Bluegrass Musicians Let Loose in Classic Documentary

To get this entire 1 hour video, go to http://www.createspace.com/204609




Way back in 1964, New York filmmaker, David Hoffman was headed down with his new 16mm hand help camera (weight 49 lbs!) to spend three weeks driving the backcountry around Madison County, North Carolina, in the center of Appalachia, with the 82 year old founder of the pioneer Asheville Mountain Music and Dance Festival, Bascom Lamar Lunsford. The resulting film, "Bluegrass Roots" lets you hear and experience the hard scrabbling, dirt road real people sounds that dominated the back country of the southern mountains 40 years ago. It presents a string of the most extraordinary singers, players and dancers the BlueGrass Mountains had to offer. Many later became famous. Some were never heard from again. Most of the songs are classics, including Lunsford's own tune, "Mountain Dew."
When this film aired on Public Television in 1965, TV Guide gave it a full-page positive review, because Americans had never seen a documentary on the roots of Bluegrass and Country music. Today, the dirt roads and the moonshine counties are largely modernized, and Bluegrass Roots, stands as a record of a uniquely talented group of people at a time just before the coming of television, changed them. www.createspace.com/204609

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Bluegrass
• 1964
• Music
• Bascom Lamar Lunsford
• Mountain music
• Folk music History
• Banjo
• david hoffman
• great bluegrass
• fiddle playing
• lost john the fiddling man
• country music
• fiddling
• Appalachian music
• fiddle
• picking
• north
• carolina
• ireland
• celtic

[kmill61]

"play something slow to start us off" I love this stuff,thanks for posting!!!Cant get enough!!!!

[allinaday]

@kmill61 I am so glad that you heard those words. Every word at the opening and closing of this sequence and throughout the film that is part of I carefully selected. I loved the way they spoke. I cherish the words as much as I do the music. As a result, recently, America's Library of Congress bought the rights to this film not only because of its music history, but because of the spoken music of the language of these beautiful people.

David Hoffman -- filmmaker

[ahmcclb]

Great video. Hey: How come your Best Bluegrass Clog Dancing Video Ever Made is now suddenly rental only? That's a little off-putting. $10 for 6 minutes for something that is a teaser for another, full length video that sells for $30? Sheesh. Way to go from tens of thousands of views to zero.

[allinaday]

@ahmcclb Help me to understand because I may be confused. Isn't it true that you can see the video on YouTube for no cost but if you want to download it you pay. I have no intention of stopping people from seeing the video on YouTube whenever they choose.

David Hoffman -- filmmaker

[CadillacL]

I remember seeing this on PBS. The music just touched me. The dancing?

Oh my, talk about feeling good from watching. To see the (at the time) kds w/big smies, w/a joy inside as they dance. Words can't describe it. Wish more videos were like this :)

[allinaday]

Thank you CadillacL. What a moment it was. I feel lucky to have been there and lucky to have had my camera and sound gear. We just floated through time, old Bascom Lunsford and two very young film guys who loved the music and just rolled along with it. It is still a joy for me to see this as well - and I am glad so many others have the chance to tsee it because of the greatness of YouTube.

David Hoffman -- filmmaker

[jenzeppelin]

5 stars given...but...6 stars deserved :)because your contribution goes over and above the average YouTube video. This is such precious footage and a rare glimpse for many. I've added many of your film titles to my wishlist. Thank you for making them available for purchase on your official site.

[hogmiester2212]

@CadillacL Wish modern culture was like this. This is what the 21st century needs. I also feel good after watching this, but also sad that we've lost genuine culture... A way of really connecting with people. For all of the internet's "connecting people" it could never affect lives and communities like this. Our loss, really.

[fredcoonbanjo]

Twinkle Little Star is not bluegrass. it is old time music. I was luck enough to have Mr. Lunsford ask me to play at the festival there which he had started in the 1930's. In the first years, he took a horse and wagon and brought people in from around Buncomb County, NC to play for the "city folks" in Asheville. 20th century. This is old timey music at home which is always the best kind. Nice to see this video and Mr. Lunsford at an earlier age than when I met him.

[starlitbright]

I love this.....what an incredible moment in time...

[Mountchoirboy]

love it real Americana. Thanks

[ragtimeD]

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?

[FAWEZALHADI]

Oye apá que bueno que está.

[wvhollerboy2]

This is not technically "bluegrass". In Appalachia we call this "old time music".

[tuuexx]

yep

[danberres]

Love it GREAT made my day to see the video. Wish I was there

[seymourbbest]

You idiots go listen to something else if you don't like this music. And its "Monroe".