100-year-old banjo player Ben Berke!!

[CiNdYwashere08]

thats so incouraging to know, he started playing at 70, I just started playing this year and i'm 46 so maybe when I am 70 i'll be good at it. & I started to help improve my memory

[countryified]

what great music you guys play. god bless all of you!

[djberke]

Actually, been decided to pick up the banjo for the first time when he was 70... still, at 100, he was an experienced banjo player with 30 years of practice under his belt...

[jamezjr]

Just by lookin at the banjer, he has probably played that thing for at least 70 Yrs!! Awesome!!

[AnthonyEJones]

Pick it grandpa!

[14sstinger]

wow what can you say.....what a wonderful video....your Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, Maybe even Great Great Grandfather was (still is) an inspiration and thank you so much for sharing this with all of us....

[kramer2963]

God bless Ben, I"m sure he pick'en away in heaven.

[A1Rod1]

soooo wonderful, so Nice, God Bless

[lescar88]

right on!!! well done ~



[psychotic33089]

God bless. I hope when I'm that age I can still move my fingers well enough to pick a little guitar. I read that he passes at the age of 102. Sorry for your loss. - CGC

[xps2500]

WTF

[MrRush629]

like a boss! go ben!

[chuck3377]

Inspiring to me, thank you.

[IGOROZKARSKY]

THOSE TWO DISLIKE PEOPLE SHOULD BE IN "TONE-DEAF ANONYMOUS",

OR MAYBE EVEN IN THE "TONE-DEAFERS HALL OF FAME".

That was a treat, never seen a 100 years old banjer player.

He´s Cool. Check out AUNT VI she plays the Ukulele, & she´s Cool & Sweet.

[Pickinbuddy]

That song is the "Johnson Rag"! Great job!

[drdvs69]

Those 2 dislikes must be a couple of miserable individuals! What a shame.

[hahahahahahhahaha998]

awesome

[jeffery6560]

Thank you so much for sharing this with everyone. You can tell Ben was enjoying his self. There nothing better then to having family surround you. Its a testament of your relationship that has been work on through the years. Thanks. Jeff

[HoratioNel]

Incredible! A hundred years old and plays to this standard. Excellent. By the way, I'm still 35 years his junior and can still only play the record player and YOU TUBE. Keep up the good work Mr. Banjo player, you're giving a lot of people a lot of pleasure.

Regards,

Horatio Nelson.

[sturdle]

you lot are great and keep Him happy, lovely that......

[MrCOLTSR2]

what an amazing man...

[prieten49]

Ben will live on forever in the Internet! What a great guy!

[halolovingmaniac]

He doesnt seem over 70.

[NLisi55]

Bless his heart :)

[ComfortablyNumbCo]

just great :)



[thalesfoulu]

100 years and hair? WTF!

[noclouds111]

Grandpa, you don't look a day over 75. Keep 'em coming, men!

[joselo1944]

beautiful picture

I was moved almost to tears.

I have 66 and I remember when my father playing the lute Spanish, my son and myself piano and guitar, played songs from his homeland Spain.

My dear old as yours, will be making music sitting on a cloud near the Lord.

From Buenos Aires Argentina, cordial greetings Jose Luis.

God bless.

[HappyMasterChief]

he still has dark hairs!!!

[Dumboparty44]

if this video get over 100 likes without one dislike i will upload a video of me bringing my banjo to school and playing it in some random classroom

[thistlenstar]

Really great! What a happy life he must have had.

[aliwhitwell]

An inspiration to us all! Thanks for sharing this video.

[axpo995]

0 dislikes, yes!!

[pablo4president]

a great video! very inspiring.

[TurbinePower69]

WOW !! Thanks for the post and sharing with us all. I just wish I had all his

hair !! lol : ) ...............never mind, his playing skills. hehe Thanks again and

sorry to hear of  his passing...I'm sure it was a great and very sad loss for yourself and all your family and friends........but, at least you'll always have the memories.

[gargole661]

Wow what spirit I hope I have his energy one day!!

[LoganBlackP]

he seems like such a lovely fellow

[tophatbill]

What a great treasure to have been able to do that! thank you for sharing- i love his style i keep tryign to find somebody that can teach me that old time playing!

Bill

[djberke]

It's a Paramount tenor banjo, probably from the 1930's.

[bgkiefverizonnet]

What is the make of the banjo?

[Xuafmot]

To Ben's family... I'm a banjo player, half Ben's age when you recorded these, and my happiest moments are when I'm playing music with my kids. Hope I'm still playing with them when I'm your dad/granddad's age, and hope I've got half the life in my fingers that he did. Thanks for these posts.

[seymourbbest]

Well thanks for posting what you had. Its a great testament that enjoyment of music is one part of a long happy life.

[djberke]

No, sadly Ben passed in 2009 at the ripe age of 102! He was still playing the banjo almost to the end and we are sure it is part of what gave him longevity and such a sharp mind (memorizing charts and new songs all the time). However, he always said it was pretty much luck to live that long and people should not obsess too much about doing things to live that long. Mostly just to enjoy life and make sure it is filled with people you love and who love you.

[drdvs69]

@djberke So sorry to hear that your grandfather, Ben, passed away. Glad to see that he enjoyed his long life. He was obviously blessed. Thank you for sharing. I would like to see more.

[chrileboy]

so is the good feller still kicking

[graiypz]

sounds more like a uke to me, lol. awesome nonetheless.

[dodgeden3s]

Awesome!

lots of respect for that man!

[seymourbbest]

How about one with just Ben playing?

[djberke]

@seymourbbest we only have him with my dad or with both of us, on CD. These are the only videos of him I know of, but I do need to post a couple more.

[pimenmerel]

Super hott ;)

[mrissamusica]

Hi Ben, Larry and Danny,

THat was just amazing! Such talent, family music and God bless for making it to 100. I have never heard Johnson Rag before. Thank you for posting this, I am inspire to pick up my banjo.

Allie

[jwalk1014]

I cant find my car keys, sometimes wet my pants and forget to turn off my turn signal and Im only 38! You sir are an inspiration.

[TYUF786]

man i hope i'm in that good of shape when i'm 65

[critchley3819]

Us humans do stand a chance if we have this good stuff

[smb08]

LOL our oldest banjo player in the band is only 89! You've got him beat by a mile! Our youngest is 12....

Tri=Couinty banjo band of Albany, NY

[swampshine]

GOOOOD BLESS This is great!

[bkbj95]

I hope i live that long......God Bless you

[keck739]

Excellent! Thanks!!

[hooziergpa]

Totally awesome Ben. Larry and Danny, you guys are lucky to be playing with such talent. You guys were great. Thanks.

[smpman100]

i could see this in a pixar movie

him playing and all a sudden he dreams of the year 1929

on stage with a banjo,people dancin,swingin,old microphones

those were the days :)

[citywiderodeo]

beautiful!

[mcdanieltony]

Rock On Ben.........Great Show.!!!!

[rachel8375]

I hope I'm doing that well at 101! Rock on !

[coachhandsome]

very cool

[artistfood]

WOW! That was great :)

Keep it up!

[fgleich]

you guys rock !

[elisar92]

Great mix of instruments

[HIGGLEFORTTOPALIS]

this is awesome

[nativedjd]

how long has he been playin?

[MrBField]

Rock on dude!!

[mishka561]

Nice.............Good to see family together!

[bofts]

stfu

[jehovahuponyou]

GREAT - I enjoyed it much - LORD BLESS!!!!!!!

[jonnybraindead]

exelentee!! five star! saludos desde mexico ! XD

[ceroeck]

amazing

[burnnfly]

God Bless You -- I just started playing, and I'm 54. Hope I'm as good, and lively, as you in 46 years.

[snoopyismydog]

your real good mr nice job love the way u play

[ib6ub9yeah]

Thats Sweet!!!! Keep it going!!!I could listen to this all day!!

[Compass56]

Dig it!

[idreamofdevo]

Heck yes!

[buywarbonds]

Very Cool!!!!! It just gets better and better and better!!!!! Love My Dad!!

His Little Girl,

Irene Pearl