Excuse the blank message preceding -- bad case of nervous finger.

Azizi, thank you for your kind words. As you know, it's a mutual admiration society. I always learn from your posts and your viewpoint, and appreciate your friendship and your excellent common sense. Keep on posting!

Eric, it makes sense to answer your query here, just in case others would like to know. "Rain and Snow" originated on recordings with Obray Ramsey, as you thought. He was the one who introduced it to us all in the 1950s via his Prestige LP Folksongs From the Three Laurels, and I've no doubt that Jerry Garcia, always interested in banjo songs as a banjo picker himself (when not playing guitar), picked it up from that album.

Ramsey's LP notes credit Cecil Sharp, who collected the 1st verse only from Mrs. Tom Rice at Big Laurel, NC August 18, 1916. I'm guessing that the rest of the verses coalesced around the Laurels in the decades that separated her from Ramsey. Others may know whether he was related to her, or friendly, or just down the road, or what.

But the remaining three verses as Ramsey recorded them are distinct, though each has traditional elements in it, shared with "Red Apple Juice" aka "Red Rocking Chair," among other songs.

"Rain and Snow" is one of my great favorite banjo songs, and I frequently find myself picking it. But that's enough creep for one thread. Bob