Bluegrass Roots - These Folks Started It All

[MrWill99313]

FANTASTIC!!!!

[LKathyRunkle]

Wow. How cool is this?

[mike54101527]

They weren't know for their good looks! lol

[markstar777]

great stuff

[killasplooge]

has anyone mentioned the name of this song? i looked through the comments but didnt see anything. i'm in love with this.

[kevycon]

I love this! Thank you for sharing!

[Tthorpe456]

This just reminds me of my family picnic singing sessions on the farm. I took it all for granted then, but I was lucky to have such talented aunts and uncles and a mom and dad that loved making music!

[BLUEMOONGRASS]

luv this video..I have written a new HIGH LONESOME traditional bluegrass song and is up now at bluemoongrass..HILLS OF KENTUCKY..harlan county...bout the Kentucky coal miners of Harlan kentucky...check it out..live demo onely.

[dermbsch]

I've looked around the internet, and can't find this song! Here is my transcription of the lyrics and chords:

[G]Can you see the holy city from where you stand?

[G]Saints and the angels see [A]how they [D]land

and your [G]burdens are lifted, your soul set free

won't you come over and [D]dance by [G]me?

[G]Dance, Lee Ann (?), [C]dance with [G]me

with our friends and loved ones we can [A]hear and [D]see

and your [G]burdens are lifted, your soul set free

won't you come over [D]dance with [G]me?

[TheMeljude51]

"bluegrass" is derived from many different genres of music; irish celtic, appalachian folk(like these people), even delta blues (look up Bluegrass Stomp by Bill Monroe) Let us not forget the Carter family for which was Bill Monroe's roots, but also let us not forget Bill Monroe himself , the father of bluegrass. without his decisions bluegrass wouldnt be bluegrass.

[UP58]

I have long been an admirer of Bascom Lamar Lunsford, ever since my first Mountain Dance and Folk Festival in Asheville decades ago. However, the term "bluegrass" may be inappropriate. This is old-time mountain or traditional music. Sure, they are related, but why not call it what it is? See Loyal Jones' book about this remarkable collector and musician: "Minstrel of the Appalachians: The Story of Bascom Lamar Lunsford" Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 2002). ISBN 978-0813190273

[Behatzailea]

Great video. I loved it. Thanks for sharing. Regards from Ireland

[roffus420]

i saw these 2 people on another video call the best bluegrass clog dancing video ever. but i dont think they were playing in the band in that video.

[BillyRosinet]

That bajo playing was obviously paying attention to old Earl Scruggs recordings!

[RedRoosterParty]

I have listened to Bascom Lamar Lunsford's recordings for years, and until this video I had never seen him perform. This is wonderful. Thank you for putting this up.

[seymourbbest]

Started it all? This looks as tho it was done in the 50s. It started long before that.

[tartantarget]

Yeah, white people invented this genre of music. Sure.

[plainolamerican]

@tartantarget

yes, they did - get over it

for you to question it proves your ignorance

you must be black, jewish or some other minority?

[tzimtzum1618]

@plainolamerican Perhaps your right about his question proving his ignorance...but then you follow with a question that proves your's....

[corinaconniff]

David thanks for this film on Bascom Lamar Lusnford. One of the best films ever made about mountain music and dancing. I Met you before, my wife Corina and I had dinner with you and your wife at La Bruschetta you gave me your film "sing sing thanksgiving. anyway I am looking for a song from the Bascom Lamar Lunsford documentary it was and man and woman in their 30' to 40's singing a duet on the farm. can you post it here? Ona

[allinaday]

Hello again Ona: The best way to get the song would be to buy the DVD. Touch the hotlink Below the screen on this YouTube page and it will take you to the correct page on my website where you can get the DVD. Thank you for asking. And for the compliment.

David Hoffman – filmmaker

[rwwood48]

I wished this was longer. Nice piece of history there ! People really got along sitting on the porch back then. Musicians were "self taught" back then.

[scbroadcaster]

Does anyone know the name of this song? It's great!!

[gueloutu]

beutiful song ......nice music i loved  .me gusta mucho buena musica .saludos desde Puerto Rico ...

[mattcarter022502]

This is so awesome, I can't believe that is my grandmother, and step-grandfather. I didn't know these videos existed. Thanks!

[rebeline]

I disagree that they' started' it all- they recorded and popularized it.

[rebeline]

I disagree that they' started' it all- they recorded and popularized it. They are to bluegrass and hillbilly as Green Day is to punk.

[TheStrainers]

great film....classic... we need to go back to these times

[pappyfiddle]

@TheStrainers maybe if the democrats keep tweekin the economy we will be there soon - no electricity, whatever ya got is whatcha get to play on

[TheStrainers]

@pappyfiddle HAHAHA nice! The Left side has been ruining where I'm from in Cal for decades

[46r11]

I love this kind of music

[BLUEMOONGRASS]

takes me right back home to east Tennessee and the Del Rio mountains and Fugate church years ago...GREAT

[MachuPicchuTours]

A+++

Thanks for sharing!

Saludos from Machu Picchu, Peru!

[allinaday]

@MachuPicchuTours - Thank you for your thoughts from so far away. I have always wanted to go where you are. What do you do there? Are you a musician? A video maker?

David Hoffman -- filmmaker

[MiamiReviews]

@allinaday

im not sure how the system works--for instance it says David Hoffman--as if it were the person that made the films talking.. but it says allinaday--but then if you click on allinaday it sends you somewhere else where the persons name is "Porter"...

[allinaday]

@MiamiReviews I am not sure what you are finding but I am the YouTube channel, Allinaday. I am also David Hoffman, the documentary filmmaker of this and several hundred other documentaries that I present on my channel. Thank you for your query.

David Hoffman -- filmmaker

[adamtheham]

My family are hill folk, but we never had a tradition of music in the family. I'm actually one of the first ones to play music. I'm slowly trying to establish a tradition of music in my family. Traditions like these never need to go away. and I'm doing my part to keep it alive.

[xSNOWYJOEx]

@adamtheham yeah man me too. keep playin, never stop

[MauroPavanelli]

great music.

[cabeto3]

Thank you Mr. Hoffman for this treasure film!

Carlos Espinosa from Nicaragua, Central America.

[lowell191]

love this. i will aleays love it.

[chapie9]

This video just took me back 40 years. I really miss those times.

[fanakopan]

im english, but i love this music. thank you.x

[jacobywilson]

whats the name of this song??

[poopstain565]

Bill Monroe started Bluegrass music back in the early 40,s. I am 66 years old and i grew up listening to Bluegrass. My whole family played some kind of insturment and bluegrass was their favorite music.

CARL

[crustlord1]

do some more reseach and see who really started it

[generallee36]

@crustlord1

It was all called mountain Music until Bill Monroe came along and coined the term "Bluegrass Music", and I don't have to do more research as I remember the times as they were. Into the 40s, Bluegrass, country, Mountain, and Western Swing were grouped together and all called "HillBilly" Music. You would hear them all on one radio station.

Really nice to see these kind of discussions taking place in todays times though.

Have a blessed Day.

[booth805]

thank you so much for the time, effort, and the videos Mr. Hoffman

[tunderbomber]

No technology. Just two voices, two instruments and a world of magic unfolds.

[TruegrassBoy]

When I was a kid everyone I knew had a banjo or fiddle or guitar hanging on the wall an most of 'em knew how to play 'em!

[allinaday]

That is the world that I saw when I filmed this. A beautiful world of families where music was as relevant as food and sleep. An extraordinary society that was just plain fun and touching to be around. You are lucky you had your youth as you did.

David Hoffman -- filmmaker

[MrMarvette1]

@allinaday Thank you very much for filming these wonderful music bits from our American Past. Your images portray the early American Character from which we descend to today.

[rbheiss]

A glimps of the America I remember and hold so dear! Thanks!!!!

Rolland B. Heiss

[ilililhy]

This is the music i grew up as a kid playing with my folks,well everybody knew how to play something in the family.this was just normal everyday life for me,i thought everyone in america played this kind of music growing up.

[crispinchicken]

its true, Bill Monroe is the only man who can actually be credited with "inventing" bluegrass, and he did that long before the 60s.

[tgillespie67]

Just reading comments and thought you might be interested to know Bascom Lunsford did not invent bluegrass, but he made it famous. He played/danced at the White House for Roosevelt, even for the Queen of England. He taught my Dad to play the fiddle and my Dad played for him for quite some time. I grew up and still live about 1 mile from his home place. This is his 2nd wife w/ him, don't remember her name. Also, he was famous well before 1964. He was a talented man.

[tgillespie67]

David, I didn't realize you were the one who posted this. My Dad has your other film and loves it. I believe it has my Great Great uncle in it plowing with a mule or something. My Dad has watched it many times and loves it. Thanks for posting this footage on here, I've spent the day looking up videos for my 87 yr old Father to watch, he loved this one... It's wondeful that you have this piece of history...

[allinaday]

Thank you for writing to me. You are so lucky to live where you do. I am aware of everything you say. In fact I did a documentary on it that you might enjoy. You can find it thehoffmancollection. It tells the part of the story you have written and a lot more that I uncovered during the year that it took me to make that movie.

[tgillespie67]

Thanks for writing back, my Dad does have your other documentary and has watched it many times. I'm going to buy him this one along with some other dvds about the history of this area for Christmas. And yes, I do feel honored to live in an area with such a rich history...

Have a wonderful day!

Tammy

[BIGART1950]

Well people they said it was 1964,, so I'm sure this was'nt the start, just some folks settin on the porch singing and he happened up on them Thanks

[sneakysnake2121]

yup i definatel dont think he meant they started it all but its from a setting like that that bluegrass was started just some front porch pickin by people who needed a break from there day since there wern't no radios

[tldwebmaster]

These Folks Started It All

===

hogwash

[Hikikomori013]

I don't think he meant that these two on screen invented bluegrass.

The people who produced and released the original film brought Bluegrass to the national attention and started a movement that still continues, moving Bluegrass from a few scattered pockets of enthusiasts to a growing wave of fans around the world.

[tldwebmaster]

I'm sure they would like to take credit for it. But the fact is, there is not a single enity that can take credit for the success for the popularity or distribution of bluegrass music. The publishing industry, owned by a few, can't take credit for the music - just the profits.

[cabinbowman]

I wish I had video footage of my great grandfather playing his music. He knew the Carter family well, his name was CHarlie Bowman. =)

[k4jdp]

Does anyone here know if Bascom and John Jacob Niles ever met one another? If they ever did they must have had a lot to talk about as both were pioneer song collectors.

[hakea801]

bluegrass comes from english folk, irish comes from spain they have whistles!

[Commentarian1]

You would think... actually, English folk is a type all it's own. Bluegrass is a type all it's own. Guitars came from Moorish Spain, initially. But it is not safe to conclude that all genres to include them are Spanish in origin. Nor have I heard many whistles in Bluegrass...

[hakea801]

you only have to listen to the names in the songs,julie JENKINS,tom HARDY, george COLLINS,joe CLARK, ellen SMITH, english names,middle england to be precise,decendants of henry the X111 bastards!

[Commentarian1]

Lol, brush up already... The most notorious English king to ever sire those who would end up in the New World is EDWARD. Henry the XIII had a hard anough time producing a male heir and his daughter who took the throne was barren.

[plucknpick]

This is wonderful. I love Lunsfords two finger sytle... it is amazing to see who has added and refined Bluegrass to what it is today....

Thanks

[jenzeppelin]

I completely agree with you kev1865 - well put.

[planezane]

I sure will enjoy refering back to this from time to time. Thank you for sharing this clip.

[jenzeppelin]

I discovered this last night and have watched it a few times since. I can't get enough of it. I'm completely in love with it, it is amazing. There's something about Frieda's voice that's so...I can't even think of a word to describe it.

[allinaday]

thank you for your beautiful comment. For me, Freida has an authenticity -- the real deal -- that is to say the least memorable. If you watch the whole film,  her sweet words towards Bascom are sprinkled throughout as they drive through the countryside.

David Hoffman filmmaker

[kev1865]

---I think it has something to do with there being no difference between the person speaking and singing.

---When she sings, what she sings comes from her life. She might as well be having a conversation with you.

--- She isn't singing about something else...the content of the music is her life.

[allinaday]

Thank you very much. I completely agree about the connection. In this scene certainly shows it.

David Hoffman - filmmaker

[743one]

Thank you very much for posting this.

I'm trying to show people the connection between Irish Folk and Blugrass/American Folk music...and there it is.

[hoosierhiver]

That's the real deal!

[allinaday]

You are completely correct. I miss Bascom as well. Did you ever see the film I made on his the story of his life? The Complete Bascom Lamar Lunsford Story. It has wonderful characters and insights into what a great man he was. I was lucky to have filmed him when I was so young.

David Hoffman

filmmaker

[Pickinbuddy]

Bascom Lamar Lunsford was actually an attorney! A very educated man, who had the foresight to cherish and preserve the old-time musical traditions, and one of the first to do so. He always made sure the music was presented in a dignified manner. We miss Bascom...

[southernxpride]

at 00:16 thats my great great grandaddy sam honeycutt

[allinaday]

Thank you so much for your comments. When I filmed it, I was 21 years old, making my first documentary, with no idea that I was recording history. I know it now and thank God that I kept the master material. I love watching the flm as well.

David Hoffman

filmmaker

[sixfootpigeon]

its such a wonderful film, i was lucky enough to see it round a friends house earlier this year and i was so amazed i had to watch it standing on top of me stool

[shawndalakiddio]

hey, it has just gone out of fashion. Don't feel bad. I come from a long line of such musical mountaineers and nobody does this, anymore. The love for acoustic is dyeing even among the hillbillies. I hope there is a massive revival of it.

[fespar]

Wonderful clip!Glad to see that someone had the good sense to record the music of the mountains!!

[allinaday]

Thank you all. All my life I have loved mountain music even though I was a typical lower middle class kid from Long Island when I first heard it and made this movie. This music has class and grace and always makes me feel good.

David Hoffman

filmmaker

[fespar]

I ordered two VHS tapes and what happened?The office and storage facility burned to the ground!! I guess I'm not supposed to hear this great music.Where can I git some???

[smetch123]

Wonderful

[allinaday]

Bascom and Freida 43 years ago. I am proud that I was 20 years old when I filmed this movie.

David Hoffman

filmmaker

thehoffmancollection

And I am also proud that the Library of Congress has purchased this film as a historical record.

Thank you for your comment.

[allinaday]

how thrilling to hear about you. Sam Honeycutt was a great man. You must be proud to have him as your grandfather. And what a wonderful piece of luck that you have my old old movie to keep in your family's archives.

thank you for communicating with me

David Hoffman

filmmaker

filmmaker