Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs performed at the University of Mississippi during my freshman year. I was unfamiliar with their music and was blown away.
All those banjo players -- including Martin -- are very professional and obviously talented. But Scruggs is the only one whose playing is so effortless he looks like he could play that song in his sleep. A legend.
It's funny, because I thought the same thing. In his second solo, a look washes over his face like he's thinking "Should I get the steak and potato for dinner, or a plate of chicken and corn on the cob?.....oh yeah, I gotta finish this solo first."
i think your math ( or memory) may be off, the description box said it was posted to youtube 17 years ago 2023 - 17 = 2006 I don't think it was posted to youtube 6 years before it was performed on CBS
I always tear up when I hear a bunch of musicians (or just 1) making music. I just think it is one of the noblest,beautiful things humans do: we make music and we share it. ♥️♥️♥️
I jammed a couple times in Mount Morris with some guitar/banjo/violin etc string players including my cousin Mar. I'm a professional classical flutist and singer/pianist. I was so totally outclassed by those fellows. Not by my cousin, though - she was using sheet music. Heh.
Although he's on stage with a legend, Steve Martin can hold his own. So many people forget just how damn good he is on the banjo. Saw him in Asheville, NC & he tore it UP!
You can tell David Letterman was impressed - he didn't even attempt a wisecrack when the group was finished, just congratulated them on their outstanding performance.
Grew up on Bluegrass when lived in Ky. Everyone carried their instruments with them, Uncle and Aunt played banjo, Mom played guitar! We had no TV, didn't need one, live music was better!
Robert Michael, Yours isn't a bad analogy however it probably doesnt come from the perspective of a trumpet player. As a musician like Satchmo literally "sang" through his instrument. You can't do this on stringed instruments. The tone quality is always a product of the person or machines who made the guitar. Not the guitarist himself. Whereas Armstrong's trumpet sound was predominantly the production of his own feeling. The trumpet embouchure is very much like a human voice. And no one would compare the human voice to guitar or banjo. Much as I like Scruggs? Your comparison is lacking that element. The trumpet is a far more difficult instrument than the guitar. Or any other instrument for that matter. Esp in the upper register of which Pops was most fluent.
A note for all those commenters here who are complaining about Paul Shaffer's participation and how he "ruined it". Here is a quote from Pete Wernick, one of the members of the group (standing next to Steve Martin), about that performance: "A fair number of people seemed to think Paul Shaffer somehow “horned in on” our band. In fact, Paul was invited by Earl upon our arrival at the Late Show studios. Paul had played on Earl's recent Grammy-winning cut of the same song, and showed some great speed-hand technique during the rehearsals and the taping." GRAMMY WINNING. THE SAME SONG. So get over yourselves. You might dislike someone, but try not to do it out of ignorance.
Paul Shaefer is a great musician!! Check him out playing Runaway in 1987 on Letterman... Also, Pete Wernick (Dr. Banjo) is great!!! Been listening to Pete and (Waldo) since the late 70s with Hot Rize and Red Knuckles!!!!!!!!!
There is a REASON Paul Schaffer is known as Mr. Entertainment...(aka Bikes Brothers) ..He.has a talented and love of music. Seriously....point to ANYONE who can rip a 4bar piano bluegrass like that? Priceless....
@@jkholtgreve Right!!! Ive seen Pete Seeger twice years back, and once in the 80s with Arlo Guthrie... Here's a good one for you... We saw John McKuen and the Nitty Gritty Dirt band last year on their 50th anniv. tour, they had a video montage playing in the background, with John McKuen, Steve Martin, and Jerry Garcia holding their banjos.... I spoke with John after the show. It turns out that John McKuen, Steve Martin, and Jerry Garcia had the same banjo teacher!!!!!!!
God had noting to do with it. Steve worked his ass off, endless hours of practice and then more practice. God had nothing to do with it. If god was involved, there would be nothing to admire about Steve. Good on ya' Steve. You deserve every bit of credit for your talent.
You can't know what this means to me . My Dad and his brothers played every musical instrument known to man 👨 He had 7 brothers! Thanks so much for.the memories ♡♡♡♡♡
look up Steve Martin ... ( comedian ) playing banjo on far left . he began his career playing banjo - on the sidewlaks of San Franciso & when his fingers got tired he used to tell jokes.
I am now a blubbering mess in tears because I love BANJO music sooo much. These gentlemen are treasures. Pity we can't clone them. JUST SO MUCH TALENT.
+Anna Ashley be proud no one looks at old people thinking they could tell a lot of stories in denmark the old people are not getting the respect as they deserve they are left to deal with subhuman from Eastern europe tricking and robbing like they are free prey and the police is only hunting fast cars to get Money sad sad
We don’t see Steve Martin in movies anymore or on the stage doing stand-up comedy. he’s act appointing his life where he’s out for himself 100% doing what he loves. ❤ I understand the joy of doing what she loves. I truly believe money is not that important anymore as the reward. It is the music that is a reward, and the money is more symbolic of others, appreciation of what you are giving through your joy.
I love Steve Martin in a way I can't quite articulate. I get this sense of warmth and familiarity from him, that I've somehow known him forever. Maybe because I grew up on his movies, but I strongly feel that he is almost like a father figure to me. It's wierd I know, but I can't help but love him and I always have and will.
Read his excellent memoir, especially the part that he writes without self pity about having a father who was jealous because his own show business dreams didn't come true. The man was envious of Steve's every talent, his happiness, every success he had. A small, small man with a son who was multi-talented, loved and a genius but suffered having that man for a father.
"Maybe because I grew up on his movies" Not 'maybe'. Get real. You're a simp. Just like the simps, who joined the Air Force after watching Top Gun. :'D
"Earl Scruggs And Friends - Foggy Mountain Breakdown" brought me here. I played that song over and over again, at least a dozen times this weekend on my way to my property out in the country. Steve Martin peaked my curiosity in that song. Thanks for posting this!
This song "foggy mountain breakdown" has always been one of my favorites in bluegrass - where some folks in the rv lifestyle claim "on the road again" - this is the Kentucky road song!!❤❤❤
Steve Martin plays with the Steep Canyon Rangers, who are long-time friends with my sister and brother-in-law. I've heard them in person several times and they are fantastic! Steve Martin makes them even more enjoyable, especially when they sing and play "The Atheists' Hymn."
I may be wrong but I believe Steve Martin played with the Nitty gritty dirt band for a short time. Them or Pure prairie league but really think it was NGDB. When he did stand-up very few knew how great he was on the banjo he drug around with him.
It’s as natural for those ol' boys to pick them strings than it is for them to breathe... and WoW! Steve Martin... who knew? This kind of music makes ya just tap your toe, and smile.
My great grandfather used to say all the time to me back in the 70s...."That's not music, it is just a bunch of noise!" (very matter of fact like) I am now 46 and I finally get what he was trying to tell me. THIS is music.
A lot of '60s and ''70s music is/was crap, but enough of it is still liked/loved by younger people so I guess that really does make it classic. But I imagine that in 30-40 years "classics of the 20-teens is going to be dead air.
Steve Martin, amazing to see him play the banjo here. When you see great actors/actresses humbly show other talents, the inspiration they give is a real blessing. Jeff Goldblum's jazz piano, Dudley Moore another great jazz pianist, et al. Too many actresses who can sing as well. We're lucky they share all their talents to keep us inspired - love Steve Martin's playing in this clip...
Insane talent all around that stage! Loved hearing Paul on keys! Can't recall ever hearing piano played during a performance of Foggy Mountain Breakdown, and I've heard that song countless times. Nearly unbelievable that he could keep time with the banjos!
My pop just lended me his banjo that he never really learned to pick and it’s signed by Scruggs. I played for 30 minutes basing it off my guitar picking skills and actually impressed myself. Definitely won’t quit till I can play something like this.😂
Earl Scruggs has a banjo method book you should get. If you fingerpick guitar you’ll be able to pick up Earl’s rolls, patterns, and tunes fairly quickly.
I play this version. of it. There are some variations, I learned the original, the Earl Scruggs version. Here's the thing about the banjo. It's a friend magnet. So, if you don't want friends, don't learn to play it. Do, and... well... people come at you. "Let's jam together!" I was just... uh... (bear in mind, I've played since I was 8, and I'm 48 now.) I'd play by the poolside in San Diego, and folks would do that. I picked on my front porch in Fremont, Seattle, and they asked me to perform for their birthday party, and they didn't even know me, but once I was in, started playing, the birthday boy was all, "See! I told you there'd be live music!" I'd finish the set, and I'd just kinda be picking off to the side, laying down a little background music, and I'd ask the people next to me, "Sorry, is this too loud? Don't want to interrupt your conversation," And they went, "NO! Play more!" "Okay!" But this is the version I play.
I've been playing outlaw country and finger picking the guitar for many years. I recently bought a banjo and and picking away at it. Such a happy instrument.
he's been a professional banjo played since 1945 so he might have had a bit of practice. Grew up in a musical family where practicing music was all he did with his brother and sister. As kids they would stand back to back outside the house, with a guitar or banjo in each's hand, start playing a tune and walk around the house in opposite directions and work on keeping a strict beat so when they met on the other side of the house they would each be on the same note,. His parents were friends with very good banjo and fiddle players who even in the 20s and 30s had made records
The great players of any instrument make it look so easy that any schmuck can pick up the instument and do it...but they can't. Why? Read Tony's post above mine.
Imagine being a guy with the pull of Steve Martin telling Dave Letterman that you want to bring on your hero, Earl Scruggs, and his entire crew, of whom his audience is probably largely unfamiliar, for a four minute prime time late night slot that will be Earl Scruggs and his crew plus Steve Martin, holding his own, playing a 50 year old song, and having Letterman say, "Ya Boi!" Wow. Letterman was really great. As is Steve Martin. As was Scruggs. Just a great spectacle.
My brother taught himself how to play this song and I backed him up on guitar. Not at this tempo, of course - he was about 16 years old or so, and I am five years younger. We did bluegrass and other music together for a number of years. This song takes me right back to the place where we used to live at the time.
+Bill Neice Hi Bill Almost correct. The Grand Ole Opry comes from WSM in Nashville. Been live from the stage to air for 90 years now. You and I also heard Jamboree USA on WWVA Wheeling which is the same type of show as the Opry. My parents took me to Wheeling many times when i was young and we saw Flatt and Scruggs 3 times live from there. They were awesome. I hope they are playing together again in Heaven
+daniel morris Perhaps what he's referring to is a live broadcast of the Opry from Nashville, HEARD on WWVA in Wheeling WV..........that would be my guess.
John you might be correct on that guess. I admit that possibility never occurred to me. Maybe WSM did allow there feed to be picked up and rebroadcast for us folks that lived farther north. I cant remember ever hearing the Opry on WWVA myself but do remember listening to Jamboree USA on it every weekend. My father was a huge country and bluegrass fan and took us to Wheeling several times to watch the show as it was being broadcast live to air. Seen many of the stars of the day on that stage. Johnny and June, Merle, Tammy and George, Loretta and Conway, Flatt and Scruggs, and the list goes on. It was wonderful and has made me a lifelong fan.
That was great. I first heard Steve Martin live when he helped a charity I worked with, The Starkey Hearing Foundation. He was a lot of fun. Even more so with his Steep Canyon Rangers!
It’s so hard to accept that some people are just beacons of talent and the living embodiment of being able to excel at everything you do. Of course it takes a devout dedication and tireless perseverance to hit those levels, but some people make it look so easy!
I have always loved Steve martin more as a musician than as a comedian. Another on the same level with him is Martin Mull, who is a badass jazz guitarist, banjoist, ukelalian ... whatever! One time, I was fortunate enough to see both Steve martin and Martin Mull play together on either Fernwood Tonight or America Tonight. Those boys smoke a neck!
