Yeah, he played a banjo. so what?
A chapter in the back of his book on playing banjo on building one is
what got me started as a luthier... a small 4 page section of that
chapter started me off as an inlay artist... Beyond that, few people
can say they single handedly changed an American music genre. An
American Icon.
Harv
He was quite the man. I met him in New York back in the 70s. I got
there real early thinking the place would be swamped, but was able to
just walk in. And there he was - just sitting by the stage chatting
with his son Randy. No big ego, no faux humility or condescension,
just a simple, likable guy.
He made banjo playing look effortless - sometimes even looked like he
was daydreaming when he played. Randy was intense, though - he played
Black Mountain Rag that night - on a cello! - hung all over the
instrument like a mad scientist, long hair flying, in a cloud of rosin
powder - pretty wild. Earl just stood by, with a little smile on his
face, then calmly stepped up to the mike for his break, kinda looking
around and at the ceiling, then stepping back when he was done. Just
another guy in the band.
I have an old record with an interview of him saying he wanted to play
all types of music on the banjo. They play everything on other
instruments, "why not the banjo?" And he did. Awesome talent.
Rest in Peace. See ya later.
peace and joy,
jbj