@@lukehoward4182 2014 champion, but thank you. It was a lot of hard work, in preparation I had to study a dictionary, which is how I learned words and their meanings. You should try it.
Sometimes I hear a piece of music that brings a lump to my throat and puts a tear to my eye- the first tune did that instantly- POW!!! when that happens, i trust it's my heart telling me i'm hearing something utterly amazing and 100% authentic- Wish they hadn't stuck the commentary over that part though- greetings from over in scotland- guess the celtic roots still reach the celtic heart in this wonderful music
You can buy a DVD called "Four American Roots Music Films by Yasha Aginsky". One of this "four films" there is "Homemade American Music". This short clip is from there.
The first song is "Old Smoky". I don't recognize the melody, but the first half of the lyrics is" On Top of Old Smoky" and the second half after the music fades to the narration is mostly "Jack O' Diamonds." It's an interesting piece.
On top of old smokey, all covered with snow There I lost my own true lover, for courting too slow Well courting is a pleasure, and parting is a grief A false hearted true lover is worse than a thief
That's my uncle,I'm lit'cotton,and yes I'm still alive lesser than most think,and I want my silver eagle banjo That's due ta Aunt and Jackie Howard Halcomb Sr.
Mike Seeger has a "How To" DVD about mountain banjo techniques. To play like Roscoe, you should learn the "thumb lead" 2-finger style. Although he does play clawhammer on some tunes.
You would not recognize Daisy, KY if you went there now. Like most of Perry County, it has been permanently destroyed by strip mining. Most of Roscoe's relatives buried there spell their surname, Halcomb.
@alexl32 well it's not clawhammer, Roscoe plays a few different styles, but one is a "two-finger" style where he leads with his thumb. then i've also heard the index lead. on faster songs like "little birdie", he does an up-picking (with index) and a downward brush like in clawhammer playing, but the melody note is picked upward. ANYhoo, he plays a great mix of styles.
His technique is known as thumb-lead or two-finger. There are some basic help videos available on the internet, but if you just watch and mess around with the basic technique, it's not too hard. His thumb plays the melody and his index stays on the fifth.
@Gheti old school players play their instruments in strange ways (jimi hendrix re-strung his guitar as apposed to getting a left handed one) - just adds to their story really :) - i'd play the way that is most comfortable for you
Agreed! Bluegrass banjo, for all its virtuosity, introduced a mind-numbing conformity in picking. Earl created something beautiful, but then the cloning began.
Fantastic, this is purely American music. R. Holcomb was brilliant, wish there was a full length film about him.
Pure, raw, real , you could literally see his blood and guts and soul ,spewing out as he sang, nothing more real
Either I missed the part where his innards spilled out of his body, or you don't know what the word 'literally' means.
@Dipsheet Patel Haha aren't you the 2013 national spelling bee champion.
@@lukehoward4182 2014 champion, but thank you. It was a lot of hard work, in preparation I had to study a dictionary, which is how I learned words and their meanings. You should try it.
@Dipsheet Patel Nah I love using words outta context
That high lonesome sound you’ll never forget it
Roscoe you were a spiritual teacher to all of us, you are still loved my friend.
Rest Easy Roscoe and Amen
Thank you for sharing old memories. Roscoe had a real raw style that I just love. A real american treasure!
Both those fellas were the real deal...may they rest in peace.
Roscoe Holcomb & Johnny Cash
my favorite singers
Sometimes I hear a piece of music that brings a lump to my throat and puts a tear to my eye- the first tune did that instantly- POW!!! when that happens, i trust it's my heart telling me i'm hearing something utterly amazing and 100% authentic- Wish they hadn't stuck the commentary over that part though- greetings from over in scotland- guess the celtic roots still reach the celtic heart in this wonderful music
Best bluegrass singer. Thank you for your contribution to the archives, Roscoe.
Not quite Bluegrass...just sayin'
pretty cool seeing Roscoe in color.
You can buy a DVD called "Four American Roots Music Films by Yasha Aginsky". One of this "four films" there is "Homemade American Music". This short clip is from there.
Golly man! He was the real deal.
Wonderful footage- thanks for posting!
dear lord this is awesome!
Like Dock Boggs, Roscoe was a Spiritual Teacher and Banjo Guru
Glad some one posted this for us that would never heard it..
I would really love to have met this man. Dont hear music like this anymore.
You cant go wrong with this......
a true legend and a true hardworking country man and my main inspiration for my style fucking kickass having some drinks boys
The first song is "Old Smoky". I don't recognize the melody, but the first half of the lyrics is" On Top of Old Smoky" and the second half after the music fades to the narration is mostly "Jack O' Diamonds." It's an interesting piece.
Just awesome sound!
On top of old smokey, all covered with snow
There I lost my own true lover, for courting too slow
Well courting is a pleasure, and parting is a grief
A false hearted true lover is worse than a thief
@SovietTelevision totally agree, this guy is a legend and should comprehensivley documented
That's my uncle,I'm lit'cotton,and yes I'm still alive lesser than most think,and I want my silver eagle banjo That's due ta Aunt and Jackie Howard Halcomb Sr.
It make me sad that two people don't get him...
such a sorrowful moan sooths my aching heart, youl live on roscoe
This sequence is from a film HOMEMADE AMERICAN MUSIC made and copyright by Yasha Aginsky.
Mike Seeger has a "How To" DVD about mountain banjo techniques. To play like Roscoe, you should learn the "thumb lead" 2-finger style. Although he does play clawhammer on some tunes.
You would not recognize Daisy, KY if you went there now. Like most of Perry County, it has been permanently destroyed by strip mining. Most of Roscoe's relatives buried there spell their surname, Halcomb.
@alexl32
well it's not clawhammer, Roscoe plays a few different styles, but one is a "two-finger" style where he leads with his thumb. then i've also heard the index lead.
on faster songs like "little birdie", he does an up-picking (with index) and a downward brush like in clawhammer playing, but the melody note is picked upward.
ANYhoo, he plays a great mix of styles.
His technique is known as thumb-lead or two-finger. There are some basic help videos available on the internet, but if you just watch and mess around with the basic technique, it's not too hard. His thumb plays the melody and his index stays on the fifth.
god damn this is awesome ive never heard that second song b4 it is great.
3:28 Blessed Virgin sighting (w/immaculate heart!)
Warms my cold papist heart...
sucks that he was in pain for most of his later life, i guess working all day in coal mines ain't what its cracked up to be
@alexl32 He's not playing clawhammer banjo. He's doing two-finger picking.
yeah
See the whole film at www.folkstreams.net/
What was that last song he played?
Is that Alice Gerrard listening?
Yes! They were married at the time.
@Gheti old school players play their instruments in strange ways (jimi hendrix re-strung his guitar as apposed to getting a left handed one) - just adds to their story really :) - i'd play the way that is most comfortable for you
Agreed! Bluegrass banjo, for all its virtuosity, introduced a mind-numbing conformity in picking. Earl created something beautiful, but then the cloning began.
Awesome footage, alright. I'd noticed some of the religious pictures in the house--was he Catholic?
Doubt it. Arent many Catholic churches in that part of the country, especially back in the old days. He's probably baptist.
I believe he was Holiness, a fundamentalist Protestant sect in his part of Appalachia.
Ah---a truly good man! @@donhuber9131
whats the first song
damn this is the shit WOW!!!!!!!!!!!
where is this video from?
+Andy Bishop EAST K.Y
Is he picking with his thumb on Guitar and playing a rhythm with index? I think he's better than even momma Maybelle....
Was he catholic?
I believe he was Holiness, a Protestant fundamentalist sect in his area of Appalachia.