The Most Authentic Bluegrass Salty Dog Blues I Ever Heard. Earl Scruggs & The Morris Brothers.
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 ก.พ. 2020
- The Morris Brothers were wonderful characters, great musicians and so kind to me and my crew when we showed up at their body shop to film them picking a few tunes with Earl Scruggs and his son Randy.
This clip is a portion of my 90 min. documentary on the great banjo picker, Earl Scruggs which was made in 1972. Earl played backup banjo for the brothers when they first recorded "I Want To Be Your Salty Dog" which became very popular on the radio. I love their beautiful North Carolina mountain accents and their subtle sense of humor.
I love watching this moment as I did when I first filmed it. I do not know what it is about country/bluegrass/mountain/old time music that so appeals to me. If I am in a bad mood or having a tough day, it lightens it. If I am feeling really wonderful and floating through life, it becomes even more wonderful when I hear those songs, backed up by flat picking guitars and 5 string banjos. And when you are lucky enough as I was to go to the North Carolina mountains, the southern Appalachians, into those small hollers with the mountains all around, and just sit down and listen.
What you hear is magnificent. I once played the banjo which I have learned in high school, I was okay until I heard these folks and others like them and then I just put the banjo down and never played it again. I'd rather listen to masters like Earl. My documentary also has unusually great performances by Bob Dylan, Doc Watson, Bill Monroe, Joan Baez and of course Earl Scruggs.
"Salty Dog Blues" is a traditional blues song that has been recorded by many different artists over the years. It is a blues standard that has been recorded by numerous artists, including Lead Belly, Elvis Presley, and the Allman Brothers Band, among others. The song is a traditional blues form with lyrics that tell the story of a man who has been cheated on by his lover and is feeling down and depressed as a result. The song has a catchy, upbeat melody and has been covered by a wide range of artists, making it a well-known and enduring classic of the blues genre. - ภาพยนตร์และแอนิเมชัน
Here is the complete film with so many musical icons - th-cam.com/video/OlneqC0mVsk/w-d-xo.html
Hi David, thanks for posting all this awesome musical history 👍
I only found out about Flatt & Scruggs through Sierra Ferrel's cover of one of their songs, Before I Met You. If you haven't heard it, it's definitely worth catching on TH-cam
love from Scotland :)
I was born in a small coal mining town in southwestern VA. All of my uncles, my daddy, and my grandfather, worked in the coal mines. My daddy talked about all of the greats. They all went through the coal mining towns to sing and play. Ralf Stanley lived in Clintwood Va. I don't know if that helped bring those like Hank Williams, the Carter sisters, Loretta Lynn, Flat and Scruggs and so many more, but daddy lived it. On Sat. evenings, daddy's grandpa had a radio and they would sit and listen to the grand ole opry. They are all gone now. Everyone seeing this should ask their parents and grandparents to tell them about when they were growing up. When they are gone, it is too late. We need the power that comes from family history and I grew up listening to men and women talking just like in this video.
My Dad was born in our hollow in 1936. He grew up all over as his parents were peripatetic. He always felt grounded to his grandparents home. My husband and I took our kids to see family and my great grandparents home where my father was born about 18 years ago. My daughter is going back to see cousins later this year. Ralph Stanley’s museum held the doors open for us because we were going to be a little late getting there. The people of this region, with their lovely accents, are wonderful people. I am glad mine and my children’s roots are there.
Nice comment my blood is founding as in the revolutionary War type .from Russell. Tazewell. And Buchanan counties.been there since day 1.
These guys still played music, but chose to have a normal happy life!!
My parents were in a bluegrass band; we went to festivals every weekend. I heard this song more times than I can count. Love watching your content.
I love that Buster Scruggs regularly used Yankee Doodle Dandy as a transition for his solos.
David, I can’t figure out if you were a hippie filmmaker or just someone truly in search of Americana, but the insight you had to record so much of your material boggles my mind. You were(are) wise ahead of your years and had the sense and the wherewithal to reach out to people regardless of their status, walk of life, race, or most any other category... pick any one!!! Thank you for being our country’s true historian.
Frank. Hardly a hippie. The budget on this documentary which took 6 weeks to shoot, was nearly $200,000. 6 months in editing back then. 16mm film.
David Hoffman-filmmaker
@@DavidHoffmanFilmmakerHave you transferred any of your film films to other kinds of (more current) media?
A hippie? Have you seen the film of David in the shower with Joan Baez,wearing his suit?
Thank you. God Bless🙏♥️🙋 Charlotte in Oregon. PS That was sang on Andy Griffith.
Well said !!!
too bad TH-cam wasn’t around in 1972, a whole generation missed this till now. Welll what else you got with the brothers picking dave
Indeed, what else ya got! lol. I love it! Thank You for bringing this to us.
My twin brothers Larry and Garry played Salty dog..people had a good time dancing i tell ya
My great grandpa worked in the mills of Cliffside NC with some of the pickers that influenced Earl Scruggs. I grew up 20 minutes from where this was filmed. Some of the old folks are still close to this, and blue grass is such a natural, organic thing around here. Heck, the people who influenced Scruggs were all local folks in Rutherford and Cleveland counties in NC and Cherokee County in SC, all along the Broad River. Many folks have begun calling the distinctive Earl Scruggs sound the Broad river sound or Broad River school of Bluegrass. The influencers of Scruggs frequently attended a once famous fiddlers convention at the old school house in the community of Hollis, NC. That tradition continues today with the Ellenboro Fiddler's convention, meant to be a continuation of the old convention, in the next town over. Right up the road in the northern end of the county near the Rutherford and Cleveland county lines near Golden Valley and Polkville, off of highway 226, there's a little country store where a good crowd of folks still gather together with some good picking and fellowship. In my youth I attended church near there and had buddies who lived there, a couple of my buddies played bluegrass along with their fathers and grandfathers. We often met up at the store for a soda (had to be a Cheerwine, RC cola, or Sundrop) and some picking. Good times.I'm just a 37 year old North Carolina boy with roots in this state going back 300 years, both aristocratic first families and simple farmers. This is part of our culture, a culture worth celebrating and sharing. David, you've done a wonderful job making that possible, this is one of my favorite documentaries, and we are very grateful. Earl Scruggs is much larger than just the legend himselg, larger than the music genre.
Watching those grease-covered fingers go up and down the fretboard was humbling. Thanks for the history.
I grew up listening to people sitting around playing this kind of music. When I was little I thought everyone's family played music. I didn't realize at the time how privileged I was to have that sort of upbringing. These videos bring back wonderful memories.
I never had the pleasure of meeting Zeke Morris. I did meet his son John about 25 years ago and still know him.
He lives in the same neighborhood that I do and I pass by his place often. My dad is also an automobile body repair and paint professional that retired a few years ago.
John has painted my service van, a pickup truck and a Corvette for me. Not only is he a master of his trade, he's a lively and fun fellow like his dad was. Good banter is always available when he's around.
I wanted to thank you for documenting these national treasures for everyone to enjoy. May God's richest blessings be yours!!!
Love me some pickin' 'n grinnin'!
Love the real down home people. I was born in Asheville. All my relatives live there. Dad moved us to the triangle of N.C.,Beacon blanket factory closed. He got us out of there for a better life, and opportunities. Education and jobs are plentiful , in the triangle. But l miss the down home nice people that will give you the shirt of there back to help there neighbor. I’m retired now , l might just get me a Cabin on a hill. 5:37 Thank you David for the time capsule of great music 🎶.
Best things in life! Making music in good company. Money can’t buy.
I lived 2 blocks from the Scruggs and went to school with the boys. Walked by their house many a morning going to school and the "Martha White" bus would be parked on the street by the house and whole Flatt and Scruggs group would be loading up to head out to play that great music. I think back to all of the country music stars, musicians, and writers that lived within 2 miles of me and how many friends, that were their sons and daughters, were just that -good friends. Even with all of their parent or parents successes it was a hard life and very few followed in their footsteps. I remember one friend who got in the business , that I saw at the funeral for a big name in the music and we talked about how our lives were in the 50's and 60's. His son was with him and I asked if he had ever though getting in the business and his father answered for him. No Way. They did us a great service with all of the music that was put out but it all wasn't anything close to the big money that is out there now. It was definitely a different era.
Wow...A very cool story to share...Thank You Fireguy...Cheers From Ohio
Hello Shelby NC!
Thanks for the details!!!
Frank James and I read Shakespeare with Donsld Duck and Popeye
I started this video, then happened to glance up at the TV, and the Beverly Hillbillies is on. Perfect.
Yes..North Carolina my State.... :)
How can anyone click a thumbs down for anything David Hoffman does ? ?
Thank you Nada.
David Hoffman - filmmaker
David Hoffman - you are so welcome 🙏 you are as part of Americana as Apple Pie ! ! ! !
A collection of Tarheels. YESSIR! Thanks much, David!
I love these guys. Hardworking, entertaining very well spoken. This is a glimpse of true Americana.
3 YEARS , 3 DAYS ,3 MINUTES, 30 years, still relevant today
Wow just amazing players , all of them !
Ol Earl tried to run off with it after the first verse and they wouldn’t let him. Perfect, you never get bigger than them you was raised with.
Back me up Earl! What a treasure
I'm a Morris brother myself. Wonder how we're related. I dig that song and the stories. Thanks for sharing.
Love the sly humor in the intro by one of the brothers. Great harmony. Earl wonderful as always. Thanks!
My Dad was born in W Va. and played the fiddle, he would have me bang out bluegrass chords and jam on his fiddle when I was a teen in the 70’s. Sure miss the old man.
That's something else!!! Fantastic!!!!
Fabulous. Thank you.
Truly delightful. Great musicians. Thanks.
🎶Two old maids laying in the sand
Each one wishing the other was a man🎶
Love this - as an Irishman I feel a real affinity with these people .
Reminds me of the near past in my country - relative poverty alleviated by love of music, stoicism and coarse good humour.
From what I've read, Bluegrass has Irish roots. At least if you go back before it was know as Bluegrass. These tunes are sometimes refered to as Old Timey or Hillbilly music.
@@chuckbrewer4502As a descendent of Irish people who settled in East Tennessee ( the other side of the Appalachian mountains ) My grandfather was a farmer and worked at the factory where they made the Abomb. He played guitar and fiddle... they just didn't call it bluegrass then. According to local and family legend he could "play the hand out of the fiddle" ... (a southern expression where the word hand is substituted instead of saying 'hell'. He could play very good. My sister has his fiddle and bow. He was a slim 5' 8" tall.
When my dad died, mother moved us from the city, back to the farm she grew up on.
@@chuckbrewer4502not sure if it’s true but I read somewhere that the term hillbilly came from the abundance of boys and men called Billy, because their people had come over from Northern Ireland and many of them were supporters of King Billy (William of Orange).
Appalachia was settled by mostly Scots and Irish and they love to drink and fight like their ancestors as well. Tough, hardy people.
@@chuckbrewer4502 bluegrass will have it's origins in scottish fiddle reel music. them being indigenous to scotland.the earlier scots settlers would have taken it over to amerikay.
Some good ol' boys right there.
Robert Puzach
Eric Willoughby
Doc Holliday
Bluegrass at its finest.
❤ rip robert
The INSTANT I read Earl Scruggs....Memories of "The Beverly Hillbillies" came a calling to my Heart....and then when I heard the song "Salty Dog" I immediately thought of Charlene Darling from The Andy Griffith Show singing that very song with her Pappy and brothers! I do love the laid back atmosphere of The Mountain People...and the outdoors is enough to make a person ask themselves.."Why do I want to go back and live in The City After All This?" Brilliant Video of Americana Mr. Hoffman....Cheers From Ohio
The algorithmic gods smiled on me today and put this masterpiece in my feed. My Lord I don't think I've spent a better five and a half minutes than this in a long time. Thank you! (Just noticed the link to the entire film. Yes!).
David, you have a great talent or knack by creating you past experiences of American culture or Americana. You are building a legacy that will be treasured by future generations. Semper Fi
Wow, this really takes me back and in a very good way. If you look closely to the mandolin player, you can see years of grease encrusted in and around his fingernails. I grew up with not only seeing that with my uncles, but also with smelling the grease, gasoline, cigarettes and "Schlitz" beer. People will say that was uncouth, but for me it was "family" and they were "good" people!
Yep it looks like they drug him out from under the hood of a car and said let's play one for the fellas.
My grandma used to tell me ALL work has DIGNITY!
Some of my favourite smells 😊
Maybe it is uncouth. But a man with a hand that looks like that , to me, feels like peace and safety. My Dear Daddy's hands look just the same.
You can find treasure wherever you look.
Like it or not, these people represent the USA more than any group I can think of. And for the record, I'm on their side. Great music, absolutely American. Let's not let it die.
No worry. It is very much alive in the mountains and around the country. The music is extraordinarily popular and many young people are involved.
David half and filmmaker
Awesome, love it!
Chris Scruggs is carrying on the traditions of his father and grandfather and was playing with Marty Stewart the last I saw him.
Absolutely toe tapping!!! 💕
This kind of thing should be digitally archived for the rest of time. Far too many of these situations and one off occurrences have been lost to the ages, because most people, especially the people involved, think of it as no big deal, it’s just something we (they) do every day, and that it’s not anything special. Well, let me tell you. These things are VERY special and important. This kind of culture and these kinds of people are disappearing at an alarming rate, and just like a lot of other things, when they’re gone, they’re gone forever, and eventually be totally forgotten.
I ran lights for the Earl Scruggs Review with his son's at a petunia festival . He waited for me to find a poster , signed it and had his band sign it . A really great man not a snob who didn't have time for his fans . I was touring with Wedsels Edsels out of Lancing Michigan and we supplied sound and lights.
The Morris Brothers were bluegrass pioneers - of that first generation that includes Monroe, Flatt and Scruggs and the Stanleys. They never got the recognition they deserved and so I’m heartened to see this for the first time.
mind boggling, no other way to put it. thank you Mr. Hoffman!
That man talking reminds me of Hank Sr. If he would have lived to be in his 40s
His great niece is a brilliant Atlanta artist April Scruggs Sipe! It makes you wonder if artistic ability is genetic.
That was great! Country as a stick.
I live in these mountains. The people are roughcut diamonds, their native intelligence should never be underestimated.
You are fortunate where you live. But I'm sure that you already know that.
David Hoffman filmmaker
@@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker Thanks for the reply. Really enjoyed this video. And I purposely chose to live here, yep, great place to be.
Love, love ,love this. Thank you David from the bottom of my heart. Born,raised and play doghouse bass here in western NC!
These are the most beautiful people you will ever meet. It’s sad to see their ways fade away. Especially to what’s become of the country and world for that matter . ❤
Thanks for archiving American culture
Hauled some good corn from NC i the 60s. Mountain people from East Tennessee are great folks as well. Its the mountains that build the culture. Turning rocky hills into food and shelter.
Thank you zoo very much Mr. Hoffman
Good grief. The brothers are GIANTS.
Absolutely wonderful, I bet the Dillards, and Andy Griffith would of chimed in too.
I heard Salty Dog on Andy Griffith Show by the Darlins. What a great piece of music history. I love bluegrass and hillbilly music. Thanks for sharing this gem.
Yep...I remembered that too the moment I heard David sing that song!!
Yeah, but it was the Dillards. Darling was their fictional name.
I am a fan of the Dillards. The Andy Griffith show episodes with the Dillards exposed me to bluegrass music. I am a fan of bluegrass and roots music.
I am jealous that you got to see this world that i never will. And upsets me that someday people may look back on these years the same way. I already saw the last years before the internet, cord phones, actual mail. Gas cars that you drive yourself. Someday these will be as archaic as big V8 rwd cars and men in feed store caps sitting outside the shop.
And mountain folks tend to be the same wherever you go. Good folks. Special kind of people. I am proud to have grown up in the mountains.
Loved it when “Charlene Darling” sang this song! ❤️
Thank you for preserving the legacy of Earl Scruggs as the cultural icon he will always be! 🎵
I remember this song from when I was a child. Radio was our link with the world. I can't keep my toes from tappin' when I hear this!!! Thanks for bringing back a great memory.
Yay!Man! I was born in Galax, Va in early '50's. Before we moved away(for Dad's work) we lived on hill X from Felt's Park/ Old Time Fiddler's Convention every summer!! Yep, you playin my memories!! TY!
For me...this is America. Absolutely luv it. Real people...down home music....and fixin cars. 🥃👍
Oh mercy!!! That was beautiful. I grew up in music and Mississippi. You made me happy and homesick.
Oldchickenlady: Thank you for your comment. If your resources allow, I would sure appreciate your using the THANKS button under any of my videos including the one you have commented on. It is something new that TH-cam is beta testing and would mean a great deal for my continuing efforts.
David Hoffman filmmaker
One mic in the middle of nowhere and it sounds like that. Amazing
A great Neumann microphone.
David Hoffman filmmaker
What a treasure! Thank you David Hoffman!! ❤
When I was A kiddo I had a a very Ginger Friend who's Family was Awesome they had 2 VW Beetles Black and White and an Orange-ish VW Bus.
Her Mom was Beautiful Tall Freckled just an Absolutely Beautiful Sweet Lady, and Her Dad Played Bluegrass on All Sorts of Instruments, Banjo, Guitar, and my Most Favorite was the Hammer Dulcimer♡♡
They Moved Back to Hickory close to 4 hours away before we were Teens, (my Folks and the Like Probably Annoyed the Crap out of em LoL)
Nobody beats ol Scruggs.
What a great moment to capture!
What a piece of music history! Thank you David Hoffman.
What a treat. Thank you.
This just popped up out of nowhere on my feed. That was really great. Reminds me of Sunday afternoon at my uncle’s house playing music with him and my cousins. Really good times
My daddy was born in Ash County NC He played the fiddle. ❤ Thanks for sharing
I sat in a garden in Miami in 1980 listening to fiddle, guitar and banjo played by people who sounded just like this who came to live in Florida from places like S. Carolina, N. Alabama and even east Texas. I flew back to London UK the next day and back to the London Irish/Scots family were I heard this music for the first time (well, at least it's origin!) Best wishes from London
Real and Raw...thanks David..another good one .🍷
I'm sitting at the Ole commentary in Wisconsin where all my relatives are resting and I'm playing this video for them❤ the Stoner farm boyceviile Wisconsin ❤
Awesome. The best. Thank you.
I was raised on a Mississippi Delta homestead by depression era sharecroppers, “Salty Dog” feels like home.
As a child, I loved to listen, not talk. My Mawmaw Ruby Belle loved quiet kids & kept a gun in her purse. She’d quiet the others & I’d quietly listen to my grandfather playing music like this.
Thank you for the enjoyable sound David!
Love it ! Mr. H ,
thanks for making the film !
What talent !
And ya got to Love how these men were real men. Not fancy pants entertainers who don't know how hard people work.
God Bless you and keep you 🙏
Incredible! To see the guys that influenced Earl Scruggs! I grew up in rural WV and my dad watched every episode of the Flatt & Scruggs show. Meaning I did too bc back then there was 1 TV and we watched what dad said! Love your post here!❤️🎶👍
Wow
My great uncle played classical music on the banjo in his Vaudeville act, as well as classical music on the guitar. This before anyone ever heard of Segovia.
Thank you ...that was great !
Absolutely Fabulous
A true example of how ordinary men are capable of extraordinary things...thank you David for capturing Americna.
AMAZING!!!
Ain't nothing better than the Morris Bros. in Earl's garden. Thank you, David.
I have to show this to my friends with a body shop❤❤❤❤❤❤
You got to have something to fall back on and I fell back a long time ago. I’m going to use that anytime anyone asks me why I’m doing something. Johnny Cash’s recorded version of this song was my first exposure to it, great song.
I don’t know how much performing they were doing at that time, but it didn’t look like they lost a single step in timing and harmony.
And Earl along with Doc Watson were two of the top musicians as well as, just human treasures. Thank you so much for taking the time.
Fabulous footage. I had the pleasure and honor to play with the Earl Scruggs Review w Vassar sitting in with them for a weekend. Aside from his iconic playing he was one of the nicest people I’ve ever met in music.
Danny: Thank you for your comment. If your resources allow, I would sure appreciate your using the THANKS button under any of my videos including the one you have commented on. It is something new that TH-cam is beta testing and would mean a great deal for my continuing efforts.
David Hoffman filmmaker
Most of the bands touring today should watch this video. This used to be the only way music was made less than 100 years ago. A time where a group of self taught musicians would actually come together and make magic like this happen. The type of talent you could put a single mic in front of and hit the record button and one and done and they could do it a hundred times in a row. Now musicians lip sync and hide behind computers and sound tracks. Pretty sad. As much as I love what Les Paul did for music with the multi track recorder, it pretty much put an end to this type of music in the main stream. Musicians now have a crutch and their talent has suffered because of it. I miss the world I grew up in so bad it breaks my heart.
What an extraordinary time capsule of happiness. Everyone of them absolute legends.
I would just LOVE to meet the Hoffmans!
Thank you.
Stay well, Joe Z
Thank you DH🙏🏼🙏🏼👍🏻👍🏻😇😇
It makes me happy to see this music given positive attention, and not just the music but the mountain people of Appalachia. The brothers are a good example of the ingenuity and grit that is common among mountain folk.