Mike Seeger performs "Walking Boss" in the Smithsonian Folkways Studio

Please visit www.folkways.si.edu for an appreciation of Mike Seeger (1933-2009).

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For over fifty years, Mike Seeger has been a musician, documenter, and tireless advocate of American folk and traditional music. As a musician he recorded as a solo artist and member of folk revival ensemble the New Lost City Ramblers. As a collector he has captured and produced sounds by iconic artists such as Elizabeth Cotten and Dock Boggs. And finally, as a historian and preservationist of the music he calls "old time," Mike Seeger gives us the stories behind the music that is such an essential part of American culture. Here he performs and gives the history of "Walking Boss," a tune Thomas Clarence Ashley learned from African American railroad workers at the turn of the 19th century. To find more Mike Seeger recordings visit: http://www.folkways.si.edu/searchresu... Also visit Smithsonian Folkways at http://www.folkways.si.edu/index.aspx The content and comments posted here are subject to the Smithsonian Institution copyright and privacy policy (www.si.edu/copyright/). Smithsonian reserves the right in its sole discretion to remove any content at any time.

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[Spencer Thonn]

It seems to be a very old (19th century?) fretless gut string banjo. Gut string banjos and guitars were popular in old-time styles till the turn of the 20th century.

[Mathias Kamin]

Great stuff. Can't wait to add this to my list of tunes!

[Mike Hansen]

Does anyone know anything about this banjo Mike is playing?

[1canyonguy]

Always amazing

[dogjones65]

Ashley learned the tune at the turn of the 20th century not the 19th, as it reads in the info section.

[MrPennswoods]

does any one know what key this song is in?

[Zach Kafel]

R.I.P. .... can anyone put Johnson City Blues up on this-a-here Youtube?

[lotuswight]

Mike, you inspired so many

We miss you so

Rest Deeply

in Peace

[guy wolff]

I love Mike's version of this one . He's added some wonderful things of a Clarence Tom Ashley direction to this clip . He is informing Ashley's touch for us all . Thanks Mike . You gave us all so much . Guy

[Michael Southern]

Mike was Pete Seeger's younger half-brother. They came from a very musical family. There's a brief summary biography of Mike on Wikipedia.