had a tape banjo-for six months, $350 a month. But Thompson was actually the first guy that of that, and he said he'd give me a copy, its funny, what you go through. did that. When he played with Jim and but I never managed to get it, and I wished I bought a lot of instruments in my time. Jesse on those early records. I woulda, cause now Ken's passed away. Sold em. Just to make a little money on BNL: I think Don Stover did some too. And Grandpa Jones was coming on after the side, you know. Same way I did with BR: Oh I loved Don. He was one of the us, as we were coming off the stage, and cars; that's how I got in the car business. sweetest guys I ever met. And he could he said, "Now you fellars sure do make Fixing up cars and selling them, that's play clawharnmer. I remember one time it hard on an old man like me, to follow how I made my living. in North Carolina, just him and Del was something like that!" [laughter] But we BNL: Back in the '70s there was a lot playing. I bet it started about four o'clock did have fun. No fighting, no arguing, of newer bluegrass coming up, people in the afternoon, and it went on past dark. never. Always got along. Poffinberger, he playing a more modem style, and seems And I was sitting there, and after the sun was like me, always right there, on time. like Del always stuck with the traditional went down I was freezing, and I stayed Now if you wanted Donny to leave at style. How did that affect the draw? until the last note. One playing guitar, three o'clock, you better tell him to leave The audience. Did audiences like the the other banjo. And Don would play at two. It would be three before he got traditional better, or were they starting to clawharnmer, and they'd be singing. I there. But that was all right... like the newer stuff? wish I had a tape of that. And I do have BNL: Did you ever think back then that Del BR: Well I think the old traditionalists­ quite a few tapes, from Marysville and would make it to the top of the heap? In and still today-like the old bluegrass. places like that, from a little cassette bluegrass? It's just like me; I appreciate-just like player I'd set it in front of the speakers. BR: I always knew he had the talent. I the New Grass Revival come out with But I don't have any good quality. wasn't sure he had the ambition. You Great Balls of Fire and stuff like that­ BNL: When you did Someone Took My know? And I don't know this for a fact, and I knew from coming up in rock and Place With You, it sounded like you had but I think Ronnie helped make Del as roll, and I loved that! And a lot of people a bit of a Reno thing going on. Did you famous as he became. Cause Del, like I didn't like Jim and Jesse doing rock and know Don? said, just a laid-back person. But man, roll songs, but I thought that was really BR: Oh yeah. We were down in Reidsville, Del could sing. And I still think, and I neat. Something different, you know. But North Carolina. Don and Bill Harrell might be prejudiced, but people tell me I think it grew from the young people got on the bus one night. And we were the same thing: on that CD lying right liking that kind of bluegrass. I don't think drinking a little, and Reno started playing there, "High on the Mountain," that was it was the old timers that did. Like with guitar, and I started playing Charlotte remastered with White House Blues, and the , when they tried to Breakdown. And I played it as hard as I've Endured, and a couple others. Man, go electric a couple of times at bluegrass I could. [laughter] And he said, Play it the singing! He was probably 32 years old festivals, that did not go over. They booed again! I think I played it ten times for him. at that point. But he had the natural talent. them off the stage. But I loved the stuff Sitting right in front of me, across the bus. He just had it. He could hear a brand they did. Wonderful. And that stuff was And this last weekend, this guy from new song, you could play it through one hard to do, what they were doing. Ocean City has one of Don Reno's banjos. time, and he'd have it the next time. The BNL: What did you think of Bill Keith's And he told me a story that I don't know if rhythm and the chords, it didn't take him style? it's true or not. I said how did you get that but moments to learn. BR: Oh, I liked it. And I can't play it. I can banjo, and is that it? Is it original? And VOL. XLIV--6 PAGElS I

~cruggs he said, well, it has original parts. And it's player Arthur Smith, his banjo was broke while the III darts up and down on the third · · Bill. a good sounding banjo. And I said, how or something, and so he stuck this banjo string. Ex. 3 starts with an arpeggiated come Reno had it? And he said that the together quick, to do that. I just heard that Eb major triad, and the III and V degrees story he heard was, when he was going two weeks ago. And I know Earl Scruggs descend while that high root stays constant. Note the jump to the 3rd and 4th strings to do Feuding Banjos with that 4-string continued on page 30 for the Ab( 6) chord-this phrase could be played descending all the way down on ed to the 2nd and 3rd strings but it can get to be in on a big reach depending on where you are show on the neck. These are reminiscent of the t you iconic "Basie Ending" (Ex. 4) which was have ~ popularized and employed by bandleader Count Basie-in this case both the I Pedal Tones and VI degrees are pedaled (Eb and C, respectively) while the movement on the Andrew Green third string outlines a IV - I(dim) - I(6) n this installment of adapting blues and I-IV-V progressions in any key. progression. boogie woogie piano to banjo, we'll Ex. 1 shows a common boogie pattern Finally, Ex. 5 shows the intro lick to I look at the use of pedal tones. This is in which the root is pedaled on the bottom Qualified by Dr. John, which is really just when a note is sustained or repeated against of the chord (the fourth string) while the an extension of Ex. 3. It uses that same movement in the rest of the musical phrase III and V degrees move to outline an Ab descending motion (though in this case it or chord progression. For the sake of these and Eb7 chord on the 2nd and 3rd strings starts on an Eb7 chord) with the root note examples, we'll mostly be "pedaling" the -think of the riff for the "Sesame Street" on top, but instead of pedaling that note root note of the chords, as that gives it a theme song. You'll get a nice single string on the 1st string, we'll play it on the 5th very full and grounded sound, but other workout on your thumb and index as you string to free up our right hand to play chord tones could certainly be used as pedal that low root, and make sure to swing some bluesy triplets. The main riff for the well. We'll check out some examples in those eighth notes. verse (starting in measure 10) was based on the key of Eb; note that these positions can The next two examples place the root James Booker's version of Pinetop Smith's be moved anywhere on the neck to play pedal tone on top of the chord. In Ex. 2, Pinetop Boogie. It's~ great syncopated line the I and V degrees of making use of bluesy double stops, first the chord stay constant played in a lower register on the 2nd and Bluesy Pedal Tone Exercises on the first two strings 4th strings, then up an octave based around Example I the 1st and 3rd strings. Ex.2 Eb (Ab) (Eb7) (Ab) II kr uff ffl uu d d I uu d d I uu d ffill dIT dIT I dIT ffiT II m i I i I i lm I i I i I m I m I I i I I i i i i

Eb Ebdim Ab6 Eb (Ab) Ebo Eb6 G tuning. Arr. by Andrew Green. n= [) Andrew plays in Roosevelt Dime (www.roosevelt­ Ex.3 dimemusic.com): Americana Rhythm & Blues. " ... adapting the swagger and swing of New Orleans Ex.4 I tl uIT uI tJ &tJ &~ ~ piano to the 5-string" 1 i m i 1 i m i 1 i m i 1 i m i Audio at banjonews.com Qualified rrJIJ ff J{tmnilliAJff I i m I m I m lm m m m m m m m m m m i i i i i i i i i i i i i Bb7 Eb

i I i I I i I I i I • CLASSIFIEDS • ~LP~:A~G~E~3~o~~~~~l]n~BIU~·~o~N~e~:'VVS~!L~e~:t,-t,~e~r~ +00353 91 796931. Web: wwwbanjo.ie E-mail: tomcus- a bright tone and glides easily off the string. The pick ADVERTISING RATES: Classifieds will be sen@eircomnet is designed to securely grip your thumb without being accepted at the rate of 50¢ a word for BANJO and MU- BANJOS AT BANJOTEACHER.COM The "ResNick'" overly tight. Visit www.guptillmusic.com SICAL items. They will appear in this typeface and the Resonator Banjo. Great prices on Goldtone, Goldstar, first two words will be set in BOLD CAPITALS. Ads will Morgan Monroe and Recording King Banjos. Free ship- be classified according to the categories below. Ads must ping and many extras included. www.banjoteacher.com • RECORDINGS • be received by the first day of the month preceding publi- 1-866-322-6567 BOOKS, DVDS, CDS -Thousands of titles - new ones cation to guarantee insertion. All ads payable in advance. WILDWOOD BANJOS-USA-made clawharnrner added daily! ELDERLY INSTRUMENTS, 1100 N. BNL reserves the right to refuse any advertising it deems & bluegrass banjos since 1973. Block laminated rims, Washington, Lansing, MI 48906. 888-473-5810 or 517- unacceptable. Count as one word any grouping of letters or Thbaphone-style tone rings, wood tone rings, bronze numerals. Hyphenated words count as two words.Ads can cast fiat heads-fancy curly maple, curly walnut, 372-7890. www.elderly.com also be set in lower case bold for 60¢ a word (the complete and exotics. Distinctive inlays & custom work. www. ad or portions). The complete ad in this typeface will also wildwoodbanjos.com 541-593-0253 have the first two words set in BOLD CAPITALS. THE DOC'S BANJOS: Tone, Playability, Innovation, ENTIRE ADVERTISEMENT CAN BE SET IN UP- Craftmanship .. . We build heirloom quality banjos. web: used to do that; he'd put banjos together PER CASE BOLD AT 70¢ A WORD. Certain words in www.docsbanjos.com, 503-831-1529, Dallas Oregon B any of the above formats can be highlighted with BOLD and take them round and sell them. CAPITALS AT 70¢ A WORD, or bold lower case at 60¢ 5-string necks on 4-strings. • INSTRUCTION • B a word. But Don Reno. If Red's guitar was out MINIMUM CHARGE FOR ALL ADS: $12.50 BOOKS FROM EDDIE COLLINS: New book! Mention BNL when you contact our advertisers. Smokin' Bluegrass Banjo Licks, $21.95 ppd. Basics of of tune on stage, Don would walk over, Never A Charge for Stolen Instruments Ads Bluegrass Banjo-considered by many pros and novices he'd know what string it was and tum up alike to be the most thorough instruction method ever. B Nearly two years worth of lessons for the average that string. I seen him do it many times! • INSTRUMENTS • learner. Also, Beyond the Basics of Bluegrass Banjo­ f,.h, he was a funny guy. We used to go to instruction designed to have you playing like the pros! his house. I loved Don; some of the stuff BLUEGRASS (and OLD-TIME) INSTRUMENTS: Each book is 112 pages and comes with two instruction/ New and old Martins, Gibsons , etc. , play-along CDs. $26.95 ppd/per book. More books, he did on the banjo ... I'd always go see B. , BANJOS, FIDDLES. (Buy, Sell, Trade). tabs and/or order online at: www.eddiecollins.biz. Eddie him when he came through. Many Bluegrass and Old-Time banjos. New, Handpicked Collins, 8407 Loralinda Dr.,Austin, TX 78753. items at a discount. Free, friendly advice, anytime. Har­ BLUEGRASS PICKERS IN EUROPE! We stock BNL: After you left Del, what did you do? ry & Jeanie West, 116 East Broad St, Statesville, NC, a large selection of instruction books and videos. BR: I didn't do too much for a while. And 28677 or (704) 883-0033. e-mail: Jeaniewnc6@AOL. See our website at www.saitensprung .ch. Musikhaus com, httpll:www.harryandjeaniewest.com, httpl/:www. Saitensprung, Unterstadt 27, CH-8200 Schaffhausen, then maybe six months later Bob Paisley finemusicalinstruments .com Switz. Tel +41-52-6258111, saitensprung@ called me. Wondered if I'd play for him. NEW, VINTAGE, & USED INSTRUMENTS! Huge schaffhausen.ch selection of BANJOS , guitars, mandolins, basses, BANJO TABS: Janet Davis Tablature is available again I said yeah. So I went with Bob for about fiddles , ukuleles, more. Player or collector, we're your for many songs arranged for Banjo, as well as for Guitar, a year. At about that time Bob had got a trusted source for fretted instruments since 1972. Daily Mandolin, Dobro, Bass and Fiddle from past & present new hip, and it got infected or something, inventory updates! Buy, sell , trade, consign. ELDERLY years. Audio Lessons, played slow/fast in mp3 format INSTRUMENTS , 1100 N. Washington, Lansing, MI 48906. are offered with each tab, taught by Janet. Also, Artists so he had to go in the hospital. And so it 888-473-5810 or 517-372-7890. www.elderly.com "packages'" include multiple songs with tab & audio was actually Danny Paisley and me, and www.bernunzio.com Shop ONLINE for the best selec­ lessons, also taught by Janet, which are based upon the tions of BANJOS , PARTS and ACCESSORIES or visit playing of J.D Crowe, Ben Eldridge, Bill Emerson,Aian Donnie Eldreth playing mandolin. Billy our new showroom. BERNUNZIO UPTOWN MUSIC, Munde, and other influential musicians, with their per­ on bass. And Jerry Lundy playing fiddle. Banjos, Guitars, Mandolins, Ukuleles 122 East Ave, missions. The new website will be adding items regu­ BNL: Did you record with them? Rochester NY 14604 (585)473-6140 larly, including articles, pictures, videos, books, plus OME BANJOS Bluegrass, Old-Time, Irish and Jazz. many items which have been archived until now. These BR: No; wish I would've. Then I kind of Free color catalogue. E-mail: [email protected], are offered by digital download at wwwjanetdavispub­ quit for about two years. In the meantime www.omebanjos.com, (303) 449-0041, lishing.com. Also, Janet is teaching at the Suwannee I was filling in once in a while for Walter BLUEGRASS PICKERS IN EUROPE! We stock a Banjo Camp on April6-9, 2017 in Live Oak, Florida. large selection of guitars, banjos, mandolins and Do­ http://www.suwanneebanjocamp .com/ Hensley, with Dee Gunter and them. Then brosTM of major brands. See our inventory on our website LICK CARDS: Up to 81 licks are isolated on playing he and Gunter split up, and Gunter called at www.saitensprung.ch. Musikhaus Saitensprung, Un­ cards. Endlessly rearrange them to create new solos! A terstadt 27, CH-8200 Schaffhausen, Switz. Tel +41-52- great way to learn to improvise. Order Basic Scruggs, me about getting a band together. But 6258111 , E-mail [email protected] Up the Neck, Reno, Mandolin or Guitar. $11.50 per set. before that, we had got the Square Deal TURTLE fiLL BANJO CO. has a good selection Hear all the licks and song examples with a compan­ band, with the players that played for Del. of new and used banjos. We are dealers for Deering, ion CD, $10.00 per CD. Andy Cushing, 6079 McKinley Nechville, Orne, Reiter, Stelling, and other banjos. We Pkwy, Hamburg, NY 14075 And as far as I'm concerned, that was also have used banjos, including lots of prewar Gib­ sons. WE ALSO BUY! Box 2866, La Plata, MD 20646. BANJOTEACHER.COM features over 20 Ross one of the best bands I ever played with. Phone: 301-274-3441. Visit our websites: www.turtle­ Nickerson Book/CDs and DVDs. Recent DVDs include It was really good, and we had fun. We How to Practice Banjo, Rock Solid Timing + Backup, hillbanjo.com and www.banjoukes.com recorded that one record, "Country Boy MARTIN GUITARS: Find out why we're your best Playing in Different Keys. New Ross Nickerson "Made source. Hundreds in stock-wide price range . ELDERLY Easy" for Banjos Books released. Special wire bound Rock N Roll" in 1985, and I don't think INSTRUMENTS, 1100 N. Washington, Lansing, MI versions of The Banjo Encyclopedia, "Bluegrass Banjo anybody ever recorded that song better 48906. 888-473-5810 or 517-372-7890. www.elderly.com from A to Z". www.banjoteacher.com 1-866-322-6567 CHUCK LEE BANJOS· Built for you in Ovilla, Texas. than that. And then Gunter, he quit, and www.chuckleebanjos.com, 972-617-5576 • STRINGS & then we got Leroy Cole to play, and then CEDAR MOUNTAIN BANJOS, second generation Harold Tippman, and we had a bunch of builders of openback banjos and banjo ukes in various sizes and scale lengths. New models and options ACCESSORIES • jobs booked up. And then I kinda just quit available. Brevard, NC. Www.cedarmtnbanjos.com REPAIR AND BUILD BANJOS, MANDOLINS, playing. And Gunter came around again, VICTOR BANJOLAS hand built by Edward Victor VIOLINS. Free catalog packed with thousands of parts, Dick, 5 and 6 string models in nylgut and steel string tools, woods , kits, books and videos. Featuring Stew Mac and wanted to start it up again. [laughter] versions. See them and hear them@ wwwbanjolas.com tools and Waverly machines. Stewart-MacDonald, Box And I said, Well, I don't know ... you CLAREEN BANJOS, manufacturers of top quality 900-A, Athens, OH 45701. (800) 848-2273 www.stew­ banjos . Irish banjo-maker offers a range of new and vin­ mac.com done the same thing to me again. Cut one tage banjos, repairs and reproductions. A full range of PROPIK FINGER and Thumb picks. Introducing the CD, then quit. But we practiced every accessories is also available. Visitors to Ireland welcome. Quick-Pik thumb pick. Narrow width plectrum produces Contact Tom Cussen, phone +00353 91 796156. Fax: Thursday night; I'd drive down to just VOL. XLIV-{) I 'BBit1o Ne'W'SLe1>1>er ~ BNL Subscription Rates J this side of Newark, Delaware. Close to J.D. Crowe, and I don't believe in that. I 1 year, U.S: $28 (2 years, $50) • where Donnie lived. And we were just believe do your own thing. Do it right. Put Canada, surface: $40 (2 years, $72) really starting to cut it. And Gunter quit your notes in time. Time, rhythm , and tone • U.S. & Canada, First Class: $46, again. And I just about ended it then, is all Earl Scruggs ever played. You know, $86 • Foreign: $44 because I had to fill these jobs in. I could I gotta hunt on the banjo where to get the Online subscriptions: $19.99 have canceled them, but I didn't want to. tone-some of them are back toward the with access to six years of back I wanted to play. And so we just have bridge, and some are farther away ... played a year or two after that. I had all BNL: You change it up some, don't you? copy issues these J -. Leroy, Tippton-both on BR: Yeah. You change that up. And you 44-year cumulative Tablature guitar. have to do that on a banjo to get the right and Contents Indexes, BNL: \\ en was all this? After Del went to tone. Depends on whether you're gonna m. Nashville? put a run in, or back-up, or whatever. And ago. He played that way for years. BR: Yeah. In the 90s.Butljustcouldn'tfind that's what Scruggs did. And I've got those out BR: Years! But he could play. And he had a guitar player around here that played the DVDs, and I still watch Scruggs. I just told ·er, his own style. He basically played Scruggs kind of . Lhm that I was used to playing. Larry, By god I just learned something up style, but he did unusual stuff, like Lady of BNL: Thaf hard to find. Is there anything that Earl did that I never noticed that Spain, World's Waiting for a Sunrise, air you say about your playing he did. .. Down the Road. He puts two that kind of stuff. But he was a barroom technique t banjo players would thumbs in there. And its like in Foggy Mt. man. They had him booked all over understand- and I might not? Breakdown; Del showed me that. There's see the country, when he did that r~cord for BR: Well. a of banjo players, in my two thumbs in a row there as well. Donnie Columbia. And he said I'm going home to opinion.~ · pu too much stuff in. Like and I were both sitting there watching Del do? Baltimore, I'm not going to tour. I said be o ~.I ould hit something, play do this, and Dannie said, No wait a minute! :\nd But they were playing bluegrass down it a little ·r dlfferently from anybody Stop right now. What are you doing there? in Baltimore. else. And Del ays liked that. He liked And Del said, Well I'm just playing ... And BNL: So you got your current band now. somebod~ . ing a little bit different. Donnie said But you're doing something BR: Still at it. Practice every week. That's But basica..:· play what Jimmy martin different! And that's what it was. And you the only way you can stay good. But a lot called the 5-3- roll. Jimmy told me that. can hear Scruggs do that: two thumbs in of these younger musicians don't want That's wha= · ~ his banjo players do: a row. But in perfect time. And in Down to practice. I .,don't know why. They just fifth string. · -:ring, one: the forward the Road, if you do that, your roll comes want to show up, and play. You can't do roll. And thai ·- ically where I would out right. And it feels good; feels like its that. Specially if you're gonna sing three­ start any bod~, ;f • ey wanted to play like supposed to be that way. And it was just part harmony or something. You have me. But the . to learn them turn­ little stuff like that that Earl would do. to practice saying your words together. arounds and And it was normal to him, but he had That's one thing we did with Del, we them. If you re ~ want to learn to play that perfect timing. He was just the best. I practiced that. Some of those songs, I banjo, it's nor - as you think it is.lt's know there are a lot of good banjo players, don't know if it was ever released-the hard, but no as hard as I thought when I and I like to hear them too. song Detour. Donnie said it was on a Bear started. Because I didn't know any of that BNL: How about Walt Hensley? ailed Family collection. But we had to switch stuff. And I didn · w a lot of it when I BR: Oh, yeah. I picked up some things from But parts on that. I'd go to lead, and he'd go was playing \\i Del. And Jimmy Martin him. I'd walk in to the Cub Hill down there, Deal to tenor, and Del on the last part of the actually showed me a couple things on and he'd say Runkle, come up here and Del. chorus, he'd go to high baritone, and I'd banjo. Like the · -off on Rain Go Away, play a couple. I got up there, and he might was go to tenor. And Donnie'd come up on the Jimmy showed me that. He could show never come back! I'd get to play all night! with. lead. And that's the kind of stuff you gotta me with two fingers what he wanted. But one night Jim McCall was playing . We workout. Sitting right there in that chair. He came in there, and to me, Jim was the nearest thing · Boy continued online at banjonews.com here one night \\ith Hugh King, and Hugh to Lester Flatt that ever walked the stage. think said, Jimmy. can you still sing as loud as And boy, I really enjoyed that night. Cause better you used to? He said. \Vhere's your guitar, I played all night long. t. and Gentlemen. To my knowledge, there has Runkle? I went and got it, and he started BNL: You played, and Walt got paid. then been no further information about him. singing Blue Moon of Kentucky. And the BR: And Gunter would do the same thing. ch of According to a discussion on the internet, veins were sticking out of his neck. I said If a guitar played walked in, Gunter would t quit he quit playing long ago. Still I would very Yeah, I guess you can. So then he wanted disappear-I don't know what they did ... again, much like an interview if that would be me to play one of his songs, kick it off. But Walter, he was a good guy. Last time I ghter] possible. After all, I consider him a really Well, if you didn't kick it off exactly like saw Walter it was a couple of years before . you good picker and it seems to me he deserves he wanted, he wouldn't sing it. And I bet I he died. And he had that finger he just utone some credit. (Apart from Irish Spring, kicked it off six or eight times before I got couldn't straighten out. every James Bailey plays on the last 12 cuts on it right. He wanted you to play it just like BNL: Yeah but that happened a long time o just continued online at banjonews.com