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Jul 24

Moonshine and Bluegrass

In 1974, as Royal College of Art students, Dick Perrin and I went to the USA with little money, no ideas, some film stock and a Nagra 3 tape recorder. We ended up in Clayton Georgia, begged a camera from Atlanta and brought back a movie on hillbillies – great people with great hospitality. This clip shows Junior Crowe at his still deep in the woods explaining how to brew moonshine, then with his band the Carolina Partners. The voice is Frank Rickman who helped John Boorman shoot Deliverance. BBC 2 broadcast it. Great stuff and fond memories. It’s been pointed out that the still shown is a basic design. It condensed the liquor using a car radiator – a very bad practice. But this radiator was made of copper and its product safe. www.andyhumphreys.co.uk
Video Rating: 5 / 5

12th Street Rag - Roy Smeck

Roy Smeck, born Leroy Smeck (1900-1994) was an American musician. His skill on the banjo, guitar, steel guitar, and especially the ukulele earned him the nickname “Wizard of the Strings.” Born in Reading, Pennsylvania, Smeck started on the vaudeville circuit. His style was influenced by Eddie Lang, Ikey Robinson, banjoist Harry Reser, and steel guitarist Sol Hoopii. Smeck could not sing well, so he developed novelty dances and trick playing to supplement his act. Smeck invented and endorsed the Vita-Uke and other stringed instruments marketed by the Harmony Company of Chicago. He made over 500 recordings for various companies, including Edison Records, Victor Talking Machine Company, Columbia Records, Decca Records, Crown Records, RCA Records and others. He also wrote instruction/method books and arrangements for the instruments he played.
Video Rating: 5 / 5

16 comments

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  1. Theandyhumphreys

    Thanks Greg, good to hear from you and glad you appreciate Junior and this movie clip.

  2. gregory007890

    My name is Greg Dayton…about 13 years after this video was made, I met Junior Crowe at a homecoming and I was invited to join the Bluegrass-Gospel group he was playing in at the time. The time I spent playing music with him was and always will be a favorite time in my life. I enjoyed so much hearing him play and it was an honor to play with him. In my opinion there will never be a Banjo player who can compare to Junior Crowe!!!

  3. Theandyhumphreys

    Thanks RocKabily. I’m trying to raise the cash to make an present day film – if you know anyone in US TV! Best wsihes.AH

  4. 50sRocKabilly

    Fantastic video!

  5. yamon98

    Spongebob has great taste in beautifully eccentric tunes

  6. ERICAJUNDELYON

    Me too !! :)

  7. ptm51

    Love that sound!!!

  8. OSWNOSWNOSWN

    spongebob.

  9. ERICAJUNDELYON

    – Thanks a lot and welcome in France !!! :))

  10. cryptrider1

    Amazing! Thanks for the posting!
    Terry in Alexis, NC, USA

  11. ToyStoryVids11496

    SpongeBob title card for “Fools in April”, “Wormy”, and “Artist Unknown”

  12. glennmcglenn

    first time for me too.now i dont know if i should be inspired or burn my uke…lol

  13. ERICAJUNDELYON

    – You’re welcome !

  14. GrobbingThistle0

    SPONGEBOB

  15. ERICAJUNDELYON

    – Thanks and try to find more, he have recording so many incredibles song

  16. Woodshifter

    Thanks for posting this! I’d never heard of Smeck before!

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