Picnic night at Othar Turner's farm, Gravel Springs (1978)

[vulcan1429]

We in the nirth were taught that this was called "shufflin'" and it was bad and to be ashamed of. What a disaster! This is our culture and it is wonderful and dissapearing...fast!

[kentrob90]

walk it out

[jyaas]

Everyday they're shuffling!

[KiefKing215]

@jyaas HAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA SERIOUSLY MADE ME LAUGH!!!

[danielkugler]

i was lucky to see othar play at chicago blues fest about ten years ago or so... in his 90s, i guess. wonderful man.

[anpuca]

@volfan911 - Thanks for the info, great stuff. We have quite a few fife and drum bands here in Ireland, up in the north. Sad to here that Otha has passed on I will certainly be looking up more of his music on the net. Thanks again.

[anpuca]

Was the music in Gangs of New York based on this? Very similar indeed.

[volfan911]

@anpuca - The man playing the fife (bamboo flute) is Otha Turner. He is actually the man who recorded the song, "Shimme She Wobble", which Scorsese used in Gangs of New York.

Do a quick google search of him and you'll learn all about fife-and-drum music. Interesting stuff.

[volfan911]

@anpuca - btw, Otha was a close friend of my former employer, an attorney in Nashville who helped secure Otha a recording deal late in life. This attorney still throws a block party called "Ode to Otha" summer on his birthday. Sadly, Otha passed away a few years ago. His granddaughter, Sharde Thomas, is carrying on the tradition.

[gold003]

yes they use Othars exact songs in it. It might be his own recordings. Bounce ball and shimmy she wobble.

[onionsandcheese]

So glad someone put this up.