Bluegrass music
The Takeaway Pays Tribute to Earl Scruggs
Earl Scruggs, the man who reinvented the banjo as a solo virtuoso instrument, has died at the age of 88. Scruggs invented a style, the three finger picking style of banjo playing distinct from the ancient Clawhammer technique. Scruggs style is precise, rhythmic, dizzyingly fast and took the banjo from the back of the band and […]
Steve Martin on ‘Give Me the Banjo’
In music, there are few things more insane than an amateur going and trying to sit down with a real player. But that’s just what John Hockenberry did earlier this week, when he went to the house of comedian, author and banjo aficionado Steve Martin. A documentary called “Give Me the Banjo” airs tonight, and is […]
