Hi Sarah. Terry Bell here. You bring out the best in that gal. In 1977 I met a guy who showed me clawhammer and that night I got drunk on banjos forever. We became friends, added another friend with a guitar and my brother on washtub bass. We played around Michigan til the mid 80's. Years later, my banjo bug never went away and I started making them, and here you are playing one. My banjo friend Clyde has passed away. He was a sensitive soulful player like you. It makes me so happy to watch your clips.
Terry, I've been spotty on youtube the last few years and am just seeing this now. Thank you so much for sharing this history. It's so funny, I knew nothing about banjos, besides bluegrassy cliche, before someone demonstrated clawhammer for me one time. The story is that I was taking fiddle lessons and was itching to learn a new instrument, and thought I'd try the mandolin since the fingerings are the same, but all the mandolins in my local music shop (this was before internet shopping, ha) were way above my budget. My oldschool cowboy fiddle teacher said, "Hey, I know a guy selling a banjo for a hundred bucks!" (Side note, ten years later: don't buy a hundred dollar banjo unless you have gun to your head. But, it was an okay place to start, I suppose.) "Banjo??" I said, skeptical. But then he grabbed his own openback and played me an oldtime tune, and showed me clawhammer: "Look, it's a whole band in one intstrument", he said. "This is the drone, and this fingernail plays the melody, and these fingers play the harmony, and then there's the percussion, like this." I was floored. I wanted in. I bought that banjo, and then another, and then another, and another. Thank god. I'm so glad I did.
@@mesarah011 Hey, my first banjo was 40 bucks. It was a Sears Silvertone and I have a vague memory that it was a decent enough banjo to start on, after it was stolen (along with my pickup truck), I got another one, but it wasn't as decent...the action was a mile high. I've since upgraded to a much more playable model :-)
Great work, Sarah. I learned this song from George Gibson and he learned it from his father, Mal Gibson. I'm sure they'd both like your version as much as I do.
@@chrisjames5979 As far as I know, the earliest recording would be by a Benjamin Frank Shelton at the Bristol TN sessions in 1927. It's quite similar to both this recording, Clifton's, and and Holcomb's, but not the same. He also did a recording of Pretty Polly. Excellent playing here, though!
@Nic North absolutely love this, love what your doing. Have you not set up merch sites ? Bandcamp etc? Would love to purchase even a cdr. For now I'll just learn.
Amazing! That is one well-loved banjo, as evidenced by the worn finger marks along the neck. I'm astounded how you can play without frets, it takes real talent to "feel" an instrument in that way. Great tune and singing too, thanks so much for sharing!
been coming back to this over the years. I been playing banjo for 6 years now and, well frankly, Im damn good now. But it was /this/ video that really inspired me to learn the skill, above all else ---peace & love from the high sierra
Radical! Totally awesome! People I try and play like because they have a "style" I admire #1 right here! I would so love to sit and jam with you Sarah! You freaking rock! Know you have fans girl and keep on putting it out there for us! Thank you~
Wow, love this Sarah, I just came across your songs and music, You have a new fan, I'm an ole hippie from the 70s who has went from rock and folk to country and now I am making my way into mountain and bluegrass music, Love your style,
WOW!!!! such a fantastic version...... wonderful combination of techniques, on such a cool instrument....this is low down good, good , good..!!! thanks for posting !!!
Fantastic playing and singing. I'll say you own this song...now I'll spend the rest of the evening checking out all the other versions. Will check out Clifton Hicks next.
Hi Sarah, thank you for this song. I saw a fretless banjo in the window of my guitar shop and wondered what you'd do with it. So I looked it up on youtube and found your videos. The soft percussive sound of your instrument is intriguing. I like it very much as well as your voice. Thanks for introducing your music to me. Greetings from a guitar player, Berlin, Germany!
Hi Kerstin, glad to hear from you! One of the nice things about a fretless banjo, in addition to the beautiful sound, is the ability to slide up and down from one note to another in a way you can't quite do on a fretted instrument, which lends a particularly soulful quality to the music. I hope you continue to find fretless videos that intrigue you! Best, Sarah
Hi Sarah. Terry Bell here. You bring out the best in that gal. In 1977 I met a guy who showed me clawhammer and that night I got drunk on banjos forever. We became friends, added another friend with a guitar and my brother on washtub bass. We played around Michigan til the mid 80's. Years later, my banjo bug never went away and I started making them, and here you are playing one. My banjo friend Clyde has passed away. He was a sensitive soulful player like you. It makes me so happy to watch your clips.
Terry, I've been spotty on youtube the last few years and am just seeing this now. Thank you so much for sharing this history. It's so funny, I knew nothing about banjos, besides bluegrassy cliche, before someone demonstrated clawhammer for me one time. The story is that I was taking fiddle lessons and was itching to learn a new instrument, and thought I'd try the mandolin since the fingerings are the same, but all the mandolins in my local music shop (this was before internet shopping, ha) were way above my budget. My oldschool cowboy fiddle teacher said, "Hey, I know a guy selling a banjo for a hundred bucks!" (Side note, ten years later: don't buy a hundred dollar banjo unless you have gun to your head. But, it was an okay place to start, I suppose.) "Banjo??" I said, skeptical. But then he grabbed his own openback and played me an oldtime tune, and showed me clawhammer: "Look, it's a whole band in one intstrument", he said. "This is the drone, and this fingernail plays the melody, and these fingers play the harmony, and then there's the percussion, like this." I was floored. I wanted in. I bought that banjo, and then another, and then another, and another. Thank god. I'm so glad I did.
@@mesarah011 Hey, my first banjo was 40 bucks. It was a Sears Silvertone and I have a vague memory that it was a decent enough banjo to start on, after it was stolen (along with my pickup truck), I got another one, but it wasn't as decent...the action was a mile high. I've since upgraded to a much more playable model :-)
@@mesarah011 I am too
@@mesarah011a whole band in one instrument. Love it
Great work, Sarah. I learned this song from George Gibson and he learned it from his father, Mal Gibson. I'm sure they'd both like your version as much as I do.
Clifton Hicks Thank you so much!!! That means the world.
Wasn't it by roscoe holcomb or is it just a general folk song?
@@chrisjames5979 The song is older than Roscoe Halcomb.
@@chrisjames5979 As far as I know, the earliest recording would be by a Benjamin Frank Shelton at the Bristol TN sessions in 1927. It's quite similar to both this recording, Clifton's, and and Holcomb's, but not the same. He also did a recording of Pretty Polly. Excellent playing here, though!
@Nic North absolutely love this, love what your doing.
Have you not set up merch sites ? Bandcamp etc?
Would love to purchase even a cdr. For now I'll just learn.
Amazing! That is one well-loved banjo, as evidenced by the worn finger marks along the neck. I'm astounded how you can play without frets, it takes real talent to "feel" an instrument in that way. Great tune and singing too, thanks so much for sharing!
She really is in the zone
Don''t sell yourself short sister. This is beautiful.
Riley, your voice and banjo playing is sent from God 🕊️ Thank you
Jesus Christ..
It's like talent is literally coming out of the woodwork. She's amazing.
This must be the tenth time I've watched this. Really, it's very good indeed.
I love the song...I love her interpretation of it. Perfect. Kudos.
This gets better every time I hear it.
Same here, such a moving performance.
been coming back to this over the years. I been playing banjo for 6 years now and, well frankly, Im damn good now. But it was /this/ video that really inspired me to learn the skill, above all else ---peace & love from the high sierra
Really, really, good! You have nailed the emotional aspect of the song, and your command of the banjo is admirable!!! Regards, Jimp
I'm early in the banjo learning process, and at the moment, this rendition of yours is my most watched video and stylistic touchstone. Thank you!
Beautiful picking and beautiful voice! I hope you still play today!! You are awesome
Radical! Totally awesome! People I try and play like because they have a "style" I admire #1 right here! I would so love to sit and jam with you Sarah! You freaking rock! Know you have fans girl and keep on putting it out there for us! Thank you~
Absolutely stunning.. your fingerstyle is incredible and your voice .. oh my god i love it... I'm just gonna listen to this all the day!
What a perfect performance of this. Really great!
Wow, love this Sarah, I just came across your songs and music, You have a new fan, I'm an ole hippie from the 70s who has went from rock and folk to country and now I am making my way into mountain and bluegrass music, Love your style,
Wow! Goosebumps! You've just got a new subscriber.
fabulous! sung from way down in your soul.
Unflinching soul music with pure essence of banjo. Oh that we could all aspire to this!
Being able to play like Clifton Hicks is a worthy goal. Damn close.
Cant get enough of this vid.
What passion and soul.❤
WOW!!!! such a fantastic version...... wonderful combination of techniques, on such a cool instrument....this is low down good, good , good..!!! thanks for posting !!!
That was a face melting banjo CLINIC! Awesome!
Ok...well.....damn. I dont even know what to say, that was incredible.
Very lovely you play beautifully I play fretless banjo too. Just enjoy it Madam. Love your singing and picking keep going you sound wonderful.
Makes my hair stand on end. Fantastic!
Love your playing and singing. That banjo does a killer bass line.
Excellent.....only word I can use to describe.
Fantastic playing and singing. I'll say you own this song...now I'll spend the rest of the evening checking out all the other versions. Will check out Clifton Hicks next.
Great job! Thank Terry for making such a fine banjo. My people come from the hills of Kentucky...they'd be proud of you especialy on a fretless banjo.
NICE playing and singing.
Well hey there! NICE banjo!!! ;-)
You rocks, holy smoke that was awsome! 😎💪🏼
I dunno if this is the best performance of Darling Cora (or Corey), but it's way ahead of whatever is in second place.
Absolutely stunning.
Awesome!!! 💙💙💙
Sarah, you are a force of nature. Your playing and singing gets right to the root of things - simply superb!!!
My ears have been blessed 🙏
Great authentic song.....superbly delivered.
I have played this song at leats 100 times and still not enough
Lovely Sarah, just lovely. Thank you.
Nice job. Great voice and that banjo - wow what a natural folk sound.
Videos like this make me want to learn to play the banjo and at the same time convince me not to waste my time.
You are very gifted, second to none, and a great inspiration. Wonderful!
Don't sell your self short Sarah. This is a wonderful version. On repeat here. You are stunning.
This is just great. First time I've heard the song. Thanks very much! now to learning it, and dreaming of building a fretless. . .
Very cool
Woah impressed by that - big congrats!!!
I really enjoy how you have your own way of playing. Thank you for capturing on video. :)
Woah, amazing sound !
Your playing an singing is hypnotizing. Thanks for sharing that
awesome! That banjo looks like a lot of fun
You're very talented! thanks for making this
Far out this is brilliant
Wonderful Sarah ... So glad to find this clip ....All the best Guy
Wonderful......love what you do Sarah
Don't doubt yourself....great playing!
Brilliant version of this great song ! ......
for the first time in my life, I'd like to be a bean plant to listen live this inspiring music :) It's great!
Great sound. Thanks for sharing your talent.
New personal goal: get my banjo to sound like that LOL great playing, I might go build my own fretless
Great playing and singing! You have the perfect voice for this kind of music!
Wow Sarah, it's breathtaking good. Keep it up
This is my favorite rendition of the song. Thank you for your soulful and unique take on it :)
What talent..my God, wow!
What a terrific performance - playing and singing- so nice
Hell, there ain't NOTHIN wrong with this!
Dang. That was really good!
Fantastic job, Sarah! Damn good banjer picking and you're a great singer also. Always love watching your videos!
Making that banjo really sing, great sound
great, well done. i know nothing about banjo playing, but i lke this very much.
Yeah!! Good job Sarah, its great song!
This is simply amazing. So haunting. Beautiful. Congrats !
Damn what a great banjo sound
I love your playing and singing on this song.
Omg what talent 🕊️
Dont fret...this is lovely❤
Hi Sarah, thank you for this song. I saw a fretless banjo in the window of my guitar shop and wondered what you'd do with it. So I looked it up on youtube and found your videos. The soft percussive sound of your instrument is intriguing. I like it very much as well as your voice. Thanks for introducing your music to me. Greetings from a guitar player, Berlin, Germany!
Hi Kerstin, glad to hear from you! One of the nice things about a fretless banjo, in addition to the beautiful sound, is the ability to slide up and down from one note to another in a way you can't quite do on a fretted instrument, which lends a particularly soulful quality to the music. I hope you continue to find fretless videos that intrigue you! Best, Sarah
Great job Sara!
You put a lot into this and it was a wonderful performance!
Outstanding!! You rock!!!
Theres smth deeply powerful about this performance
This was fantastic. Thank you!
I LOVE THIS SONG!
My favorite version of this song
Love the singing and playing. You have improved over the past year.
Mighty fine!
Look at me! Your brilliant. Slainte!
Whew...you rocked this one! Fast and scary, just like it’s ‘sposta be!
Fantastic!
Love it, thank you.
sounds great building a gourd banjo probably first song I'll tackle
how beautifull
Best version on youtube! Love it!
Such great playing!
Amazing sound! Well sung and played. That tackhead sounds very nice
love the vocals
Holy Wow! Bravo!
Really good! Love Clifton too
Boom! nailed it.
I'm such a fan
What a talent.
Sweet. She's really groovin