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Billy Faier on Banjo

20 Oct 98 - 11:49 PM (#42612)
Subject: Billy Faier on Banjo
From: Joe DeAngelo

When I was learning to play banjo, one of my idols was Billy Faier and his "Art of the Five String Banjo" which was produced in the late 50's or early 60's. His records have always been impossible to find, although FantasyJazz.com did recently release a folk pot pourri CD with 3 tracks from that album.

I last saw him at a folk festival in northern California in 1977. I haven't heard a thing about him since. Is he still well? Does he still play anywhere?


21 Oct 98 - 11:45 AM (#42662)
Subject: RE: Billy Faier on Banjo
From: Dan Keding

Joe, Haven't heard anything about him either but that is a great album - I still have a copy.

Dan


21 Oct 98 - 11:52 AM (#42665)
Subject: RE: Billy Faier on Banjo
From: Jon W.

I would enjoy hearing more about him. What style music did/does he play?


21 Oct 98 - 03:33 PM (#42680)
Subject: RE: Billy Faier on Banjo
From: Joe DeAngelo

Hi Dan. It's been a long time. I trust life is good for you still.

Jon, it's hard to categorize Billy Faier. The song list for that album is typical of folk albums of the era, but his banjo style is neither clawhammer nor bluegrass. It's almost like classical guitar.


21 Oct 98 - 05:41 PM (#42693)
Subject: RE: Billy Faier on Banjo
From: Art Thieme

Hello Joe & Dan and all.

Billy was just seen in New York jamming with Pete Seeger but I can't recall who told me that. Might've been Rick Palieri who, was just hangin out with Pete in Beacon.Do wish I knew more...


21 Oct 98 - 09:00 PM (#42739)
Subject: RE: Billy Faier on Banjo
From: Dan Keding

Joe, I was wondering if it was the same person I knew all those years ago at the Free Theater and the No Exit. How are you??? Are you still in Chicago?? Is there a way to link up emails?? I know nothing about the web. I'm down in Springfield, IL. Still performing. Talk to you. Dan


21 Oct 98 - 11:58 PM (#42756)
Subject: RE: Billy Faier on Banjo
From: Art Thieme

Dan & Joe--Will send you each others E-mail in about 5 minutes.Yeah, you're both the ones ya think you are!

Art


21 Jun 02 - 05:43 PM (#734411)
Subject: RE: Billy Faier on Banjo
From: Stefan Wirz

just added (the beginnings of) a Billy Faier discography to my website
additions / corrections are appreciated (is it *really* Billy Faier accompanying McCurdy on the Elektra LPs or rather Eric Darling - or are they both ?)


22 Jun 02 - 12:23 AM (#734617)
Subject: RE: Billy Faier on Banjo
From: DD

Hey Dan. I am in Alton Il. Good to see someone kind of close by.


09 Aug 10 - 08:50 PM (#2961579)
Subject: RE: Billy Faier on Banjo
From: GUEST,down town tokyo

to mr. billy faier

i saw today your banjo playing at vimeo.
this is what i've dreamed about from the 1960s.
this is a legend.

thanks

tokyo folklore center from 1970 near sumida river
kiyohide kunizaki


09 Aug 10 - 09:01 PM (#2961587)
Subject: RE: Billy Faier on Banjo
From: Charley Noble

I'm another one who found The Art of the 5-String Banjo fascinating.

Cheerily,
5-String Charley Noble


10 Aug 10 - 09:52 AM (#2961988)
Subject: RE: Billy Faier on Banjo
From: fretless

I think Billy Faier was the one who hosted a radio program on NYC's WBAI back in the early 60s. It was called Midnight Special, a dual meaning drawn from the well-known song title and the hour (on the weekend night) the show was broadcast.


10 Aug 10 - 11:09 AM (#2962035)
Subject: RE: Billy Faier on Banjo
From: GUEST,David E.

Billy maintains a website (billyfaier.com) with lots to read, photos, music and memorabilia. I bought some music from Billy a few years ago and the package arrived wrapped in layers of duct tape. Took two days to get it open, but it was worth it.

David E.


10 Aug 10 - 05:01 PM (#2962360)
Subject: RE: Billy Faier on Banjo
From: Art Thieme

That is a unique and a fine website. Billy Faier took the banjo into numerous new directions with his "Art Of The 5-string Banjo" album for Riverside Records--circa 1950s. There was nothing called World Music when Billy did that album----but Mr. Faier did wonderful versions of several international and ethnic songs on it. That had never been done before!! ---

This site has a ton of music on it, so go there and enjoy. I have a photo I took of Billy Faier jamming with John Hammond Jr. at the Winnipeg Folk Festival in 1972.
See it and all of my other folk scene photos at

http://rudegnu.com/art_thieme.html

Art


10 Aug 10 - 10:07 PM (#2962532)
Subject: RE: Billy Faier on Banjo
From: GUEST,David E.

A wonderful collection of photographs Art. Thank you for sharing. I found the individual photos of Jim Ringer and Mary McCaslin especially striking. Taken the same evening I would imagine?

David E.


11 Aug 10 - 06:49 AM (#2962710)
Subject: RE: Billy Faier on Banjo
From: Geoff the Duck

A number of years back I bought "Billy Faier's Banjo Book", a slim green volume containing six songs/tunes from the Art of the 4-String Banjo (publishers - Hargail Folk Anthology). Never really got around to doing anything much with it, but it is still on the bookshelf if I ever do find time.
I just had a look a Billy's web site http://www.billyfaier.com/ and discovered that he has decided to put the contents of all his recordings, including unreleased material, on his web site. Tracks are in downloadable MP3 format with permission to download for personal non-commercial use. You can also buy his CDs if you prefer a hard copy.
I know what I will be listening to on my mp3 player later this week.
Quack!
GtD.


09 Dec 10 - 12:06 AM (#3049340)
Subject: RE: Billy Faier on Banjo
From: GUEST,BILLY FAIER

To those of you wondering; I am still around, alive and picking. Go to my website BILLY FAIER.COM. You can listen to or download everything I've recorded and some stuff not yet on CDs.


05 Apr 11 - 10:37 AM (#3129006)
Subject: RE: Billy Faier -trvelin man
From: GUEST


02 May 11 - 02:50 PM (#3146600)
Subject: RE: Billy Faier on Banjo
From: GUEST,Jo Mapes

Billy is an exraordinary man and musician.


23 Apr 14 - 01:35 AM (#3621412)
Subject: RE: Billy Faier on Banjo
From: GUEST

Here is a link to an interview and performance from the last day of 1959, on WBZ/Boston. Billy Faier and Seraffyn the Wandering Minstrel play, sing and talk about folk music. They were in town to play at the Ballad Room in Copley Square with Joan Baez.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B02qyukZ6WQwRFpJUG9UQVpBR1k/edit?usp=sharing