I just wish we could all go back to these times and before...and relive all the music moments..What I would give to have seen Earl Scruggs back in the day in his prime..with Lester...Ugh..It's a shame Earl is getting old and doesn't have much longer on this ol earth...It has to happen though...I'll get to pick the banjo with him in heaven!
i think it chimes a time when the family was together or all lived fairly close by, only a memories twang away if they were afar........everyone gathered........nothing fancy just folks enjoying one another and the blessing of being able to make music. Being together and knowin everyone and having nothing fancy and havin good food....well it do beat all. A simpler yet better world, where you could forget the cares of the world by getting out your gitar or banjee or what have you..
I sometimes think I'm being unfair when I discuss the music of today, but it doesn't compare to the older stuff. Show me an entertainer of today that can match Monroe or Flatt and Scruggs or the Stanley Bros. Wayne in Canada
@mattygeetarross Mattygeetarross. I'm from Virgina. Born there in the mid 1940's. Don Reno played on TV in Roanoke very morning thru the week live for several years. He was such a nice man. Would take the time to talk with you and loved to talk music. Back then there was alot of fussing about Don, Earl and Ralph among bluegrass fans. Which one is better etc. But according to Don, he suggested listening to Earl's records when learning to play the banjo because Earl was smooth but not real fancy.
@mattygeetarross Don said he loved the way Earl would accentuate his notes and that he could pick Earl's picking out of a pack of 12 banjos. And there was NO feelings of competition between him, Earl and Ralph. Don said that Earl and Ralph were two of his best freinds for years and that he and Earl traded banjos in 1948. I have an old picture of Earl and Don standing together with their arms around each other and one of Earl sitting in with Don and Red in the 1950's in Maryland. I miss Don Reno!
David, Right on about simplicity, I have some old Flatt and Scruggs stuff on DVD that I try to keep up with but as a flatpicker I'm not that fast. I do enjoy the old groups going back to J. E. Mainer and his Maple on the Hill. Good chatting -Wayne in Canada
David, It might be our age that sends us back to the ones we grew up on? However the music today in the country field really dosen't compare to the old stuff. I have gone completely to bluegrass its me. Wayne
It was the simplicity, the credibility, and the superb musicianship that did it for me. That could happen again. The great musicians are still there, but all the studio stuff adds an element of unreality that I just do not enjoy as much.
@allinaday It could happen again.....It needs to happen again SO bad...and that's no big news....I am sure you know that and have known that for years. It makes me sick to hear, watch and see some of the stuff they call music now....Country music in particular.....Wow..I am 27...I am very traditional and probably lean toward bluegrass and older country anyway...but come on...I'm not blind or deaf either.
As the filmmaker, I do not disagree with your description of history. I believe it to be correct. But the sweetness and beauty of Earl dominated his presentations, unlike Bill Monroe in my experiences with him.
1960: I am a huge Monroe fan, also. And you are right about him introducing Earl. But I used to listen to the Grand Ole Opry when Flatt and Scruggs were part of Monroe's band. Monroe seldom gave Earl a chance to really show his talent. The banjo was secondary -- a far second -- to Monroe's mandolin. There were a few songs like Molly and Tenbrooks that let Earl loose. But nobody can blame Flatt and Scruggs for launching out on their own and gaining the recognition they deserved.
the Morris bros. had Don Reno then Earl Scruggs picking 3 finger banjo with them in the late 30s. So if the 3 finger picked banjo is the defining inturment in bluegrass how did Bill Monroe create it' answer he most assurdely did not.
I am David Hoffman, the filmmaker who made this film. I loved the Morris Brothers. They had a wonderful car shop, a fabulous sense of humor, were super friendly and not concerned about "rights charges." And treated Earl like just one of the boys even though he was so much more famous than they were at that time. And they liked playing with young Randy Scruggs. Thank you for your comments.
Check out TheHoffmanCollection to see the entire film and my other bluegrass works.
Did the Morris Brothers ever get to make any early recordings? I've always loved their harmony blend. I only know of one record album from Newport they were on.
I was lucky enough to knoe Zeke and Wiley and their boys Ralph, John and Dale. I have put many windshields in at all of their body shops. Great guys everyone! It took me many years but Zeke finally gave me an autographed album shortly before he died. One thing for sure, Zeke loved bluegrass and the Atlanta Braves! Thank you so so much for posting! I hope you have more!
i just cant really get down with country but bluegrass is the best i can listen to it all day.
goingfishing313 8 months ago
my mom says that the morris brothers are her grandmothers uncles i was like thats cool
krantos666 1 year ago
I just wish we could all go back to these times and before...and relive all the music moments..What I would give to have seen Earl Scruggs back in the day in his prime..with Lester...Ugh..It's a shame Earl is getting old and doesn't have much longer on this ol earth...It has to happen though...I'll get to pick the banjo with him in heaven!
bigmrclean 1 year ago
i think it chimes a time when the family was together or all lived fairly close by, only a memories twang away if they were afar........everyone gathered........nothing fancy just folks enjoying one another and the blessing of being able to make music. Being together and knowin everyone and having nothing fancy and havin good food....well it do beat all. A simpler yet better world, where you could forget the cares of the world by getting out your gitar or banjee or what have you..
DeanaUSA 1 year ago
good one.thanks
mrmcgee123 1 year ago
GaaaHaaaa!!!! Why not the whole song!?
deadstrings01 2 years ago
I sometimes think I'm being unfair when I discuss the music of today, but it doesn't compare to the older stuff. Show me an entertainer of today that can match Monroe or Flatt and Scruggs or the Stanley Bros. Wayne in Canada
46r11 2 years ago
Wayne. The only one I can think of off the top of my head is Bela Fleck. Thrilling to hear all I have never heard them live in concert.
David Hoffman -- filmmaker
allinaday 2 years ago
David
Thanks for your wonderful film, my family and I enjoyed it!!
I wish more people would mention the great Don Reno with the likes of Earl and Ralph! Don was their superior in many ways!!
mattygeetarross 2 years ago
@mattygeetarross Mattygeetarross. I'm from Virgina. Born there in the mid 1940's. Don Reno played on TV in Roanoke very morning thru the week live for several years. He was such a nice man. Would take the time to talk with you and loved to talk music. Back then there was alot of fussing about Don, Earl and Ralph among bluegrass fans. Which one is better etc. But according to Don, he suggested listening to Earl's records when learning to play the banjo because Earl was smooth but not real fancy.
boblackey1 1 year ago
@mattygeetarross Don said he loved the way Earl would accentuate his notes and that he could pick Earl's picking out of a pack of 12 banjos. And there was NO feelings of competition between him, Earl and Ralph. Don said that Earl and Ralph were two of his best freinds for years and that he and Earl traded banjos in 1948. I have an old picture of Earl and Don standing together with their arms around each other and one of Earl sitting in with Don and Red in the 1950's in Maryland. I miss Don Reno!
boblackey1 1 year ago
David, Right on about simplicity, I have some old Flatt and Scruggs stuff on DVD that I try to keep up with but as a flatpicker I'm not that fast. I do enjoy the old groups going back to J. E. Mainer and his Maple on the Hill. Good chatting -Wayne in Canada
46r11 2 years ago
46r11 I find the jam groups all the time- from California to Arkansa, Missouri, Oklahoma.....even in Japan!
Many progressive players have abandoned the traditional 'Scruggs Rolls' (and others older styles for the in sound of melodic.
But many of us prefer the simplicity of Scruggs
Style- still!
plucknpick 2 years ago
David, It might be our age that sends us back to the ones we grew up on? However the music today in the country field really dosen't compare to the old stuff. I have gone completely to bluegrass its me. Wayne
46r11 2 years ago
It was the simplicity, the credibility, and the superb musicianship that did it for me. That could happen again. The great musicians are still there, but all the studio stuff adds an element of unreality that I just do not enjoy as much.
David Hoffman - filmmaker
allinaday 2 years ago
@allinaday It could happen again.....It needs to happen again SO bad...and that's no big news....I am sure you know that and have known that for years. It makes me sick to hear, watch and see some of the stuff they call music now....Country music in particular.....Wow..I am 27...I am very traditional and probably lean toward bluegrass and older country anyway...but come on...I'm not blind or deaf either.
bigmrclean 1 year ago
where has this kind of music gone? I could listen to it forever
46r11 2 years ago
I ask that question myself. And I miss the music as well. Please look at my website to see all of the videos I have made on this music.
David Hoffman - filmmaker - thehoffmancollection
allinaday 2 years ago
Bill Monroe was the first to present this type of music in a band setting on The Grand Old Opry.
Monroe perfected the tight ensemble sound that came to be known as Bluegrass.
Certainly Scruggs was an important founding figure, but it was Monroe that put it all together and gave Earl his national exposure!
1960gibsonsj 4 years ago
As the filmmaker, I do not disagree with your description of history. I believe it to be correct. But the sweetness and beauty of Earl dominated his presentations, unlike Bill Monroe in my experiences with him.
David Hoffman
allinaday 4 years ago
1960: I am a huge Monroe fan, also. And you are right about him introducing Earl. But I used to listen to the Grand Ole Opry when Flatt and Scruggs were part of Monroe's band. Monroe seldom gave Earl a chance to really show his talent. The banjo was secondary -- a far second -- to Monroe's mandolin. There were a few songs like Molly and Tenbrooks that let Earl loose. But nobody can blame Flatt and Scruggs for launching out on their own and gaining the recognition they deserved.
pegcage 2 years ago
the Morris bros. had Don Reno then Earl Scruggs picking 3 finger banjo with them in the late 30s. So if the 3 finger picked banjo is the defining inturment in bluegrass how did Bill Monroe create it' answer he most assurdely did not.
2ndfret 4 years ago
I am David Hoffman, the filmmaker who made this film. I loved the Morris Brothers. They had a wonderful car shop, a fabulous sense of humor, were super friendly and not concerned about "rights charges." And treated Earl like just one of the boys even though he was so much more famous than they were at that time. And they liked playing with young Randy Scruggs. Thank you for your comments.
Check out TheHoffmanCollection to see the entire film and my other bluegrass works.
allinaday 4 years ago
Did the Morris Brothers ever get to make any early recordings? I've always loved their harmony blend. I only know of one record album from Newport they were on.
Pickinbuddy 3 years ago
I was lucky enough to knoe Zeke and Wiley and their boys Ralph, John and Dale. I have put many windshields in at all of their body shops. Great guys everyone! It took me many years but Zeke finally gave me an autographed album shortly before he died. One thing for sure, Zeke loved bluegrass and the Atlanta Braves! Thank you so so much for posting! I hope you have more!
rodder4lf 3 years ago