Homer & The Barnstormers, who were they?

Subject: Homer & The Barnstormers, who were they?
From: GUEST,Steve Latimer
Date: 10 Feb 04 - 11:24 AM

A friend of mine gave me an old LP, "Bluegrass Banjos on Fire" by "Homer and The Barnstormers". It was released in '63 and apparently there is a lot of mystery surrounding it. There are no credits on the album. There has been a lot speculation as to who the players were, but I have not been able to come up with any firm answers.

Can anyone help? I'm especially curious as to who the banjo player was.   

Thanks in advance.

Subject: RE: Homer & The Barnstormers, who were they?
From: Gene
Date: 10 Feb 04 - 12:32 PM

hey Steve...

I have a copy of that also...
--- asked and searched the net a lot but found no details ...

but sure is some GOOD PICKIN' on it...

always wondered it if was ??? THOMPSON (the bearded guy)
who picked (always in the background - never on lead)
with the HEE HAW gang...

Subject: RE: Homer & The Barnstormers, who were they?
From: GUEST,Steve Latimer
Date: 10 Feb 04 - 01:06 PM

Bobby Thompson is one of the possibilities that I have heard. I think that he has denied it.

Subject: RE: Homer & The Barnstormers, who were they?
From: GUEST,according to Curtis McPeake,he was the banjo
Date: 13 Nov 10 - 10:12 AM

Subject: RE: Homer & The Barnstormers, who were they?
From: GUEST,Gene
Date: 13 Nov 10 - 11:08 AM

I have at least one LP featuring Curtiss McPeak...

Think one is titled - "Dueling Banjos"

will have to check for similarities sometime...

G

Subject: RE: Homer & The Barnstormers, who were they?
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 13 Nov 10 - 11:31 AM

A good place to check this out is Bluegrass Unlimited published each month. Walt V Saunders has a regular column "Notes and Queries" that can answer most questions on bluegrass personnel. I have a feeling that he may have already covered this group.

Hoot

Subject: RE: Homer & The Barnstormers, who were they?
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 13 Nov 10 - 11:56 AM

I loaned my copy to a friend who was learning bluegrass banjo and never got it back. His name is Jim S.

Subject: RE: Homer & The Barnstormers, who were they?
From: GUEST,catlou
Date: 08 Jul 12 - 08:43 PM

Could it be Homer Israel? he was my great uncle

Subject: RE: Homer & The Barnstormers, who were they?
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Jul 12 - 02:48 PM

http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/75616

Here's all you need to know about this fine album.

Subject: RE: Homer & The Barnstormers, who were they?
From: GUEST,Buckle Bob
Date: 07 May 21 - 12:05 PM

I always thought that it was Charles "Buck" Trent who was the banjo player on "BLUEGRASS BANJOS ON FIRE". The arrangement of "GRANDFATHER'S CLOCK" is the same arrangement and style that Buck Trent played on his first "electric" banjo LP that was released on the Smash record label.

Subject: RE: Homer & The Barnstormers, who were they?
From: cnd
Date: 07 May 21 - 12:41 PM

First of all -- what a fantastic album!

I have to agree, I think it was Buck. Fantastic album, I've heard the cast of the album was a super-group who was prohibited from playing together due to contract disputes between companies and released under the Homer name to get around that.

On the other hand, it has been confirmed that the banjos pictured on the cover belonged to Roger Sprung

I've also read both Sonny and Bobby Osborne (of the Osborne Bros) claimed to have participated in the recording, meaning there very well could be two (or more!) different banjoists playing, which makes identification just that much harder.

No word on the other members of the band

Also see BanjoHangout and WildJimbo.com (who also posted on several BH threads on the subject)

Subject: RE: Homer & The Barnstormers, who were they?
From: GUEST,#
Date: 07 May 21 - 02:25 PM

Just a heads-up to y'all, the entire album is presently on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqwLmm2nUsQ

Subject: RE: Homer & The Barnstormers, who were they?
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Dec 23 - 11:08 AM

who are these masked man?The barnstormers?I also love the fiddle.fantsatic album!!!

Subject: RE: Homer & The Barnstormers, who were they?
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 18 Dec 23 - 03:53 AM

I vaguely recall reading somewhere that Curtis McPeake was the banjo player on that anonymous record, but yes, there could have been more than one. Must dig it out and give it another listen.

Subject: RE: Homer & The Barnstormers, who were they?
From: GUEST,Richard Hahn
Date: 24 Feb 24 - 04:47 PM

I took lessons from Roger Sprung from seventh grade to 12th grade. He told me that in fact his Gibson Mastertone banjo
Was used on the cover of Bluegrass Banjos On Fire. The grahic guy doing the cover knew Roger and that he was a banjo player so he asked Roger to borrow his banjo for some shots. Roger said he had no idea who was playing on this alblum