Don Reno and Red Smiley 1962 Pilot TV Show Pt 1

[banjodevon]

I love everything about Reno's playing here; the comping, the triplets, the breaks---makes me want to go buy some of those Kroger oranges. Absolutely inspirational.

[justthebassplayer]

Mr. Akihiko Jimbo owns this guitar now No. 71039 from 1938 D-45 Prewar

This guitar belonged to Red Smiley. This guitar appeared on some album jackets. The headstock sports fake diamonds, the 12th fret marker says "RED", and the 19th fret marker says "D-45". The tuning pegs are enclosed Grover. The back was replaced with a Brazilian rosewood piece from a D-28 (a different center joint). The finish shows some checking.

The guitar was purchased directly from Mrs. Smiley, via Gruhn, in 1977.

[BANJOPICKER1954]

This is truely great bluegrass. (BLUEGRASS FOREVER)

[geversonsr]

Notice that only 3 people dislike this from the 100,137 that have watched it. Just goes to show, great music is timeless.

[chupacabra122]

Ground Beef only 39 cents a pound!

[CadillacL]

Oh to have t.v. like this today.

[frymahhide1982]

this show has so much natural humor...how about when the host pulls out his "seein' and fightin' glasses" !

[believeroftheword]

love don reno and red smiley.. they are who i listened to growning up miss the good ole days .. thats why i was looking this up lol reminiscing lol thanks for this post

[ctomlcrlyn]

the best of the best

[TheFiddlerforlife]

no one and no one will ever play and have control of the banjo like don reno!!! absolute pure talent!! what aband of complete professionals all in their own right.they semed to respect each others not as musicians only but dear friends..rsoect flows genuinely through this show...what a treat for bluegrass (virginia style)...

[tinatinkerbell3]

Happy Birtheday Don Reno. The best banjo player of all time. God Bless Tommy Patterson. You were the best. You are and icon to all banjo and blluegrass pickers alike thank you!!!!!!!!! :)

[MsNickie1001]

I wish there were still TV shows like this. TV sucks now.

[eric840cummings]

@MsNickie1001  yep

[williebrown01]

I just the found the complete recordings of this PILOT on CD. I was copyrighted in 2009. Its got Carter and Ralph doing "In the Pines" on it also.

Hot Damn, Don is good!!

[polkadothound]

For all of us who grew up in SW VA during this time period, check out the website "Old Roanoke 39". It is packed with all of the greatist memories of that time, from Artie Levin to Ted Powers, Saturday Session and Uncle Looney.....I know you know what I'm talkin' 'bout!

[pillroller88]

Somebody disliked this? Damn yankee

[renopicker]

@pillroller88 HaHa! The world is full of idiots I guess!!

[bushwacker2008]

in the intro of the cabin, is that in Wabun Va? I passed by a cabin that looked like it.

that is just west of salem va. over next to the roanoke river and the railway.

[wooo55]

Is this available on tape or DVD?

[Buttzone2009]

Reno's knowledge of the banjo is so intimate that it borders on sexual, he's unreal

[kayteekayful]

Irvng Sharp with Don and Red are some of my earliest memories while growing up in Roanoke Virginia as a decendant of families who settled in the area from Germany and Ireland in the late 1700's.

[nasty5oh]

This is great

[MrCharliedickinson]

is this available on dvd or tape?Where? And if not,why not? Somebody found the only copy of Jimmie Rodgers movie short and made it available for us old goats that were raised on real country music(vs. suburban"country" manufactured by foreign controlled recording companies). Are there anymore?

[DeesNewLife2010]

THIS brings back memories.

[SproulForest]

What a GEM!!!!!

Thank you for sharing :)

[MrLongtimegone]

I have played Don and Red's music since back in the 50's.They were so advanced over all the bands back then.Even the great you know who. Hope they are in Heaven and still pickin

[potluck42]

anyone remember don reno .from his time with arthur smith show in charlotte nc

[RusnakBanjo]

Thank you for posting these early clips. Brings back great memories..Reno really, really knew that fingerboard and was able to do anything he wanted to when he wanted to effortlessly...Used to watch him and Bill Harrell when they had a 15 min tv show back in the early 60's sponsored by Engleside Furniture off Rt 1 Virginia. My dad (a tenor banjoist since age 15) used to call me in when it was on..He'd say" get in here boy and see how it's done"..I was just beginning to play 5-string then...Great

[hypnosophy]

i ride by don renos grave at least once a week you can see the big tombstone from the road if you look for it,and a good friend of mine is buried about 30 yards from him

[boblackey1]

was born in Roanoke,Va and grew up there and remember this show every morning on TV. Irv Sharp has passed away too. Don and Red were very nice men . Don said when he got out of the Army, Earl was sounding so great with the style Don picked up from Snuffy Jenkins that he decided to do two finger and other licks more than Earl's style so he would have his own style and was real pleased with it. been years ago, but that is what I remember. Anybody heard the same thing from Don on his style?

[HymnTimeGospelSongs]

If we could only have shows like this again ....it would save the local stations.

This was when tv was what it was all about..

[hankedful]

I agree.

[Johnlawret]

Thanks for the memories, Red is my forth cousin and buried about three miles from my home. It's great that so many people still appreciate great Reno & Smiley harmony. Several Smiley Cousins are still making music.

[Pilotridge]

Reno and Smiley...great pickin'! Mac kept the same style of fiddling when he went on to play for Porter Wagner.

[williambeier]

Don Reno was the 5-string banjo. Don Reno and Red Smiley were the best. William Beier

[wvfisherguy]

Great clean runs on the five string!!!

[CadillacL]

I was born in '71 so this is a treat to see. I also love how they advertise Kroger right there live. :)

[nikku13]

'When did you start entering from the rear...' classic!

[bulerias81]

Ah this was great. I love it

[mattygeetarross]

Man!! Don could sure "stand on it" on the banjo!

[bhs0839]

Watched this show many, many times. Great music. Thanks for posting it.

[Flyssc1]

Thank you so much for posting this. I used to go to all the Bluegrass Festivals in the early 70's when I was a student in the U.S. Saw them all at various festivals. All these wonderful musicians are never to be forgotten.

[CWPartridge]

Whispering Hope is spine-tingling. Superb stuff.

[lynn0335]

Ole Mac done good for a boy from Honea Path SC didn't he

[lynn0335]

ole Mac done good for a boy from Honea Path SC didn,t he.

[lynn0335]

Ole Mac done good for a boy from Honea Path SC. didn't he.

[john77905]

this is gooooooooooood stuff man. enjoyed the heck outta this thanks for posting it. listen to that drivin bass. hard to find a good bass player to drive that song home.

[danrkeva]

I think the bass player was John Palmer from Daleville, VA He was one of the best

[weezycom]

That was John Palmer. A very good man in addition to bass player. He passed in 1990. I'll pass your kind words on to his son.

[ihatestairs1953]

I think Mac McGaha should have had his own television show. He can really make that fiddle sing.

[jmartin638]

That is one of the happiest fiddlers I have ever seen.

[therebel1960]

He just really loves the music, doesn't he? He was always that way every time I have ever seen a clip of him. He really helped the audience get into it as well.

[billthorpe]

Great video! Who's the fiddler with Reno and Smiley? He sure is energetic!

[jimmydoit]

great video ! thanks renopicker

[marjstan2]

lets give renopicker a million thanks for posting this program, for I would have never known about it,a priceless masterpiece,and does anyone know if there were other programs that followed this one?

[bottlecap11111]

Reno and Smiley and their band played live every weekday morning on WDBJ-TV in Roanoke, Va from 1956 to 1969. The host here, Irv Sharp, was also the host on those programs. He was a fixture on WDBJ for decades.

[kimosabi6180]

Reno and Smiley broke up around 1965, Red Smiley continued to play on WDBJ with a new band until '69. I remember my Grandma had her TV tuned into their show every morning.

[flatpikinguitar]

what kind of guitar did red use

[sav1028]

A C.F. Martin D-45 is what he's playing in the video.

[markarrington2]

Great music, of course. But the really amazing thing - $0.25 cents/lb for pork roast at Kroger!

[Buddawg1960]

One similarity between Reno & Smiley and Flatt & Scruggs: The band leaders wore coat and tie, the sidemen wore shirt only ( so folks would know who the stars were?)

[mulhand]

" NOw, THATS MUSIC "

[jtls8]

YES IT IS!!!!!

[olerattle]

Thanks Jason this great, you got abe the best reno picker

Dave

[FalconSupreme1]

Great picking here and that fiddle was kind of reaching out to us. Wonderful the way that instrument talked ! Loved every second of this beautiful footage folks. Thanks for posting.

[simonne234]

thank you for the wonderful video...it's the greatest///

[NSchrobilgen]

Red is certainly a great flatpicker

[Papafuz]

The don't make guitar pickers like Red Smiley anymore.

[Jica4]

you know i am proud to say that i am a 22 year old female born and raised in Jamestown, NY, that was raised on classic music such as this. I hate what the world calls music today. Thank you for letting me be able to finally see the people I've always listened too. What a great gift!

[rburg1954]

Classic stuff, need shows like this on TV now. I am honored that Red Smiley was my 2nd cousin.

[catherineyronwode]

Thanks for uploading this fine clip. "The only thing i'd change about you is your name" -- great lyrics! As for the Reno versus Scruggs banjo controversy -- well, i had the good fortune to see both bands perform live, and i can truthfully say that Reno and Smiley made me feel happier and more exicted than Flatt and Scruggs did. But what do i know? I'm just an old music fan. :-) Thanks again.

[arvinwynn]

I just love this classic show I remember watching them on channel 7 ,what a hoot to see this again..thank you so much.That Irvin Sharp was also a great great entertainer..loved Mrs.You Who...tv will never be this good again...local tv should be just that LOCAL and give the little guy what they did back then....boy if I had a station.

[kjcon54]

I'd like to pitch in on the Scruggs vs Reno question:

First, I've been listening to Flatt and Scruggs my whole life. They are my favorite of the classic bluegrass bands. I only discovered Reno recently. I agree that comparing the two is like comparing apples to oranges. Both of them are incredible.

I think though, that Reno has a better command of his instrument and better knowledge of music in general. Scruggs is hot; Reno is sweet.

[renopicker]

The problem with comparing Earl and Don or any two pickers is that people get caught up in hero worship and can't look at it objectively. I don't like comparing or judging musicians. But if it must be done then there's only one fair way to do it. And that's by removing personal opinions from the argument. Everyone usually judges a banjo player by Tone, Timing, and Taste. Those things are opinions and are totally subjective to the listener.

Continued below...

[renopicker]

So what's left to judge? Technical ability and knowledge. And the answer is obvious between the two. Don Reno wins hands down. And that's just comparing their banjo playing. If you were to also consider Reno's song writing, MC work, guitar playing, and singing abilities....well, there's just no comparison. Don Reno is in a league of his own.

[kjcon54]

You got some great insights there and I agree with you almost completely. It really is pretty much pointless to try to compare two different musicians, especially two of the caliber of Scruggs and Reno. It is fun and almost irresistable to try though.

IMO Earl has a drive that no other bluegrass player has ever come close to. It's no accident that he is the banjo player that most beginning bluegrassers try to emulate.

Continued below...

[kjcon54]

On the other hand, When I used to go to bluegrass festivals, about 25 years ago, walking the campgrounds after all the sane people had gone to bed, sick and tired of the machine gun sounds of bad bluegrassers. I would Usually find a small group playing really tasty music. When I asked who wrote that tune, the answer was always Don Reno

[renopicker]

That's partly the reason why I got into reno style banjo. Because I was tired of playing like everyone else. Plus his playing just made me crazy! His sound is unbelievable. His style can fit any type of music, not just bluegrass. Reno and Smiley were just as much a country band as they were bluegrass. They were fantastic and one of a kind. I can't thank Reno enough for the music he left us. My family band is trying to carry on Don's music as best that we can and we are having a blast!!

[kjcon54]

Yeah, and he can swing too. That was something that was all too rare in bluegrass/country players in the 60's and 70's. One of the things I liked about the banjoists in my late night festival jams was the use of chords other than I IV and V.

I don't play banjo, but I've messed around with it enough to know how much fun it is. I'm currently concentrating my efforts to guitar, mandolin and piano.

[bluemandos]

Forty-five years and the price of California oranges and pork has gone way up and the quality of real bluegrass music has gone down.

[soupy1957]

Whose playin the mandolin in this clip? Is that a very young Frank Wakefield?

[renopicker]

Ronnie Reno. Don Reno's son.

[Buddawg1960]

Who's the best? Don Reno? Earl Scruggs? What a dumb question. They are both masters!Technically, I suspect either were capable of imitating the other's stuff. Wouldn't it be boring if Don and Earl sounded just alike? It's called style folks. Just be happy all of us here are aware of this great music and can appreciate it, and aren't condemned to listening to britney spears and the backstreet boys!!

[rothrock65]

Amen to that!! TR

[1radjak]

I couldn't have said it better Myself !

[xlcrlee]

Music and success often reflect one's personaliy. Having known both Earl and Don (I toured with Ronnie's band for a while, sometimes twinning Don on the banjo), and have now come to see their styles thus: Earl is a typical strong-handed, feeling Cancer, and Don an innovative idea-full Aquarian (even has R. Reagan's expression), though both are creative AND feeling, and BOTH are top-of-the-heap Tigers.

[irvlkn1]

Irv was great , he's my dad

[MKFaizi]

Bless Irvin Sharpe, too.

[MKFaizi]

When I woke up in the morning -- before I started school -- I ate my oatmeal listening to this. At four years old, I had no idea or appreciation of it. Thought it was normal. Thought everybody woke up listening to such things. When I was in my late twenties, I was shocked to realize that Reno and Smiley were exceptional musicians.

[lyle9]

Don Reno is the best banjo picker ever.Nobody can't touch him,not even Earl Scruggs.

[HillbillyJ]

Maybe its more like they can't touch each other. They play 2 different styles, right? Their each their own individuals doing their style and being the best at it cause its theirs. Earl is the best, and so is Don, just at 2 different styles.

[2ndfret]

I agree with you on this There is no way I could say which one is best. But your comment on the subject is the best no doubt.

[kmcfar1948]

When I was a child living in Roanoke Virginia in the very early 60's I used to watch these guys on WDBJ in Roanoke before going to school. My love of Bluegrass has only grown through 59 years. It gives me much peace to see them again. They were perfect in every way. Wished we could have shows like this again. No politics and no meaness.

[traderbill1001]

Woke up every weekday morning to these guys in the 50.s to get ready for school. Brings back nice memories. They played on WDBJ-7 T.V. in Roanoke Va.

[kjvkid]

I Read Last Night That Mac Magaha Died In August, 2003

[extrasouth]

Mac Magaha passed away last year I think. He is definitely gone, but not sure about how long ago that it happened.

[kjvkid]

the Fiddle Player Is Mac Magayhe He Went On To Play For Porter Wagner For Years He Is In Real Bad Health Now.

[spearchamp]

Fiddler is Mac McGanna, I believe.

[NoiseMostBeautiful]

It really dosen't get much better than this... great stuff!

[ramblik]

terrific old country, those guys are so well presented and happy

[banjobilly32]

Great stuff. We kinda forget just how good these guys were in their prime! Thanks for sharing.

[BanjoBoyMatt]

Oh, yeah! That's great!!