Cripple Creek

Cripple Creek

This is a tune everybody references, but is rarely played in the old timey version. I kinda like it as the first time I heard it played was by Buffy Sainte-Marie, on a mouth-bow. It has words...

Banjos and singing

I’m kinda fascinated where banjos and singing fit together now. I started my musical life as a singer… who played banjo. But today, I seem to come across many pickers who… well.. just pick. I can understand this in the bluegrass field. The banjo...

Banjo restoration complete

Brewster Grand Concert – fretless. C1900. The project banjo from my earlier post. After more than enough time it took to raise a family, the task is done. Done as much as I want to, or dare. The worst neck grooves now filled and flatted. New 12 1/8″ head...

New banjo project

This was where my new project began, a Brewster Grand Concert, fretless banjo c. 1900. Beginning the restoration process… Many years ago, I had been singing at South London club, when a young lady approached me and asked if I was interested in buying her banjo. ...
Let me fall

Let me fall

This is a great, short, hard-driving number. I can’t remember where I first heard it – but I have a suspicion it was from an old Dillards album.  Straightforward, no frills G tuning – be great to have a fiddle with this...