Eric Claption in the 60s and early 70s used to say he felt Roscoe was his favorite singer or sometimes his favorite country singer. Roscoe was an accomplished musicians on both the banjo and the guitar which he often played in banjo tunings as in this video. He could also play the fiddle and harmonica. While he received invitations from folk music and country audiences to do paid performances, he shyed away from the urging of his friend Ralph Stanley who thought Roscoe should become a professional performer. He had injuries that prevented him from working in the coal mines he had once worked, and did handy work and received public assistance. Relatively limited payments he received from folk music performances like these ones filmed in Seattle often meant the "public assistance" he received from the state of Kentucky was sometimes stopped. Sad that this great artist had such a difficult life and even though he has inspired many musicians and singers, and regular people he had such a difficult live and was in fact punished financially for the small fees he could earn from folk clubs.
My whole family came from.the same area as Roscoe..and back in his day, a lot of folks probably thought he was a sinner for singing on camera.. especially if it were songs not in the church ...making it easier on their conceienc to take his money relief. Things have changed...but not that much.
What people have got to realize is that up til the 70s, poor people didn't have televisions. Hell where I grew up, we didn't have a private phone line for a long time (party line). To entertain themselves, people performed music for each other. That's how a coal miner like Mr. Holcomb became a virtuoso. Natural talent + lots of practice on the front porch on countless muggy Kentucky evenings after supper.
@@lanceuppercut2013 What the heck do you think you just listened to? Some of those hill songs are still very close to the ones in Scotland that they are derived from.
These videos need to be preserved in any way possible. This mans voice and the voices of all the people on folkseattle's channel are the history and voices of music in America.
He comes from the Scots-Irish tradition. This sound is straight out of the Highlands of Scotland. He mentions the Old Regular Baptist Church is the church from which the hymn comes, My Grandfather was a preacher in that church. I didn't go to that church but did here them sing occasionally. I grew up about 40 miles South of where this gentleman is from..
Like lots of old-time Southerners, he often had a plug of Bull of the Woods or Red Man carefully placed just below the gum line, something you used to see all the time in The South. On second thought, it looks more like he's dippin' snuff, maybe Beech Nut. Probably helped him hit those soulful notes.
The baptist hymn he sings really moves me. It has the ancient touch of world religion, the call to prayer and the weighty potency of history, culture, tradition and heritage bleeds through with a very raw emotion, religious or no, speaking as an atheist.
Amazing to hear him keeping the ancient songs alive. What a voice! Incidentally, 'Bull of the Woods' is an album by The 13th Floor Elevators and Red Man is a rapper...
RESPECT, TOTAL CREDIT WHEN CREDIT IS DUE.!! PARTY LINE OUR HOUSE HAD ONE FOR YEARS, 3or4 channels on the TV, the 5th channel was listening to my dad play GEE-TA, always loved to watch an listen to channel 5 the best.. R.I.P dad, say hello to Mr, Roscoe Holcomb for me,
Pretty sure it's open D. Try DADF#AD. If that doesn't work the tunings he used are usually in the liner notes of his albums, which you can download free on the Folkways records website.
Which hymn book is Mr. Holcomb using on this video? When he says the old Regular Baptist Faith (or church) generally, that means the Primitive Baptist faith. But I have their hymn book from 1887, and 'Village Churchyard' isn't in it. Ralph Stanley also got it from the hymn book, and I can't seem to identify the right manuscript. If anyone could identify it, I'd be so grateful.
Eric Claption in the 60s and early 70s used to say he felt Roscoe was his favorite singer or sometimes his favorite country singer. Roscoe was an accomplished musicians on both the banjo and the guitar which he often played in banjo tunings as in this video. He could also play the fiddle and harmonica. While he received invitations from folk music and country audiences to do paid performances, he shyed away from the urging of his friend Ralph Stanley who thought Roscoe should become a professional performer. He had injuries that prevented him from working in the coal mines he had once worked, and did handy work and received public assistance. Relatively limited payments he received from folk music performances like these ones filmed in Seattle often meant the "public assistance" he received from the state of Kentucky was sometimes stopped. Sad that this great artist had such a difficult life and even though he has inspired many musicians and singers, and regular people he had such a difficult live and was in fact punished financially for the small fees he could earn from folk clubs.
My whole family came from.the same area as Roscoe..and back in his day, a lot of folks probably thought he was a sinner for singing on camera.. especially if it were songs not in the church ...making it easier on their conceienc to take his money relief. Things have changed...but not that much.
@@garyhighley9022good observation.
What people have got to realize is that up til the 70s, poor people didn't have televisions. Hell where I grew up, we didn't have a private phone line for a long time (party line). To entertain themselves, people performed music for each other. That's how a coal miner like Mr. Holcomb became a virtuoso.
Natural talent + lots of practice on the front porch on countless muggy Kentucky evenings after supper.
lance uppercut Shut the fuck up, there’s plenty of white culture
He worked construction mang said it in part 1. Built bridges
@@lanceuppercut2013 What the heck do you think you just listened to? Some of those hill songs are still very close to the ones in Scotland that they are derived from.
This is true. And the folks I hung around with in rural East Tennessee in 1976 still had no TV.
@@Appalachian_trail_mixin the beginning of part 1, it said he worked in the coal mines, and construction later on.
These videos need to be preserved in any way possible. This mans voice and the voices of all the people on folkseattle's channel are the history and voices of music in America.
mr holcomb is simply too soulful for words. what a voice.
He comes from the Scots-Irish tradition. This sound is straight out of the Highlands of Scotland. He mentions the Old Regular Baptist Church is the church from which the hymn comes, My Grandfather was a preacher in that church. I didn't go to that church but did here them sing occasionally. I grew up about 40 miles South of where this gentleman is from..
I dare you to find a native Scottish song that sounds this bluesy.
Like lots of old-time Southerners, he often had a plug of Bull of the Woods or Red Man carefully placed just below the gum line, something you used to see all the time in The South. On second thought, it looks more like he's dippin' snuff, maybe Beech Nut. Probably helped him hit those soulful notes.
he doesn't spit once in the video, he just has a weird jaw. either that or an iron stomach.
Better than most pop singers today...
FO' REAL, MAN !
*Better than ALL pop
Thesis Sean Nos singing like in West of Ireland spine chilling. LOVE!!!
i was just thinking the same thing, my nana used to sing me a lullaby when i was a kid 'Caoineadh na dTrí Mhuire', doesn't sound too far off
The baptist hymn he sings really moves me. It has the ancient touch of world religion, the call to prayer and the weighty potency of history, culture, tradition and heritage bleeds through with a very raw emotion, religious or no, speaking as an atheist.
Just a privilege to hear real music, with such pure simplicity, yet conveying so much.
Amazing to hear him keeping the ancient songs alive. What a voice! Incidentally, 'Bull of the Woods' is an album by The 13th Floor Elevators and Red Man is a rapper...
RESPECT, TOTAL CREDIT WHEN CREDIT IS DUE.!! PARTY LINE OUR HOUSE HAD ONE FOR YEARS, 3or4 channels on the TV, the 5th channel was listening to my dad play GEE-TA, always loved to watch an listen to channel 5 the best.. R.I.P dad, say hello to Mr, Roscoe Holcomb for me,
I could listen to the roots of Rock N Roll everynight,,, what an inspiration,,, my music has new direction,,, I am Amazed
THAT'S SOME STRAIGHT UP GOSPEL BLUES!!!! I KNOW THE BLUES WHEN I HEAR IT....EXCELLENT...EXCELLENT...EXCELLENT!!!!! THIS WAS A BAD BOY!!!! RIP
And he was only performing once a month! Amazing natural talent.
Man ol Rosco was Doc Watson b4 Doc was Doc!!!! Awesome!!! itd take a lifetime to play that easy!!!
this guy is superb. just brilliant.
It's a shame that '60''s TV presented only mockeries of this rich culture.
Pretty sure it's open D. Try DADF#AD. If that doesn't work the tunings he used are usually in the liner notes of his albums, which you can download free on the Folkways records website.
somebody know which song Is the second one? I can t find the lyrics
Villiage Churchyard
Which hymn book is Mr. Holcomb using on this video? When he says the old Regular Baptist Faith (or church) generally, that means the Primitive Baptist faith. But I have their hymn book from 1887, and 'Village Churchyard' isn't in it. Ralph Stanley also got it from the hymn book, and I can't seem to identify the right manuscript. If anyone could identify it, I'd be so grateful.
No old regular baptist are different than primitive baptist, these little hymn books are privately made by church or association.
The New Baptist Song Book: A Collection of Good Hymns, Songs and Ballads
Collected by Foster Ratliff, published by J.H. Ratliff, Jr.
Beautiful
sounds a bit like Led Zep at the beginning , Black Country Woman , a bit?
genius :-) love this man. thanks for posting, i dont have this one
Open G, with the low E string all the way up to G. GGDGBD
Thank you!
TUVA THROAT SINGERS CAN KEEP a note long too, Enrico Caruse didn't travel in the Rockefeller/Keith circuit. Too tall!
What's the song he sings at the beginning?
Pretty fair miss in the garden
Can anyone name the song at 5:29 please??? Really interested in it!
The village churchyard, and old regular baptist hymm
le pone el tata
Does anyone know the name of the hymn he sings?
Thanks a lot :)
Village Churchyard
wow