ragtimeD's channel

Interesting title. I guess you mean Van Ronk learned it from Leadbelly [and changed it] and Tom heard Van Ronk and changed it to this. I like all 3 but learned the van Ronk version for my 60's coffee house gigs. Back then I knew nothing of the racist story behind it.

Stephen Foster would be surprised to hear what they've done with his tune. This is a superb performance by two of the greats. They know when to play melody and when to invent stuff around the melody - wonderful!

nice job. You don't look like a fiddler but you sure do play like one.

I play this tune, albeit not this well. I learned it from an old guy who didn't know the title. Someone once called it "Moccasin Two Step" but I don't think so. What is it's title?

That's John McDonnell on guitar and , of course, "Gator" Gates on bass. They were the Loners but are playing here with Skip S. on keyboards. Late Aug. 2011, Gator sustained a heart attack and a crushed vertebrae in a work related accident. Trooper that he is, he has appered with the marcabes sinc...

This first tune is Twinkle Little Star. Sarah looks so young there I would guess it was a few years earlier than 2008. She has such control over her instrument - no wonder she so well known. Canadian tunes are so danceable - gotta love 'em.

This is "Midnight on the Water". Mark plays it with some wonderful drones - hard stuff. He keeps the drones for Bonaparte's Retreat and, after playing it traditionally , takes it into the stratosphere like only Mark can!

I want 6 craps shooters for my pall-bearers.

Great playing - We should try this together some time.

Nice work, Brad. I used to play Tony Glover's solo piece but this one is harder and , dare I say, better. Keep on keepin' on.

I always thought Doc Watson got the guitar style he plays on this tune out out the thin air. Mr. Delmore [Alton?] picked the splinters out of it way back then!

This was the first record Doc ever heard - Charlie Poole singing "don't let your deal go down". I'm glad it wasn't some lame pop thing by Rudy Valley - it might have changed the history of American music. Doc is one reason I'm proud to be an American.

3 years??? This is better than I play it after playing 10 years. Your instrument really rings - that's better than mine too. Watch out world!

I'm quite impressed by the guitarist. A DADGAD tuning played on his lap ala Joe Healy. Now that's unusual.

Great pickin' everybody. There is a song called "Fast Freight" but this is the Libba Cotton song. I want to go up to Canada and play in your band!

When Ricky Skaggs joined Emmylou shortly before this, he was joining "the Hot Band" which was and IS considered the best back-up band ever assembled. Ricky was shocked that they didn't know the "rules" and Harmonies of a bluegrass band and had to teach them. This is some of the tasty results.

"Winin boy" refers to a kid on the sidewalk who watched for police and started "winin" or crying loudly as a signal. Van Ronk said as much at the cafe Lena in the 60's

Nice job on the fiddle. If this was at a fiddle festival it's really too bad the back-up had to figure it out as they went. They just needed a 30 sec rehersal.

Good work, son. I just picked up my guitar and played along with you. It was fun not knowing what was coming next- just like a real session. Fischer's hornpipe started out as I know it but got strange after the 1st time through. Is that your own variation?

They are playing "The Ash Grove" which is owned by the world at this point. The bowing by the girl closest the camera is very strange - kinda hard to watch - but the music comes out OK.

very nice photos of old "houses". Getting perfect intonation is very difficult - I find your efforts inspiring - keep fiddling.

Wow! Big room, big fiddle sound, big talent. Kingsbury is proud of their favorite son and former sexton.

Now THAT'S how you play it. My guitar player tries to drag it down - you guys swing!

Well played. We play this tune all around the Adirondacks where I am.

Thank you so much. I tried to remember this waltz off and on for 6 months. I played it with an old Adirondack fiddler years ago and had forgotten how it went. Canadian I think - Maybe Graham Townsend.

every time I think I've heard all the great Hank Williams songs - someone plays me one I've never heard before. Thanks a lot!

I play bluegrass and old time fiddle, guitar etc - and the oldtime has the chords [G - D-Em- C- G- D- G in the "B" part Bluegrass = G- D- C- Em - G- D- G Once you've heard the beautiful heart wrenching C to Em change the old time version seems dull and lifeless. Any thoughts?

Nice job Julie - You guys were at the Dance Flurry [not Troy]. I don't care what Stewart Duncin said about Old tyme - it's still great.