Steve Arkin winning the bluegrass category at the 1964 Philadelphia Folk Festival Banjo Contest

August 28-30, 1964. This was the third year of the Philadelphia Folk Festival's celebrated banjo contest--the largest in the country that was judged by top players and not by audience applause. Furthermore, it was "blind judged"--the judges couldn't see the stage or the contestants, who were introduced by number only (so the judges wouldn't know the identify of each contestant--(although in some cases one could tell). As a result, banjo players came from all over to compete--I remember Tony Trischka, Lamar Grier, Larry McNeely, Pete Wernick, and many other luminaries among the contestants that year.

I had just left the Blue Grass Boys in order to allow enough time to make it back to compete (I placed second the two previous years). Bill Monroe was there--he's one of the first people you see in this clip. I did win it this year (I'm playing toward the end of the clip--right after Peter Stamfel and just before the left-handed guy) and the clip ends right after I went up to the stage to receive my prize--a Gibson Mastertone RB-250. Please note the lengthy footage of the judges deliberating. I gather it was a close call between me and Ken Brown, the runner up (he won it the following year when I was a judge).

For those who've never seen me without a mustache, this is as close as you can get to a big opportunity (I have about a week's worth of mustache growth--Monroe made me shave it off to be in the band and I started growing it again as soon as I left). Note that I was smoking as I came up to the stage to accept my prize (IMFR). Monroe was so excited that he tried to talk me into joining the band again, but I had to go back to college the following week.

The Master of Ceremonies was Roger Sprung. I will never forget him pointing and smiling at me after the courier handed him the paper with the names of the winners (I honestly didn't know what he meant by that). I don't remember who won the clawhammer contest--I think it might have been Ivon Schmuckler--or not.

I edited this video from a DVD given to me by a guy named Peter Grudzian at the Washington Square Reunion 4 or 5 years ago. I didn't know him and he was dressed a little strangely (black tights, formal coat with tails, a stovepipe hat, and a Salvador Dali mustache). So I was amazed when he handed me the DVD and said "here's a video of you winning the Philly Banjo Contest." In fact, it was a video he made from 8mm films he had taken of both the Phily and Newport Folk Festivals that year.It was he who added the nice sound track of country songs--having nothing to do with the content of the film. I'll post other pieces of both festivals when I get a chance. Many old friends--some no longer with us!

I want to thank my son-in-law, Chris Briaotta, for converting this video to a format that I could edit and upload. I've been hoping to post this for years, and couldn't have done it without his help. And of course I would like to thank Peter Grudzian, whom I never saw before or since he presented me with this terrific memento (I sure wish he used Super-8 so we would have the actual sound track).

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Steve Arkin
• Philadelphia Folk Festival
• banjo contest
• winner
• Pete Wernick
• Steve Mandell
• Roger Sprung
• Richie Brown
• Peter Stamfel
• Winnie WInston
• Ola Belle Reed
• Eric Weissberg
• Bill Keith
• Bill Monroe
• bluegrass
• Blue Grass Boys
• David Grisman
• Artie Rose

[sarkin44]

Roger Sprung was the MC.

[JessieMaeKanagie]

whos the announcer?

[Strumelia]

Steve- awesome video.  Congratulations to you even many years later! :)

[BBINGHAM032352]

Great song too!! ''Rattlesnake Daddy''

[tmandell55]

Fun Times! Thanks for putting this together! My Steve is at about 6:20!

[MarkGVT]

The clawhammer (we called it "frailing" then) winner was Benji Aronoff, from Philly.

[tatumpiano]

I LOVE this video!! I was there the year after but wish I had seen this one. Thanks for putting this up, just great to see everyone!