7. Girl Friend Medley (For Me And My Gal - Ain't She Sweet - Sweet Georgia Brown)
8. Love Letters In The Sand
9. Happy Time Medley (When You're Smiling - Mr. Sandman - If You Knew Susie)
A 2-LP set by Maurice Bolyer (originally Beaulieu) (1920-1978) apparently issued in 1977 because of the font on the labels and the consistency of the vinyl. Maurice went to school with my grandpa on my mom's side (1908-1983), and this is the very copy he got following Maurice's death. This album has meant a lot to me, as I kept listening to it for years through my childhood and early teenage. My grandma also kept playing it all the time after her husband's death, all the way until 1996 when she got transferred to health care and I inherited of it (she died in 2000). To get the best sound out of these records that got well worn on my grandma's 1966 Garrard 3000 changer (which I also still have), I'm here playing them on my 1987 Technics SL-L24 linear-tracker with Shure cartridge. Sides are placed A opposite B and C opposite D as with sets from the 80's and today. Each side has its theme: Side A "In Concert"; Side B "For Party Dancing"; Side C "Jigs, Reels and Waltzes"; and Side D "By Request". The gatefold cover is heavily worn and torn along the top and bottom, but still bears the following liner notes:
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THE KING OF THE BANJO
The reputation "King Of The Banjo" in today's music industry is an honour that carries with it, not just the respect and admiration of the public but fellow musicians as well. It's a title that has not come easy to Maurice Bolyer. Born in Edmundston, N.B., Canada, December 1, 1920, Maurice learned to play the piano at the age of 3 - at 10 he was a member of a small band playing at weddings and dances. Not only he was playing piano, he would also solo on the violin, guitar, bass, accordion and mandolin. Seven years later the band was still going and the group decided Maurice should add the banjo. Of all the instruments Maurice had played the banjo wasn't going to be mastered as quickly. It was going to take many years of hard work because he really didn't like the banjo.
However, Maurice continued to play the banjo and in 1942 he played with the great Hank Snow. It was around this time Maurice made his first multiple single instrument recording, about 8 years before Les Paul made his.
Married in the early 40's, the Bolyers started travelling across the country in search of the elusive stairway to stardom. Musical contests, band jobs and radio station programs started the ball rolling.
Recognition came slowly for Maurice. It started with the TV show 'Main Street Jamboree' with Gordie Tapp. Next came 'Country Hoedown', and during the last 8 years Maurice has been part of the 'Tommy Hunter Show'.
As his talent was recognized, Maurice became a popular guest on major U.S. TV shows such as Arthur Godfrey, Pee Wee Hunt, Victor Borge, and the ever popular Lawrence Welk. It was Arthur Godfrey who called Maurice the world's greatest living banjo virtuoso.
Many of the songs you will hear have been recorded with a mute on the banjo, changing the banjo's tone to a soft, mellow sound. While other artists use a mute, Maurice designed his own and the results you will hear are a tribute to his musical talent.
This special two-record set includes many songs recorded for the first time, as well as some of Maurice's "Golden Classics" that have been applauded by audiences around the world.
To Maurice we say... Long Live The King.
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Stroke Instruction for Fretless Banjo - Technique from Rice 1858 .wmvby giggletoot2,768 views
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