pure talent all of them not gussied up in a nashville studio...they played the way they felt pure and natural and they prtrayed that in there friendship to each other and all their fans and friends ....talent that is not easily available today...
@badmuthahubbard You should see some of the later Porter shows from the 70's. THe band dressed in green, and Max (the fiddler) looked like Lucky the Leprechaun! He's one of the great fiddlers though. He was with Don Reno in the mid to late 50's and he was younger and swifter and his dancing didn't look quite so silly then.
Love Don Reno, he's a stylist...........some of the stuff he does really sounds like guitar playing on a banjo..........glad the Lord gave the banjo world Don Reno and Bill Keith too.........Earl's way of doing things is awesome for sure, but it's not the ONLY way to do it.
Oh Man, is this vid awesome or what. Reno, Harrell, Ronnie & Shuffler at the top of their game. Reno's banjo playing can't be beat and, yes, RIP Bill Harrell - great rhythm man and singer. And, of course, Ronnie & Shuffler. Great group. Companion vid of them doing Charlotte Breakdown is also awesome with Mac Magaha jumping in with some fiddle. Porter's band was also top-of-the-line at this time. I saw them live - just killer.
@starboydc Hello from holland from someone who also is madly about don reno and smiley and harrel;.I wonder if you would be the one who could help me to get the lyrics of the song:Trail of sorrrow
"Eating Out of Your Hand" is my favorite Bill Harrell tune, and there never has been a singer like him. I love the way he sings. If he's not in the IBMA Hall of Fame, something's wrong.
I still have his Bill Harrell album, the only one Mike could find anywhere. It's a good one. Too many passing on in the Harrell family. I now play in local bluegrass jams. So I guess marrying a Harrell affected me musically. I'd been wondering how to contact Bill to tell him Mike passed on. Guess he found out when he got to heaven. Mike always talked about how much fun he had visiting Bill when he went to the Galax Fiddlers convention once yrs ago. Mike got a cowboy hat there & I still have it.
I looked him up online to see if I could find out how he was doing as his late cousin Mike was my hubby. Found out the sad news. So sorry to hear of his passing. Always wanted to meet him but could never find out where he was playing or how he was doing. My hubby had wanted to see him again. I know he is up there with Mike.Mike went to heaven due to a heart attack in March. RIP Bill and Mike Harrell. I bet Bill was a nice guy since Mike was.
Really all 3 songs have that bass sound. All the sudden rests and timing changes reminds of Be Bop Jazz as well. Very abstract. It's an instinct. You can't think up how to play like that, you just understand how, and become able to do it. Kind of like Don and his banjo.
George Shuffler, man that guys good. It's enough you have a guitar technique named after you, the Shuffler crosspick, but to play bass like that.He's playing a style that's essentially boogie woogie jazz, but stuffed into Bluegrass time, measure & attack.Only the really best Bluegrass players can play it.He brings a new sound to "Charlotte Breakdown".His bass lays such a strong backbeat, and it gives the leads such a sense of movement and abandon.Like a runaway train.
I like bringin that georgia mail and using my bible for a roadmap really well...anyone have him playin bringin that georgia mail?...It's a shame ol cigaretts killed em.
No Georgia Mail, but Renopicker has a video with a live version of Using my Bible for a Road Map. The video is called Don Reno and Bill Harrell 1975 Ottawa Ohio Part . CHeck it out, part 1 as well. 6 great tunes and pretty decent sound as well.
Wow, this is great stuff! Don was certainly in top form. He remains one of the greatest banjo players of all time. This clip is especially impressive if you keep in mind the time frame. Don was so far ahead of his time throughout his career! Thanks for posting it!!!
in color
surfmost 1 month ago
wasnt that fiddler with Reno, whenit was REno and Smiley?
1994liberty 8 months ago
@1994liberty Yes, he was a member of "The Tennessee Cut-Ups" on the old "Reno and Smiley" TV show.
JoltinDjango 4 months ago
Great Video Of 2 Of The Best Ever In Bluegrass.
MrSouthern500 8 months ago
Don Reno was a genius !
JohnEdwinmusic 9 months ago
Ronnie Reno is the most underrated mandolin player in music.
randytelecaster 10 months ago
pure talent all of them not gussied up in a nashville studio...they played the way they felt pure and natural and they prtrayed that in there friendship to each other and all their fans and friends ....talent that is not easily available today...
TheFiddlerforlife 10 months ago
Great stuff
nasty5oh 1 year ago
It don't get any better.
Imjuspickin 1 year ago
George Shuffler is just solid man, solid! I wish he and Don would have recorded some guitar duets together.
tricolorpicks 1 year ago 2
7:00 - attack of the gay bluegrass fiddling leprechaun!
Awesome playing, though, thanks for sharing!
badmuthahubbard 1 year ago
@badmuthahubbard You should see some of the later Porter shows from the 70's. THe band dressed in green, and Max (the fiddler) looked like Lucky the Leprechaun! He's one of the great fiddlers though. He was with Don Reno in the mid to late 50's and he was younger and swifter and his dancing didn't look quite so silly then.
mwindle1973 8 months ago
the banjo is the sound of heaven
kjsh987 1 year ago
Man oh man!! Seeing this video reminds me why George Shuffler has always been my bass-playing hero. Of course Don and Bill and Ronnie are great too.
TomLGray1 1 year ago
Love Don Reno, he's a stylist...........some of the stuff he does really sounds like guitar playing on a banjo..........glad the Lord gave the banjo world Don Reno and Bill Keith too.........Earl's way of doing things is awesome for sure, but it's not the ONLY way to do it.
vibrasonic99 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Hey gupsventje - write me directly at starboydc@gmail.com and I'll help you with those Trail of Sorrow lyrics.
starboydc 1 year ago
Oh Man, is this vid awesome or what. Reno, Harrell, Ronnie & Shuffler at the top of their game. Reno's banjo playing can't be beat and, yes, RIP Bill Harrell - great rhythm man and singer. And, of course, Ronnie & Shuffler. Great group. Companion vid of them doing Charlotte Breakdown is also awesome with Mac Magaha jumping in with some fiddle. Porter's band was also top-of-the-line at this time. I saw them live - just killer.
starboydc 1 year ago
@starboydc Hello from holland from someone who also is madly about don reno and smiley and harrel;.I wonder if you would be the one who could help me to get the lyrics of the song:Trail of sorrrow
I would be verry happy when i could get them
gupsventje 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@gupsventje
Ik ben ook opzoek naar de songtekst van "trail of sorrow"
Mocht jij deze hebben zou je 'm dan naar mij kunnen sturen?
Graag naar harmelingismar@hotmail.com
bvd
jorinde78 1 year ago
I love Don Reno ! What a uniqe musician !
MsJohnedwin 1 year ago
What a great historical video! Thanks for posting it. Is that a young Ronnie Reno on mandolin?
Mandolin1944 2 years ago
opps sorry it is Ronnie -- made my comment before the intros at the end!!!
Mandolin1944 2 years ago
Fantastic! When George Shuffler barely rates a "howdy", you know you've got a superstar lineup. Thanks for posting this, it is great stuff!!!
dougr583 2 years ago
Reno was a master! A true pioneer and one of my heroes! Purely AMAZING!!!
alexbluegrass 2 years ago
"Eating Out of Your Hand" is my favorite Bill Harrell tune, and there never has been a singer like him. I love the way he sings. If he's not in the IBMA Hall of Fame, something's wrong.
bluerailroad 2 years ago
I still have his Bill Harrell album, the only one Mike could find anywhere. It's a good one. Too many passing on in the Harrell family. I now play in local bluegrass jams. So I guess marrying a Harrell affected me musically. I'd been wondering how to contact Bill to tell him Mike passed on. Guess he found out when he got to heaven. Mike always talked about how much fun he had visiting Bill when he went to the Galax Fiddlers convention once yrs ago. Mike got a cowboy hat there & I still have it.
cherylharrell1961 2 years ago
I looked him up online to see if I could find out how he was doing as his late cousin Mike was my hubby. Found out the sad news. So sorry to hear of his passing. Always wanted to meet him but could never find out where he was playing or how he was doing. My hubby had wanted to see him again. I know he is up there with Mike.Mike went to heaven due to a heart attack in March. RIP Bill and Mike Harrell. I bet Bill was a nice guy since Mike was.
cherylharrell1961 2 years ago
RIP Mr. Harrell
BanjoBoyMatteo 2 years ago
Rip Bill you will be missed!!!
sapper5036 2 years ago
Great stuff. Who's the fiddler on "Charlotte Breakdown"?
brointheknow 3 years ago
That would be Mac Magaha. He played fiddle for Reno & Smiley for a good many years.
BanjoBoyMatteo 3 years ago
Really all 3 songs have that bass sound. All the sudden rests and timing changes reminds of Be Bop Jazz as well. Very abstract. It's an instinct. You can't think up how to play like that, you just understand how, and become able to do it. Kind of like Don and his banjo.
mwindle1973 3 years ago
George Shuffler, man that guys good. It's enough you have a guitar technique named after you, the Shuffler crosspick, but to play bass like that.He's playing a style that's essentially boogie woogie jazz, but stuffed into Bluegrass time, measure & attack.Only the really best Bluegrass players can play it.He brings a new sound to "Charlotte Breakdown".His bass lays such a strong backbeat, and it gives the leads such a sense of movement and abandon.Like a runaway train.
mwindle1973 3 years ago 2
I like bringin that georgia mail and using my bible for a roadmap really well...anyone have him playin bringin that georgia mail?...It's a shame ol cigaretts killed em.
bigmrclean 3 years ago
No Georgia Mail, but Renopicker has a video with a live version of Using my Bible for a Road Map. The video is called Don Reno and Bill Harrell 1975 Ottawa Ohio Part . CHeck it out, part 1 as well. 6 great tunes and pretty decent sound as well.
mwindle1973 3 years ago
What is that first song called?
It sounds like "Big train" but I can't tell.
Ikebaga 3 years ago
Yes it's called Big Train. It was written by Ronnie Reno. It was on an album called "All The Way To Reno" by Reno and Harrell. It's a great song.
renopicker 3 years ago
Wow, this is great stuff! Don was certainly in top form. He remains one of the greatest banjo players of all time. This clip is especially impressive if you keep in mind the time frame. Don was so far ahead of his time throughout his career! Thanks for posting it!!!
jvbanjo5 3 years ago
Shuffler on bass. He could really move a bluegrass band along
wrint 3 years ago
Terrific. Most versital banjo player ever. My hero.
buffalobanjoe 3 years ago