Mike Bub on John Hartford, Earl Scruggs, Jimmy Martin, etc. 

This was one of the first interviews I did for my RU-vid channel, but it almost didn't get published.. I had just upgraded my camera and spent some time at home trying to get used to it, but nothing prepares you for the real thing. I met Mike in the graveyard and we filmed for about two hours. The sun was very bright and I was having trouble seeing the viewfinder in my camera. There's a lot of things I have to think about when I do these interviews. I have to make sure everything is right with the camera, monitor the audio levels and stay engaged with the person talking, yada yada yada. That's life in a one man band. When I got back to the hotel room to check my footage, my heart sank. All of the interview footage was way out of focus. Completely unusable. That's when I realized I just wasted two hours of Mike's life. I called him and told him what happened and was expecting him to be mad about, but he was cool as could be. He agreed to try it again a few days later. Then came the second attempt. I got rear ended by a hit and run driver on the way to the interview. I called Mike and told him I'd be a little bit late to the graveyard and told him what happened. When i got to the graveyard, Mike was listening to Tom T Hall, "I Hope It Rains At My Funeral" because Mike is awesome. He stood around and waited while I talked to the police about my hit and run for a bit, and then we finally filmed this interview. I'm telling y'all this, so you'll appreciate what a cool cat Mike is. Please watch all of Mike's videos, follow his Facebook page and let him know how much you appreciate him sharing his stories with y'all. facebook.com/olebubbybass

Thanks so much Otis for airing this interview with Mike. I throughly enjoyed it! Merry Christmas and thank you for all you do!

Jimmy Martin was at the top of the heap for me me I saw him perform several times in the 70's & 80's. I never left a Jimmy Martin show without having a smile a mile wide that lasted a good week long 😊

I like Mike! He is a fountain of stories and history.

I love these bluegrass stories that Mike Bub tells. Priceless!

I think Mike Bub might be my favorite interviewee. He sees a lot of humor and the importance of certain life events that most people would find mundane.

Jimmy Martin's "Widowmaker" album is a classic.

Great interview with Mike. He is a colorful character and is a wealth of knowledge on bluegrass history. I would love to hear more from him.

You know Mike Bub sure seems like a good good guy... really enjoy these stories Otis, THANK YOU and Merry Christmas Señor!

I SO appreciate Mike sharing his stories.

You introduced me to another one this week Otis, Danny Gatton. I found a quote somewhere from Trey Anastasio where he puts one of Gatton's live records up beside Band of Gypsies and Pat Martino Live, so needless to say I've been culling the RU-vid stacks for Danny Gatton

Fantastic interview !! I love and miss John Hartford.....Aereoplane is my favorite albums of his..🎻🎻

Mike Bub: Potential carport bandit. 😂

God bless you Mike Bub! please tell him for me when you see him again! We became friends in the 80s, Mike played banjo for a band but was leaving for Nashville and I was hired to take his place. We remained friends over the years. Love these stories and interviews, thanks so much Otis for sharing!

Great interview, one of the best I have ever listened to. I think I admired and envied John more than anyone, he seemed to have a amazing life and was quite good at everything he did. Sure miss him!!!

Great interview - I could listen to his stories all day

Great interview! 👍

In 1987, I was at the Double R, in Little Hocking Ohio for the Sunny Mountain Boy / Paul Williams Reunion. The night show was indescribable.

Wonderful Film Otis…. ❤ Thank you

Great stories archived.

Thank you for sharing all your knowledge, and you excellent memory. It’s beyond me how you can remember so much. PS. I hope it’s raining at my funeral, too, lol.

The man is a wonderful storyteller, and has so much stored in his head. These are some of my favourite YT videos. Earl's music came to me via skip radio way up on the eastern shore of Lake Superior, I was hooked at an early age. Thank you for your dedicated return to get this one right, it was well worth the effort. Your many fans will LOVE this one! best wishes, from Vancouver Island , Canada

Thank you! So grateful

I saw John Hartford play at the first several Merlefest and fell in love with his music. I was a young teenager and I can still remember it like it was yesterday.

Great!! So enjoyed this, Thank You

Bub is one of the coolest guys around!

Not being able to tell Mike his left strap is unbuckled is killing me.

Even the spotlights bright white spear, cant find John Hartford tonight. R.I.P. JH!

I first started listening to John in January of this year and have gotten so into his music that he has become a leading idol and inspiration to me not just musically, but in relation to my own personality. He has such a unique aura to him that is really emanated from his music, and it makes you feel like you know him - but yeah that Hartford effect is just so present and ever relatable & it has truly helped me enjoy life to the max. Thanks as always for the great interview Otis! Hopefully some of John's pickin' party recordings are published some day because I would listen through 100% of them. Happy holidays & thanks for all that you do! ✨

Very interesting! Thanks!

This guy is a gem! Rock On brother!

Awesome 👏 👏👏👏

Really enjoyed that,thank you

Great stories from Mike Bub! I wonder how many groups Mike has played with or guested with?

I saw John on the glen Campbell show then got into all his rca records.

Merry Christmas

found me two versions of the clip and commented "otis gibbs and mike bub sent me here and i wanna borrow me that hat heck the entire outfit git me sum - SJOCR"

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Trust your Cape, lol.

👍

This is really wonderful, so interesting. Thanks very much gentlemen.

in grade school most all kids memorized jed clampet , ballad. met several in band as member of school actitivities commite/student union board. if i have negatives, beside what i may have up on fb photos. i thought dad, j ferd may have played with several back after war, infantry/motor pool Mt boys intertained for presidential dinner, that dads idol, Burl Ives, but the Jubelee band/choire was head line. a recording in library of congress wish could find.

my employer neihbor chort and friend David Uncle D Thom who like many bluegrass players had to find another means of survival income so apprncited with the legndary Blacks in Texas to learn to smoke BBQ so im the other guy at our lil uncle dts smokehouse....furry freaky cousin...whatever....its a chill spot i get to play music like otis gibbs and get brother otis new fans....anyway mention it cuz david thom is very good at the bluegrass and knows all these cats so he appreciated the tony rice story and loves mike bub who clearly is a nice fellar.....he did like hearing the from the cats mouth that the rumours of the issues with sorry more coffee need whats his name and steve earle...Del!...that the real story seems ot have been more hush hush business stuff than the tale perhaps was agreed to tell about the cussin anyway as ever thanks brother otis ur the best (im tryna be a 19th as 11% as cool as you gracias for the inspirations sharing daring caring and stuff and things - SJOCR

❤❤❤

The room under the trapdoor was probably filled with Radon.

Great i terview and quite the history. Glad this one got made and published. Looks like i have a new bass hero... Thank you, Otis 🙏🏻🤍