ETSU Seminar with Sonny Osborne - June 23, 2020 

Absolutely! Screw the politics and censorship, this is what makes RU-vid a treasure when it has things like this. Sonny is a true pioneer!

Absolutely agree. Needs to be be done, nobody is getting any younger

I agree Robin. Sonny Osborne was one of my heroes as well. He took the 5 string banjo to a different level by hammering one or two notes in a chord position up the neck and it gave it a little bit of a pedal steel guitar effect with the hammer or sliding into the chord. I was fortunate enough to get to spend time with the Osborne’s on several occasions because my family owned and operated a theater at Panama City Beach, FL. called ‘The Ocean Opry Show.’ We also booked them on package shows with the Lewis Family in the 1980s. The folks bought a ticket 🎟 to see the Lewis Family and Osborne Bros on the same night, got much more than their money’s worth. The first time I saw the the Osborne Brothers in person was in 1974 at Wichita State University Basketball Arena that seated 15,000 people and it was a sell out. The Osborne’s toured for two years with Merle Haggard and the Strangers; and were Hag’s opening act every single night. I play several instruments myself including 5 string banjo. I’ve got an original 1971 Gibson RB250 Master Tone, and Sonny said ‘son that’s a good banjo.’ As good as it was and still is, it didn’t have the same tone as his Chief Banjo by Gibson. And yes, IMO, Frank Neat is one of the greatest banjo builders and repairman that I’ve ever met. If you folks like banjo, Google Frank Neat and watch the KET Public Television special that Kentucky public TV filmed on him. I recently discovered a great RU-vid video produced by KET network on the life story of the Osborne Brothers. It’s fantastic! RIP Sonny Osborne. He will never be forgotten.

Wow you were very blessed to be around such great talent ! Thanks

Could you please elaborate?

Exactly what I said

He was a great banjo player. Everyone copied Earl’s style back then.