Roy Clark and Bobby Thompson

[troddsy]

hee haw clapping In rythem?

[troddsy]

Thrilling to see what became of England after stealing indian land so long ago.....vintage england...Boutique england!! go england Go!!

[lakings13]

God bless you YouTube!!

[sufenta67]

Need a newer version of Hee Haw!!!!

[MsBenguy]

Wow ! (Ça c'est du banjo ! -fr) Thank you Jimsvideos. Bravo !

[jq2lgj]

この画面の左奥にグランパー・ジョーンズさんが立ってますね

そしてボビーさんのバンジョープレイで1　分２０秒から１分３０秒間のフレーズが好きです

[bramley1001]

Bobby - coolest man ever to walk the Earth.

[jq2lgj]

この動画毎日見ています

[KyCavalier]

Watched this on DVD last night.

[asbarg01]

Hm. It just struck me that Bobby looks like Henry Winkler at a slight distance.

[cshargeit]

banjo is 5 times louder than a martin guitar.

[TheCoco1933]

Whenever I feel down all I hafta do is listen to Bobby

play the five string and back on top again.

[Pickinbuddy]

@TheCoco1933 Me too! Bobby is the all-time greatest of the "progressive" players--he was a master at keeping it TASTEFUL!

[ethelmae43]

If you have dish network, you can watch them on RFD tv. Sunday night.

[MrLongtimegone]

Bobby just great.. Most people really don't know what a picker he was.. At least 90% of the banjo player's to day still can't play what Bobby was doing all those years ago.. R.I.P. Bobby

[ethelmae43]

Bobby Thompsn should have gotte more recognition. He is G R E A T

I am glad to finally getto see him on youtube.

[Rwehappy2day]

The timing on this piece is amazing. The banjos just POP out at you (its the coordination of the right and the left hand) It almost like a metronome of eigth notes its so perfect. I remember hearing Bobby play melodic banjo as a kid all the time on Hee Haw- yep he was a pioneer! Didn't know what melodic banjo was until I grew older and started playing banjo myself- but there was just something about those ascending and descending lines in the music that just brought joy to the ears!!,

[totaltjefflamorker]

One of the best banjo solos ever by Bobby!

[honzabaseman]

Wonderful bluegrass and Video Jack

[TheCoco1933]

This is one of the best jams on banjo that I've ever heard!

[elfhermie]

Sweet! Now this is what music is all about. People playing together; combining their talents to make songs fuller and containing two styles/viewpoints. Today's music shows like The Voice and American Idol have things backwards. On The Voice, they actually have singers try and compete against eachother in one on one upsmanships. Songs aren't fights to see who can win something. American Idol has people competing as well. Way better when great musicians work together in harmony like this.

[professortheremin]

@elfhermie I agree. That is one reason why there is no instrumental equivelant to American Idol. No drama, except for petty ones.

[lmos26]

heh I loved this show when I was maybe 6 yo! 

[glencoe6305]

I remember as a kid watching Bobby Thompson,jamming on the banjo,with Roy Clark,Stringbean,Grandpa,Ronni­e Stoneman,and Bobby was the one who wold do a pickin solo,with out singing. He was a Major Force,in that part of Hee Haw. Bravo !

[FishFerTrout24]

I just found out today that a kid in my class is Roy Clark's grandson. Small world.

[centerice]

Take it from me, those of us who grew up learning the banjo in the 70's and waitin for HeeHaw every week were not waiting to see Clark or Buck Trent. We were waiting to catch a glimpse of Bobby Thompson. He was the REAL banjo player. With luck, the "stars" might just give him a lead, and then we'd witness something REALLY SPECIAL. He was one of the fathers of 5-string banjo styles now known as melodic and chromatic, and He NEVER received fair billing from Clark, Trent, or HeeHaw. Shameful.

[billybobaz11]

The prettiest thing isn't Roy's or Bobby's playing,  it's Barbie Benton in the background

[centerice]

@billybobaz11 Ha. Seriously though, it is hard to imagine any former Hef girlfriend/wife Playboy bunny being down to earth enough nowadays to come on a TV program like HeeHaw. I gotta respect her for doing the show. Many people loved HH, but of course lots of Hollywood blueblood types would have looked down their nosejobs at her for taking the gig. I'm sure she wanted what all bunnies wanted and that was a movie career, so this program could not have been beneficial for that aspiration.

[plunka5]

Who is that gorgeous blonde sitting on the hay bales to Bobby's left...why that's enough inspiration right there to be buried beneath the willow!

[MrGoRaVeNs]

@plunka5 true that

[vcp430]

@plunka5 I'm pretty sure that's Gunilla Hutton.

[billybobaz11]

@plunka5 I have to disagree with you on the blond to the left of Bobby, those are straw bales not hay bales.

[plunka5]

@billybobaz11 I was distracted by the lady on the straw bales causing me to believe they were hay bales! LOL

[SweetJaneofGoth]

@plunka5 Like her name is Becky Rabinowitz and she was from Brooklyn

[jimirsaysbuddy]

Ya gotta love that ending!! Two of the world's best banjo pickers, but who caps the jug,.....Jackie Phelps!! What an overlooked picked! Somebody (and Im sorry, I forget who) once said, "Jackie could play 'Little Rock Getaway' on a Jew"s harp", and I believe that's true.

[theBIGhombreXboxLive]

come on y'all ROY CLARK BOOOOM

[bnjopkr05]

I agree; Bobby Thompson will always be one of my favourite banjo pickers....Glen

[bigshowracing]

Its an awesome performance. It is funny trhough how all the folks in the back are all out of sync with the clapping....LOL

[bergerfry]

Damn, that's good stuff



[MrLongtimegone]

I wonder why Bobby never got the credit he should have got when he was playing .He was so far over the other banjo players at the time. I think they were scared to turn him loose he was great . I loved his playing

[MerlynSchutterle]

Bobby went to Nashville and showed Earl the boys how to play banjo. It wasn't limited to bluegrass.

What ever happened to his banjo?

[Pickinbuddy]

@MerlynSchutterle There is an on-line article about Bobby's Baldwin banjo--when he passed away, he left the banjo to a protege and close friend, who was from Germany and who also played. I think if you type in "Bobby Thompson's Banjo" that article will turn up. It's a great article and it reveals info on all the modifications Bobby made to the banjo over the years.

[ksarhe]

@MerlynSchutterle It was sold for a wheel lock rifle to a guy named Rolfe Seeker before he died

Bobbys daughter Holly

[GinnyStar2]

Loved it, Dan J loved Bobby hat! :)

[travisfeltwater]

love that twang

[just4funzees]

This is not Roy Clark the Actor who Lives in Georgia

[myg0tBUTTPLUG]

Those guys are legends!!!!!

[DrClawizdead]

To a guitar player, playing that fast would be shredding. To a banjo player it's normal.

[kathrynloch]

Bobby was a huge talent! Roy wasn't so bad either. :)

[bboymartinoo]

I like the Guitar Ending that was the best part ... hahahhahahahhahaha Sike that was awesome

[OSCAR82AA]

Why can't you get this great stuff on TV anymore?

[OSCAR82AA]

Bobby's taken Roy to school there. What a great banjo player Bobby Thompson.

[hogansteel]

Bobby and Roy are killer but mostly Bobby, and they dont show the licks he is doing at the end of the break which is a great example of the melodic style with a bluesy feel at the end, good stuff...................Thank You ....Bobby Thompson...You have made a difference sir......not many artists can say that.My unsung Hero......

[bjosh37]

Bobby Thompson is a banjo legend!

[TheZenBanjoist]

It was 5 years ago this month (May) that Bobby passed away.

I miss you Bobby.

[ArkRed1]

I don't play a bluegrass song on banjo without playing a Bobby Thompson lick somewhere. If I could I'd put a plastic statue of him on the dashboard of my car. The man turned five string banjo playing around and made fivers sit up and take notice. Like a friend of mine said, "Bobby Thompson's banjo playing was just plain sexy". RIP Bobby. You won't be forgotten.

[GETERDONE1955]

I love this.Nothing like it today.

[JimmyDeLocke]

So true -- Roy's no slouch, but Bobby Thompson is a bona fide LEGEND.

[MartinGuitarFan]

Roy Clark can't touch Bobby Thompson on the Banjo.  He actually taught Roy how to play. If you know anything about the banjo, you will recognize all of the chromatic riffs and scales Bobby is using. NO ONE.. could play chromatic like him...RIP Bobby.

[corljones]

Team Roy!

[9erner]

bobby is the man!!!!

[nealgh111]

Roy Clark is arguably the GREATEST banjo/guiter player EVER!

[daw162]

@nealgh111 more of a showman than a great player of each. He's good. Great is something different - like Bryan Sutton on guitar or Jens Kruger on banjo.

[Motoguzzi750]

A rare and unique player and pioneer on the banjo. I have a picture of him in the book in front of me now, "Melodic Banjo" by Tony Trishka (great book if you play banjo!). He sort of always looked sad...but this is the first time I have heard him play. Amazing.

[GuastoMaster]

Hoooooly crap!!!

What have they got in their hands?!?!?

[MartinGuitarLover1]

Lightning

[siskokidd]

Just plain fantastic! You just know that every rock god guitar player alive or dead is in awe of their ability. To say otherwise is a lie. Why, Jimmy Page grew up playing country.

[goptwothemax]

Bury me under the willow goood song

[MrLongtimegone]

Great playing . Bobby Is the MAN.

[MrLongtimegone]

No one will ever play the sound and licks Bobby did > I just couldn't believe it when I heard he had passed on. I cried like a little kid. I tried to copy his playing for years that sound and licks are above most players. I hope he is in Heaven!!

[lakings13]

Roy's amazing banjo picking was the second best reason I used to watch Hee-Haw!!

[PFCBeetleBailey]

Nobody rings a Baldwin like Bobby T!

[240zzzz]

To watch Roy is to watch someone with a lot of love for what he does. To see him with anyone is just plain GREAT. Bobby just makes that even better...

[snootzie78]

I miss Hee Haw!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[steelguitarplayer19]

Bobby has that sound on the banjo that just can't be repeated....fantastic!

[Spaminnubz]

Really, you obviously have not listened to Roni Stoneman. Nothing compares to her banjo picking.

[jdmgcts]

You obviously have a different idea of good picking than most of us.

[nasty5oh]

Good I agree, but not quite on the level of Roy & Bobby I doubt

[roughwaytogo]

What happened to our country?

[torkerbmx]

hee haw reminds me of my childhood sitting in my living room after dinner :)

[nasty5oh]

roy & bobby, you can't beat that

[KittraKittra]

Not been nothing like it before nor since.

[heywoodjosh]

did bobby ever put out any albums?

[KittraKittra]

The BIBLE talks speaks of Widows & Charity.

You can purchase Bobby Thompson's material. Bobby left behind his wife, of 30 years.. This is no fluffy love story. This message reveals his widow.. Please! Give if you can give, Your ears, your soul, will be richly rewarded. Good folks please give.

[mygaffer]

What are you smoking?

[ksarhe]

I maybe wrong but I believe he and Judy were together around 20 years because he was with Eileen (my mom for twenty) and he was in his late 20's when he married her.

[Pickinbuddy]

@KittraKittra Yes indeed--I bought this CD and it IS WONDERFUL....everything from Jim & Jesse's "Diesel On My Tail" to chromatic MASTERPIECES like "Katy Hill" to some fabulous 'concept treatments' like "Foxfire" and "Devil Dance". The name of this CD is "Thompson Picks". As for Jesse McReynolds and Bobby Thompson--now THAT'S a musical match made in heaven--two of the best musical minds in Bluegrass....who STILL knew how to KEEP it Bluegrass!

God Bless you all...

Bill Turner

Respectfully

[bwhudgens]

Yes...you might say. Bobby (5-string) and Arthur Smith (4-string) recorded a banjo instrumental album called "Battling Banjos". Z32259, Monument Record Corp, 1973.

[fedupwithtwits]

Great! Anyone know the name of that tune? thx

[451valiant]

It's "Bury Me Beneath The Willow".

[ffilchtaeh]

Awesome.

[KittraKittra]

Jackie Phelps on acoustic guitar.

[KittraKittra]

Bobby Thompson. Banjo God.

[colsnpr]

Bobby Thompson was & is my inspiration to banjo picking....Yes I love Earl for all he has done for us..He is the Father of the 5 string...with that being said and acknowledged....Bobby Thompson is my favorite 5 picker..He is the MAN and no one can ever fill his shoe's, I love him & his style. He sent me an autographed picture of himself. Unsung, unappreciated in his time..Bobby..we love ya man! His wife plays such an impotant part in his career..Thank you so very much!

[mrgreer51]

Roy Clark is pretty good, but Bobby Thompson was phenominal. He knew when to play it straight and when to blow you away with those unbelievable licks of his.

[hildalgo1]

Thompson played the Hee Haw theme. His melodic style was so meandering that a single song was like a journey. If a normal pickers song is a walk down the hall, Bobby's is a tour of the Blue Ridge Parkway. I have picked for 35 yrs, so I listen pretty carefully. Tastes vary, but for my taste in banjo, there is none better than Bobby Thomson.

[ksarhe]

TO all the Bobby Thompson Fans out there my brother and Myself started a fan club on Facebook for him so go on and join.

Holly Thompson

[dwdale]

Bobby thompson was an amazing banjo player.

[ksarhe]

That is my Daddy. Bobby Thompson is and will always be a legend before his time. I Love you Daddy.

[jimsvideos]

Couldnt agree more.

Bobby Thompson is AWESOME!!

[ksarhe]

Amen to that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[walleyrt69]

@ksarhe His freinds called him Bob !

[ksarhe]

@walleyrt69 Thats cool I called him Daddy! He was and will always be my hero.

[Pickinbuddy]

@ksarhe Bobby had one of the 3 MOST recognizeable tones in all of Bluegrass--the other two being Earl, and Ralph Stanley--you'd just KNOW who it was after hearing the first 3 notes! Bobby was the creator of the 'melodic style' of picking...and he was ahead of his time. By the way, I think he was distant kin to another great banjo-picking Thompson--Cecil Thompson of Louisiana, who is also a great admirer of Bobby.

[boblackey1]

@Pickinbuddy Yeah. I grew up in Roanoke and Don Reno played their on TV live each morning in the 60's. He was such a nice, friendly man. I can hear a bit of Reno style in Bobby's pickin'. Don Reno once said that Earl and Ralph are two of his best friends and that he can have his eyes closed and pick out Earl's pickin' if Earl was in a pack of 12 banjo players all going at once. I always thought Don had his own style too. Lots of single string and two finger runs with the three finger role.

[Pickinbuddy]

@boblackey1 Don is a super picker too....Earl Scruggs is like Andre Segovia; and Don Reno is like Les Paul. Don is probably the ONLY 5 string banjo player who knew how to play with "HUMOR" in his playing--think about that! Don's playing became instantly recognizeable--as soon as he went into a 'riff'....and I'd love the way he'd 'set up the audience' for it--he'd get this mischievous look in his eyes and then fire off a single string riff that would just blow your mind!, and leave ya chuckling.

[MerlynSchutterle]

@ksarhe

Like I said before, Bobby went to Nashvill and showed Earl and the boys how to play banjo. I tried to order some CD's from the site, but haven't gotten a response yet. Are they still available? I have the 615 album.

[TheZenBanjoist]

@MerlynSchutterle Judy, Bobbby's widow, has been ill and was recovering, she is well again and getting the back orders off.

Bobby traded his banjo & his Martin D-18 to Rolf Sieker for an old German Wheel Gun back when he was forced to retire due to MS.

Bobby was not only a wonderful picker but one of the best Gumsmiths working on Flintlock guns as well as making the same.

[vampiremonkiesgohome]

@ksarhe Are you serious? I tip my hat to you!

Love, Hugs

D

[jimirsaysbuddy]

@ksarhe Is your Daddy still with us? I always LOVED his pickin'!! He was the Chet Atkins of the banjo back in the late 60's and into the 70's. Man, I miss this kind of music! Lightening fingers. It would sent me flying to the T.V. when my dad would yell, "Hey, Bobby Thompson's pickin' on Hee Haw."

[phildirt3]

@ksarhe one of the best ever

[richardsmithmusic]

@ksarhe My favorite player...and the most distictive

[xring300]

thats the epitome of awesome!

[pakamen]

Actually I had a rare experience back somewhere in 1966. Bobby was with Jim and Jesee and a friend of mine knew them. My friend invited me over and I sat there whle Bobby played and all I can say is that the banjo has no restrictions when played by someone so masterful! I still think about it [and brag] to this day.

[striperdale]

does it seem that bobby kinda smiles at roy clarks feeble attempt to pick his banjo???

[therebel1960]

Roy isn't feeble at all. In his late teens, he was a two time national banjo picking champion.  He did pretty much concentrate on the guitar after that. But, to call him feeble is incorrect in my opinion.

[banjosef]

more bobby thompson!

[exmotorcop]

To:TheZenBanjoist: Thanks, I thought that was his sound, but I never recognized the theme as Mule Skinner Blues. I heard at one time that Hee Haw was the longest running TV show of the era and had surpassed only Bonanza in years running. Anybody remember that?

[OSCAR82AA]

I sure miss Hee Haw , We need to see more banjos being played today on T.V.

[Banjoey1]

Gotta love the ODE banjos!!

[exmotorcop]

If I remember correctly, it sounds like Bobby is the one playing the Hee Haw theme song. The chromatic sound and runs sure sound like him. He was awesome. I can't find but one video of Larry McNeely on you tube. Anybody got any to post?

[TheZenBanjoist]

It's Bobby playing the Hee Haw theme which is in fact the old tune, "Muleskinner Blues."

[Pickinbuddy]

Bobby Thompson had such a unique TONE...he was instantly recognizeable. He really took the chromatic style of playing to its highest level---without getting too 'far out' like all the others did, to where it ceased being "Bluegrass".

[KenFuxalot]

It was interesting to see BT without his trademark beard. Of course, I've seen the 50s pics where he just got out of the military and had a crewcut.

I'm trying to find the Hee Haw clip where he played solo banjo. I believe the tune was Foxfire. Can anyone help ?

Perhaps they'll release the entire Hee Haw series on DVD one day, but perhaps not because there were so many episodes...

[par576]

Where do I get more of Bobby Thompson?

[bluegrassgirl]

YES!!!! Bobby Thompson is THE man!!!

[kennethbanjo]

Bobby was a great musician. I painted a watercolor portrait of him and took it to him in the spring of 2005. It was great to visit with my musical hero. Sadly, he passed away a month later. As a kid I heard his banjo work on Hee Haw and decided to learn to play.

He was a huge musical influence for me.

[Pickinbuddy]

I believe Bobby Thompson is still living-he had to retire on disability because of MS.

He still lives in the Nashville area.

[banjomartin88]

No. Sadly he died on May 18, 2005.

[Pickinbuddy]

Oh--I am so sorry to learn this--I don't remember reading an obituary in Bluegrass Unlimited; nor in the Local 257 AFM paper...

A few years ago I'd "introduced" Cecil Thompson to Bobby. Cecil called him up and they had a nice conversation--he believes they are related. Cecil Thompson still lives in Tickfaw, Louisiana--he's a pretty good melodic player himself, being one of the 'old-timers' in the Bluegrass scene from the 1950s.

He used to play on the Louisiana Hayride right after Elvis left!

[buckzx12r]

Ive been playing for 30 years,and had always heard and read of Bobby,but never heard any of his stuff.This was truly a great thing to hear.Wish there was more of his music to hear.

James Becker

[pfvideo]

Bobby was an original pioneer. He had more "chops" in his pinky than most acquire over a life-time of playing. I hope I get to jam with him past the "Pearly Gates" some day.

[ladyofsouth]

Love this video. Bobby Thompson was my boyfriend for a short while back in 1958. I have this whole video but it is nice to see it on here also. No one picked a banjo like Bobby.

[2royplayer]

There is a good story about Bobby and Bill Keith. When Keith first met Bobby they traded tunes. Then Keith showed him some of the melodic stuff he was working on. Bobby then showed Bill what melodic was all about. Keith's, in his words, jaw about hit the floor. He thought that he was the original pioneer of melodic picking but he soon realized that Bobby was way ahead of him on the musical idea.

[Titanjuicy]

Thanks for posting this video. Bobby Thompson was my father and I do not have any video of him. Again, Thanks

[ladyofsouth]

I have a few video's from Hee Haw with your father in them. let me know and I will share them with you.

[jimsvideos]

Thanks ladyofsouth,

We'd all love to see more BT videos...I hope you or titanjuicy will consider uploading some to youtube.

[jimsvideos]

Your welcome, Titanjuicy

I only have this one video... I'll send you a copy.

Your father reminds me a little of James Burton, very talented and happy standing outside the spotlight.

The more I hear and read about him the more I'm amazed at his talent. You don't get that good with just practice, you gotta have passion and Roy and Bobby have it. Lol - they remind me of two youngsters on christmas morning with a new toy.

[KittraKittra]

Bobby Thompson had children? Gosh, I'm so sorry for your loss. He was a really special person. I have old videos of Bobby Thompson in the studio with musicians, Bob Moore and Charlie McCoy circa 1984. (possibly a Burl Redd session?) I'll have to find them someday soon.

[Banjomountain]

I'd really like to see those studio videos if you find them. My friend was a close friend of Bobby and worked as a studio banjo player in Nashville during that time. He also worked with Charlie McCoy.

[paulbalika1]

@Titanjuicy

Hi Bobby - I played in a band back when you and your dad met at a music shop in Aurora Il. - I bought one of your old guitars - a green Gretch - if you are the same Bobby - hope you find the videos - the Bob & Bobby father and son team were great - believe they performed on "the Barn Dance" tv show in the 60s? I am 60 yrs old now and have been trying to get a video of these two from an old tv show - no luck yet.

[imasongbird68]

That is awesome!

[gtrpicker49]

I sure wish more Bobby Thompson video was available!

I love Jackie Phelps' tag ending, too! We don't get to hear much of his pickin' nowadays, either.

[thiger89]

loooooooool and the grand father in the end plays the most important role :D very good!!!!!!

[Bontat]

Love this video!! Anybody know where I can get a tab of this rendition? I love the little chromatic lick

[jimsvideos]

Sure don't Bontat, I'm guessing you've already searched over at banjohangout[dot]org/w/tab/bro­wse/m/byletter/v/B

[bearclaw357]

Love it, Love it, Love it. This would have to be placed as one of the best "Banjo Video's" ever recorded. Also, a very unique Video showing Bobby Thompson's exceptional and inventive musical skill on his Baldwin. Want to see more of B T's playing.

[jimsvideos]

Thanks again, bearclaw357 had it not been for your comments I would not have went looking for this video.

[Banjomountain]

I know where Bobby's banjo is today and it still sounds really good! I got to pick banjo with the current owner of that awesome banjo.

[bearclaw357]

You would have to be one of the lucky ones. I would also love to see that banjo up close and maybe get a few ideas for my banjo.

[banjosef]

Agreed. Mr. Thompson was contemporay of Bill Keith who developed his own style of melodic banjo playing. Love those endless bluesy melodic runs. Do you have any more vids to posts of his playing.

[jimsvideos]

Sorry Banjosef, this is the only one I've found so far.

[crossen123]

Great video, Bobby was one of the most underated banjo players ever!