Maurice Bolyer - Canada's King of the Banjo

[vincenz55]

here is another banjo blast from the past from other unkown but amazing player.

watch?v=8xWZKOIvi08

[vincenz55]

The undisputed king of banjo here really

watch?v=tc13cPihvqA

[inkeldinky]

@vincenz55 His skill seems better although I can't help but prefer maurice's comfortable vibe and melodies.

nice reference, man. would not have discovered lou calabrese without you :)

[vincenz55]

@inkeldinky possibly in that sense but its hard to say for sure in the only clip of him.

here is another banjo blast from the past from other unkown but amazing player.

watch?v=8xWZKOIvi08

[SingHouse]

Dear God,

We will give you Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga in exchange for Maurice Boyler.

Thank you.

[mancheromanchero]

@SingHouse justin bieber's canadian. you can have him for free.

[nateaka1]

SUPER MARIO THEM SONG

[neon854]

He is so awesome...

[TheFiddlerforlife]

maurice used to have music with my dad in hamiltonontariowhere he lived on upper wellington street.he played banjo while my dad played paino and there fiddler friend walter munn played with them.a truly class of man and musician you dont find anymore..he should of had his own show not a shadow under tommy hunter.

[caduceus61]

oh how i wonder if my late father knew of this performer. I hear much playing/styling similarities, although not as finished professional performer as Marice, I think he could of held his own pretty well... brings tears to my eyes. wow Marice!

[nekotanmori]

I think the banjo is the happiest sounding instrument ever invented.

[Corrie121]

Genius !!

Thank you for sharing.

[cryptrider1]

Hi Jack. It's a shame more people haven't added videos of Maurice on YOuTube.

Anyone would be hard pressed to find another banjo player of his caliber. Thank you so much for the posting!

Terry in Alexis, NC, USA

[lordstompy]

He killed it!!! Stone dead!

[746c]

i blead from my nose because of its epicness

[edgarshatt]

You won't find too many who can play a tenor banjo like that! A great song for the tenor.....love it!

[krushnoi]

Forward to 3:00 to see a fantastic version of Limehouse Blues, best I've ever heard on banjo , and this includes the bluegrass greats. The single note melody picking is really sweet.

[NicandFont]

Canada is a wunderbar land !!!!

Bravo ! bravo ! bravo!

[NicandFont]

I love soooo much canadian spirituality !!!!

Waw! !!! proud to be one of them !

hehe!!

[guitarslim56]

@NicandFont, They gots the best foods, too!

[gbmargie]

@TheBlitz1 I think you have a major problem, why don't you grow up a little. I'm old enough to be your mother so stop wasting my time and others time. Have a little respect on Mr. Bolyer's page. Don't bother with your rude comments. They mean nothing to me.

[gbmargie]

@Theblitz's1 Thank you for the rude email and comment. VERY MATURE.

[JimmyDeLocke]

How can anybody not like this? The second tune, by the way is Lime House Blues. I play three finger style on a five string, but I love these hot tenor banjo guys -- they RIP!

[746c]

woah, I never knew of this guy! This really amazing talent!

[Sunburst64]

wow.

[brensilk]

That's rediculous... he is amazing!

[rtreb02]

So proud to call this man my grandfather! Grew up listening to his records.

[gbmargie]

@rtreb02 That's awesome! Your grandfather was such a wonderful man. my father just passed away in june and to this day he would still listen to the cassette tapes that my dad had made when Mr. Bolyer would come over to the restaurant and play. We'd have gatherings at night time when he would play music with some of my cousins...apparently he would also go to my grandfather's in his younger days and play with my Uncle Gilbert. I'm happy I had the pleasure to know him.

[CrazyChrisChaos]

btw its Maurice Beaulieu. its a french name. bolyer lol

[kweshunators]

I never get tired of watching this guy shred. All the wankers out there should listen and learn.

[caissiexx]

@maryhad1lamb

haha he's my uncle! (:

[Nationsnotregimes]

8 thumbs down ? Mental midget can vote here so that explains that.

Thanks for this post !

[jozo1816]

this is a true treat ...ty!

[CrazyChrisChaos]

I live in that guys hometown. Nice to see a video of him

[Thebanjofellah]

Good player. But i like the 5-string much more. And the picking instead of just hitting the strings. But man this guy is fast.

People to check out: Raymond Fairchild and Earl Scruggs.

[kemlo]

if theres anyone, anywhere, that can play the tenor banjo better than the late, great, maurice bolyer, bring em on. id love to see it.

[neon854]

No "Mr. Slowhand" there... that's for sure. He's untouchable.

[neon854]

Probably the best banjo player on youtube!

[matheuslcintra]

I thought i had heard "seeeeeeega" in the very begining of the video...

[Medyshel]

Only one thing: that's AWESOME! I want to play the banjo...

[neon854]

-Almost at least!

[neon854]

Uhh.. I'm gonna get a right hand like that on my banjo one day.. :)

[EasilyWowed]

Maurice Beaulieu - was his original name.

From:  Edmundston, New Brunswick/Nouveau Brunswick, Canada.

[m2esectr]

What a delight to finally see Maurice play for the TV crowd! I just uploaded his entire "Golden Banjo Classics" 2-LP set which has marked my childhood a lot.

[FrickaKMD]

I NEEED THESE TABS!!!!!

[FrickaKMD]

i just bought a banjo any good songs i can listen to?

[dcb888]

@FrickaKMD The Devil Makes Three

[FrickaKMD]

what?

[dcb888]

@FrickaKMD its a good band to listen to

[CoffeeShopification]

@FrickaKMD The songs I mentioned are all 5-string melodic/bluegrass banjo tunes, hopefulyy that's what you're looking for.

[CoffeeShopification]

@FrickaKMD Tons, check out osme of the following: Randy Lynn Rag, Foggy Mountain Breakdown, Blackberry Blossom, Cripple Creek, Devil's Dream, Dueling Banjos, the list goes on.

[FrickaKMD]

@CoffeeShopification ight son thanks

[FrickaKMD]

yeee!

[bobby493]

that's reeeally nice!

[chickengnawer]

Maybe some of u don't know Maurice was an AWESOME PIANIST, as well! U should hear his THE BLUEBIRD BOOGIE!

[lemonadie]

My dad owns a banjo that was first owned by Maurice Bolyer, and then passed down to John Russell of Vehicle (Rock Group). He's selling this banjo - message if anyone is interested!

[apherigo]

Thanks for all your help! I just recieved it this weekend. It's a GREAT banjo and I'm looking foward to getting it setup to PLAY!!!

[lemonadie]

This banjo has been sold - but thanks for all the interest!

[madhoneydew]

uhhh.... where what and how much

[TruegrassBoy]

By the way - This guy is chord based and Earl Scruggs, Don Reno, Raymond Fairchild and the bluegrass guys are note based players. Can't compare them - but personally I like the bluegrass musicians much better. This style of playing gets boring after awhile.

[TruegrassBoy]

Sacre Bleu! Mon Doo!

[unstopedpiano]

Wow this is great thanks for posting!

[notpyg]

Eille lui y brayonne son banjo ct'effreyable, yes mon'homme..

[bauble24]

Wa wa te le dis!

[bauble24]

As one from the same hometown as Maurice (Edmundston) I'm proud that the king of the banjo is a fellow Brayon. He was born Beaulieu but changed the spelling to make it sound more English

[BrunoEspo]

wow!

[bluegrasscannuk]

Nice to see ol' Maurice on these clips from our own Tommy Hunter Show. Scruggs & Maurice's styles completely different.

But wouldn't it be great to play off Maurice & Don Reno doing single string picking. Maurice using just flat pick and Reno his thumb and index finger. Reno's signature style.

[elanmak]

Don't forget that older film's playback is a lot faster than the original performance. Still, this guy's unreal.

[AlexSalseroBoricua]

with all do respect for mr earl scruggs... but his nothing compare to maurice...im not saying earl is a bad player but daaammm look at this man.. he's amazing....

[bluedanbob]

It's not fair to compare Maurice and Earl; Maurice was a four string plectrum/tenor picker, Earl played a five string which is tuned and played differently.

That said, I agree, fair or not, that a master four string picker puts the best of the bluegrass boys to shame.

[bigzach1000]

The plectrum banjo and the five string banjo are completely different instruments altogether. Comparing the two would be like comparing a guitar to a ukelele: they kinda look the same and are physically played in a similar manner but they are performed upon very differently for their own particular style and are of a different size, tuning and string arrangement. That fifth string does make a world of difference. That being said, this guy is one of the finest tenor banjoists I have seen.

[Itheprosperone]

I don't think you can really compare at all.

Thats like trying to say Julian Bream is 10 times better than Joe Satriani. The styles are SO different, especially in terms of the techniques and actual music, its impossible to compare the two. Both guys can pretty much play anything they want on their respective instruments. Who is better? Thats just silly. Both are top notch and as good as it gets!

[artistfood]

Bravo!!! Thats amazing. I just learned this song but it will be awhile before I can come close to playing anything like that.

Great work Maurice!

[NCCoffee]

more like one less reason to hate Canada haha

[Medyshel]

wow!

[mafre029]

feaking epic, one more reason to love canada

[BarrNaCnoic]

@mafre029 Totally agree. What a talent he was wow!

[carterroberts]

He plays a tenor banjo tuned low to high C G D A. He tunes the C string up an octave though. Mandolines and violins are a 5th higher, not an octave.

[dear2world]

great!

[Kweshun]

I live in a land of many banjo players. Here in Western North Carolina there are fantastic players but no one plays with such timing and total command as this gem Maurice. The triplits are killer. I am a drummer and am blown away by speed and also grace. I notice the Dixeland influence but would love to know what else shaped his style. How did do all that with a pick? May he rest in peace.

[gbmargie]

my goodness. i never thought i would find maurice here. he was my dad's best friend. he would come over and play with two cousins of mine. this is great!! he's been gone for a long time but will not be forgotten.

[caissiexx]

.. that's great that he's your dad's best friend, he's my uncle:)

[TheBlitz1]

@gbmargie bs

[gbmargie]

@TheBlitz1 "bs" ya, okay.

[TheBlitz1]

@gbmargie your full of shit

[PIYUSH1188]

@gbmargie maurice is irreplaceable :,( 

[allthatjazz2000]

Awesome!

[evsynator]

great to be able to see and hear this .... Mark b , YOU MUST BE VERY PROUD !

[caissiexx]

who is mark b :S ?

[dave777blaster]

I always called him Mr Blur Hands

He was one of the best if not the best Banjo

player

[cenahater5001]

man they must have some shitty banjos in canada, that was fast but didnt sound right

[69stringibanez]

im pretty sure he played american made banjo's

[DirkTheDaring2]

It's a tenor, it's voicing and tuning is completely different from the five string.

[strumem90]

haven't you heard of 50 year old recordings and there audio.......there about as bright as your mind :P

- Strumem90

[ballsofsteel3]

man hes amazing wish i could play like that

[mkbeaulieu]

Thank you for your kind comments, Maurice was my dad and it's folks like yourself that help keep his memory and music alive. I recently attended his induction into the National Four String Banjo Hall of Fame, in Oklahoma City. It was truly an honor to witness the respect accorded to both his music and his kindness and generosity.

Once again, I thank both you and everyone else out there for keeping his legacy alive.

Cheers

Mark B

[petitouest]

Maurice was born and raised from where I live, Edmundston New-Brunswick. I am super proud of what he did and I get the chills every time I hear his music. It's sad that people from my generation (Im 25) don't know him. Even here in Edmundston, we don't hear his name very often... I try to talk about him to as many folks as possible to make him immortal... Cheers to the king of the banjo!!!

[FrogBanjoMaestro]

great!

[lazyoldjack]

WTF?

[totaltjefflamorker]

Give me tabs please :O

[banjoguy69]

In this video he is playing Tenor Banjo. He might also play plectrum but all the videos and pictures i have seen of him are with a tenor in his hands.

[killerT134]

pic it son pick it

[orionsman]

He plays a plectrum banjo, tuned from high to low: d-b-g-c. Tenor banjo is a-d-g-c. Irish tenor banjo is e-a-d-g, exactly one octave below mandolin or violin, which is the intended advantage for players already aquainted with fiddle or mandolin.

[carterroberts]

He plays a tenor banjo, tuned low to high C G D A. He tuned the C string an octave higher, however. Incidentillay, its exactly a fifth lower than the mandolin or violin, not an octave!

[oriolserna]

diosss, es el puto amo.....quin maquina

[HarekYarifind]

Yep he is a king...

[Sorpari]

Amazing :o

[xoxJazzBabyxox]

*drools*

man...it puts my playing to shame for sure :) what a swell guy

[kemlo]

simply the best at what he did.thank you,you tube.or else we would never have seen maurice in action.

[bobby493]

wow this guy sounds great, really nice picking

[netwitted]

Besides playing a a mean banjo, he has the smile, look, and style that would have qualified him for an appearance on the Lawrence Welk Show

[maksicar]

Maurice ( Beaulieu,I believe was his actual name), was a great all round musician,usually featured on the tenor banjo,and always willing to pass on any of his knowledge & technique to others.Merci Maurice.

[spanishchico23]

amazing, wish i could have seen him play in person

[D2DRacing]

mint eh

[tonetwisted]

the speed and consistency of his chord picking is ridiculous...

[bill52]

great man  i had one of his albums but cannot find wish i could

[Deifux]

what was the game i played.. mario i think.. i must have been 5 years old when i played it, and im 90% sure it had this song in backround

[beluckee]

The Russ Conway of the banjo.....Great stuff!

[stringcordeta]

Nice & beautiful

[fumarin]

Respect!

[artreg]

Наши балалаешники круче+)

[Arahont1]

да нифига :)

разные стили :):)

[artreg]

Предатель=)

[joshoctblack]

calm down

[canada647]

Edmundston, New Brunswick, Canada (Madawaska County).

Their finest export!

He is/was amazing; banjo players abroad will agree!!

Maurice was a class act.

[bauble74]

We can also lay claim to Maryse Ouellet, Roch Voisine and the creator of the 3D Puzzle.

[highspeedstall2]

Clips from the old Tommy Hunter show. Likely if you asked any of these great players who they admired, the name Eddie Peabody would come up. A little eccentric, but what genius isnt.

[zelde025]

MAURICE BOLYER is one of the greatest! We also have JOHN BECKER and SEAN MOYSES from the USA.

Paul Zelders.(NL)

[epiphany55]

I love that bit at 1:26 - Maurice has an awesome sense of groove!

[dc6666666]

This is annoying.

[tonetwisted]

what's annoying? having to read stupid comments about good content?

[joshoctblack]

you know what is even more retarded, is pple like you posting stupid comments about pple voicing their positive opinions.

[tonetwisted]

you have no idea what i'm talking about. my comment is a reply to dc6666666 who said "this is annoying". if you were paying attention, you might notice that i've already posted positive comments about this video. So who's annoying? the guy who makes a comment about someone else's negative comment(me), or the guy who decides to bitch at someone for something he doesn't even know about(you)?

[bill52]

I had one of his records, anyone know if they have any CD'S

[teejate]

Holy Shit.

[hartabe]

yep he is a king

[Robin18us]

The best plectrum banjo player I ever heard in my life time...

[LadyThelma]

Unbelievable! I have never heard the Banjo played as well as this. Leave it to a Canadian (my Dad was also born in Canada) Rest in Peace, Maurice and I hope you are playing music up in Heaven.

[Thevi2Olin]

Awesome!!!

[Deathwysh]

So... why didn't his pick burst into flames?

[girlsngear]

What tuning does he use?

[jackconvery]

Tenor banjo tunin-C G B A

[girlsngear]

You mean 4 string jazz tuning, here in Ireland tenor tuning means G/D/A/E

[carterroberts]

I believe its low to high C G D A with the C tuned an octave higher than standard.

[creamofcardstv]

Your video clip is great and I've rated it as awesome. Please check out mine on some 1920's trading cards of musical instruments, including the banjo.

[paulreeve]

Truly AMAZING !

[TJFUSA]

Un-freaking-believable. That was just great. Thanks for posting this.

[barneybigard]

Fantastic musician. I believe that the second title is "Limehouse blues"

[COARSEGROOVER]

"The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise", "Alabamy Bound" and "Green Grass Of Home"

[barneybigard]

Oups !! It's correct, sorry

[rahtolo]

What a great banjo player!!! Why have i never heard of him before?

[Doogerd]

Cuz he's Canadian! We had his albums around the house when I was a kid, he's the first banjo player I heard of (course I'm Canadian too). ;)