Happy 104th W. Mainer, banjo player

Subject: Happy 104th W. Mainer, banjo player
From: Janie
Date: 21 Apr 11 - 08:26 PM

Hoping a clone with access to a longer title will retitle this more appropriately.

Wade Mainer, considered by many to be the "grandfather" of bluegrass banjo, turned 104 today.

There is a great podcast, broadcast live today, on "The State of Things," a North Carolina public radio show in tribute - with lots of good history on the banjo, old time stringband music, country and bluegrass - and the ties that bind.

The Music of Wade Mainer

From the blurp.

The Music of Wade Mainer
Thursday, April 21 2011 by Frank Stasio and Lindsay Thomas | Send to a friend




Wade Mainer

Just about every bluegrass musician has been directly or indirectly influenced by Wade Mainer. Mainer, a master of the banjo, taught himself to play his instrument of choice as a child and developed an innovative two-finger picking style. That style, combined with Mainer's strong vocals earned him popularity as a performer and recording artist in the 1930s and 1940s. He is credited with bridging the gap between old-time music and bluegrass music and artists like Doc Watson and Bill Monroe have cited Mainer as a major influence. Mainer turns 104 years old today. Host Frank Stasio celebrates Mainer's life and legacy with Dick Spottswood, author of "Banjo on the Mountain: Wade Mainer's First Hundred Years" (University of Mississippi Press/2010); Sarah Bryan, editor of the Old Time Herald and program manager at the North Carolina Folklife Institute; and David Holt, a musician, historian and long-time friend of Mainer.

It will also be rebroadcast tonight at 9:00 on WUNC radio. (iTunes-news and talk radio-North Carolina Public Radio,)

Well worth a listen.

Subject: RE: Happy 104th W. Mainer, banjo player
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 21 Apr 11 - 10:47 PM

Thanks for that, Janie. Wow.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Happy 104th W. Mainer, banjo player
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 21 Apr 11 - 10:57 PM

SOme twenty-five yers or so back, I was at a festival at Brandywine, PA, engaged in a parking lot picking session. After we finished a bunch of tunes, we introduced ourselves...seems that th banjo picker was named wade mAINER., an early hero of mine, from 78 recordings. I had thought he was dead.
Nice guy, fine picker

Subject: RE: Happy 104th W. Mainer, banjo player
From: Janie
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 06:27 AM

He was 98 at the time David Holt did this very nice interview with him.

And from there, lots of links to more videos.

Subject: RE: Happy 104th W. Mainer, banjo player
From: kendall
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 08:56 AM

A couple of weeks ago Deak Hamilton,of Falmouth Maine, another banjo player turned 100. Is there a connection?

Subject: RE: Happy 104th W. Mainer, banjo player
From: The Sandman
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 09:10 AM

He is a fine player,but that clip is old timey, bluegrass is two fingers and a thumb aint it, i prefer his style, looks like one finger and a thumb.

Subject: RE: Happy 104th W. Mainer, banjo player
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 11:54 AM

Incredible.

Russ (Permanent GUEST)

Subject: RE: Happy 104th W. Mainer, banjo player
From: Janie
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 07:11 PM

GSS,

He was considered to be the bridge between old-timey (i.e. claw-hammer and frailing) and 3 finger bluegrass style. Listen to the podcast of the State of Things for a very good education and discussion.

Subject: RE: Happy 104th W. Mainer, banjo player
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 07:34 PM

Amazing. I'd thought he'd been playing duets with Charley Poole for at least a few decades by now.

Subject: RE: Happy 104th W. Mainer, banjo player
From: SINSULL
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 07:36 PM

Follow the others offerings on YouTube. Wonderful stuff.
Thanks, Janie.
Mary

Subject: RE: Happy 104th W. Mainer, banjo player
From: Janie
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 09:19 PM

They didn't interview him for the 104th birthday tribute on "State of Things," so I assume he is pretty feeble in body, and probably mind, by now. But the youtube videos from 2008, when he was 98, show a remarkably youthful fellow for his age.

At 59 I am looking and feeling old well beyond my years. Maybe I should take up the banjo?

What say you, Kendall?

Subject: RE: Happy 104th W. Mainer, banjo player
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 23 Apr 11 - 12:01 AM

One doesn't take up the banjo, one gets infected

Subject: RE: Happy 104th W. Mainer, banjo player
From: Janie
Date: 23 Apr 11 - 12:23 AM

Ahhh....Dick's secret is revealed!