Banjo Hangout Top 100 Old Time Songs

My Long Journey Home - G tuning

J.P. Fraley is one of my favorite fiddlers and this is one of his few original compositions. I learned Winds of Shiloh last year and am re-visiting now, thinking it reminded me of another original Kentucky tune recently learned called Foxfire, by Owen "Snake" Chapman. Both melodies sound like there's Native American influence -- I think of the many Cherokees who used to live in those mountains and wonder how much musical interaction occurred. Kentucky tune writers have often amazed me in the delicacy and musical beauty they create. BHO member Jim Reed comes to mind. He'd write a tune at the drop of a hat and they'd all be winners to my ears, worth pursuing on my banjo.

For the old-time Tune of the Week, 8/4/17, West Virginia fiddler Delbert Hughes (1905 -1982) recorded this one. It sounds like Davy is responding in the B part with his grievances, which he finds reasonable enough. I think this story ends where he comes back home....

From the playing of Mississippi fiddler John Hatcher in 1939, Buffalo Gals is the old-time Tune of the Week for June 30, 2017. It resembles the familiar Buffalo Gals, but is definitely different. I put the two together so you can hear how they do go together well. I'm playing a small-scale Docs Banjo.

From the playing of Mississippi fiddler John Hatcher in 1939, Buffalo Gals is the old-time Tune of the Week for June 30, 2017. It resembles the familiar Buffalo Gals, but is definitely different. I put the two together so you can hear how they do go together well. I'm playing a small-scale Docs Banjo.

Banjo (Enoch Dobson) in standard A tuning. I've also made a tab available on my personal page.

Banjo (Enoch Dobson) in standard A tuning. I've also made a tab available on my personal page.

Played on Will Fielding's last banjo order, 14163

Played on Will Fielding's last banjo order, 14163

For the old-time Tune of the Week, 6/23/17, Maysville is a town in northeastern Kentucky and the past scene of tobacco trade. J.P. Fraley rode in his father's wagon as a child in the 1930's and learned to fiddle this tune from his father. Oddly, the tuning I used for this recording is sawmill. I added a bit of cello banjo for accompaniment.

For the old-time Tune of the Week, 6/23/17, Maysville is a town in northeastern Kentucky and the past scene of tobacco trade. J.P. Fraley rode in his father's wagon as a child in the 1930's and learned to fiddle this tune from his father. Oddly, the tuning I used for this recording is sawmill. I added a bit of cello banjo for accompaniment.

This is track 12 from my album "Sinful to Flirt". Available on CD Baby and fine music resellers such as County Records.

For the old-time Tune of the Week, 6/9/17, Chinquapin Hunting is named for the wild chestnut that grows in parts of the country. My arrangement is based on Bruce Molsky's lively playing.

For the old-time Tune of the Week, 6/2/17, this is R.D. Lunceford's recording from his seminal CD Drop-Thumb, 21 Clawhammer Banjo Solos. He graciously gave permission to upload it here and his tab will be included in the discussion forum for TOTW.

Key of G. Ozark version.