What a joy to see them both. Restored an old French cello for Nancy and set up one of Mr. Blake's 12 fret Martin D-18 guitars when repairing musical instruments for George Gruhn in the late '70's. So sorry to hear James Bryan is having health problems. Enjoyed many an hour playing fiddle with him on his front porch. Wonderful folks and I wish them all well and thank them for such precious memories.
I had the honor to attend the Minnesota Folk Festival in 1980 or 81 when Norman and Nancy were playing with James Bryan. I will never forget after the show, there was a rock and roll band playing next door. Nancy, who never said a word all night peeked through the curtain, then turned to me and said "Fuckin' great ain't they?" I was floored! School marm she ain't ! Love these guys, As good as it gets.
I've admired Nancy for years. She's honestly cool. She inspired me at a time I needed it a lot. Words of encouragement , "Keep up with your music." -Nancy Blake
I was at that 1st concert by the Aereo-Plain band at The Marketplace where Nancy (and I) first heard Norman. As a teenager I was friends with her brothers and after she started hanging out with Norman I got to rub elbows with him a bit and do him some favors. He was very encouraging of my budding interest in picking and even gave me a spare guitar in return for helping to load his moving van. It's great to see N&N interviewed, and hear that after all these years Nancy is still as committed as ever to the things she values.
Norman and Nancy are national treasures. I remember seeing them a few times at a small venue in my home town. I was alway amazed that I could sit within a broom handle's reach of one of the greatest guitar pickers in the world and hear him play.
Wow Nancy doesn’t seem that old. Norman is one of my favorite musicians ever and I only discovered him recently. Sometimes the passing of time really gets me down.
Thank you so much for this. It's also so nice to hear them speak about Mike Seeger and John Cohen the way they do, full circle indeed. Howdy from a Norman and Nancy fan all the way out here in Portugal.
Really enjoyed these special recollections. Could relate to so much of it. I've appreciated their music for mayears. I spent much of the 70s traveling around the country, trying to learn and play bluegrass and explore. Norman was a picker all the rest of us aspired to.
(Problems with phone-) I saw Norman play once at a little local pub in Maryville I think called the Downyonder Saloon. Will never forget what a special time to hear him play. The Old Brown Case is still one of my all-time favorites. Thank you so much to both of you for all the wonderful music over the years. It made life a little sweeter - more important now than ever in these tough times. God bless them ~
I sure did enjoy seeing this . Wonderful listening to these "folks" who promoted and entertained the kind of music I dearly love. They are fun loving and that is so obvious in this day of people not knowing how to have fun. This music and the prople who perform it are my favorite kind of people and my favorite kind of music. Thanks for this great interlude between songs.
I stumbled onto norman a decade or so back searching TH-cam for songs about hunting ginseng. Then ironically enough, started playing clawhammer banjo and playing in a band a few years later.
It's cool that they all had a connection with Mike Seeger & Paul Seibal, all favorite and personal connections that I've experienced in the past, in addition to James Bryan, who continues to add to my musical experience. Thank you for this great interview. Wow!
Nancy Blake is amazing! At about 40:00 she just nails it! Thank you Nancy! BTW, I was the photographer who make the image of you for Frets Magazine back in the middle late 80s.
After listening to the whole thang... and it was all good.. I now realize if Nancy and Norman knew Gamble Rogers and Earl Scruggs they also probably knew Paul Champion who was a high school class mate of mine... who I dearly loved all my life. Married or not Paul was the one person I was thrilled to run into in a local burger palace or taco hacienda and we'd sit together for a great meal together and swap good memories. I watched him many times at Fla. Folk Festival when he and Gamble were both on stage ... but never long enough on stage to suit my fancy. Adios amigos... it was great fun sitting in on this interview.
Totally agree. Makes you wonder which clown decided that was not important enough for us to hear. Shame on them. So disappointed. Norman was our guest one Thanksgiving when Tony and I lived in Crystal River. He woke me up at 7 am playing his mandolin, but apologized when I walked out to make coffee for us all. I told him I had already laid their 30 min wishing I could wake to his playing every day of my life. I make made baked Cornish hens with almond rice stuffing for our Thanksgiving dinner. He said they were the best little bittie chickens he had ever eaten. We left to do the Blake and Rice tour after that. What a wonderful time we had being together. He is a wealth of knowledge concerning old troubadours. He said they were a way of spreading the news mostly about murders. So I was able to show Tony the route from Thomasville to Jerico which was only a sign left on a country road leading to Caswell Co. in N.C. He said I wish I knew which Thomasville they were talking about in the tune Little Sadie. I knew because I had relatives in Burlington and we crossed Jerico visiting them.
That was delightful! Many thanks for sharing these wonderful folks here! Does anyone know if Norman and Nancy ever play "out" any more? I don't live far from where they stay now, and would so love to hear them again!
Unfortunately for us, Norman has retired from the stage but he and Nancy still play everyday. They have earned their time out of the limelight and are enjoying their simple home life. Luckily, they have left a wealth of musical memories in our hearts and TH-cam. Check this out: th-cam.com/video/mBWUVLGVI00/w-d-xo.html
@@jamesbacon480 Thank you Mr. Bacon! I did see that wonderful video a little while ago and left a note there. No doubt Norman and Nancy deserve time for themselves now and I am happy to hear they still enjoy playing everyday. I wish I could have had the good fortune to see them in person, but you are right, we are blessed to have so many of their performances recorded here.
Thank you for sharing, Norman is my hero, wish I could tell him how much his music means to me. I play his songs every day 🍀🎸
What a joy to see them both. Restored an old French cello for Nancy and set up one of Mr. Blake's 12 fret Martin D-18 guitars when repairing musical instruments for George Gruhn in the late '70's. So sorry to hear James Bryan is having health problems. Enjoyed many an hour playing fiddle with him on his front porch. Wonderful folks and I wish them all well and thank them for such precious memories.
I had the honor to attend the Minnesota Folk Festival in 1980 or 81 when Norman and Nancy were playing with James Bryan. I will never forget after the show, there was a rock and roll band playing next door. Nancy, who never said a word all night peeked through the curtain, then turned to me and said "Fuckin' great ain't they?" I was floored! School marm she ain't ! Love these guys, As good as it gets.
I've admired Nancy for years. She's honestly cool. She inspired me at a time I needed it a lot. Words of encouragement , "Keep up with your music." -Nancy Blake
She definitely has a very fun, easy to be around personalty... from what I've seen here anyway.
I was at that 1st concert by the Aereo-Plain band at The Marketplace where Nancy (and I) first heard Norman. As a teenager I was friends with her brothers and after she started hanging out with Norman I got to rub elbows with him a bit and do him some favors. He was very encouraging of my budding interest in picking and even gave me a spare guitar in return for helping to load his moving van. It's great to see N&N interviewed, and hear that after all these years Nancy is still as committed as ever to the things she values.
Great story David. What I wouldn't give to hear Norman play.
Norman and Nancy are national treasures. I remember seeing them a few times at a small venue in my home town. I was alway amazed that I could sit within a broom handle's reach of one of the greatest guitar pickers in the world and hear him play.
Thank you for this. Preservation is key.
Nancy looks so happy. It would be a delight to hang with her.
Thank you all for that !
Wow Nancy doesn’t seem that old. Norman is one of my favorite musicians ever and I only discovered him recently. Sometimes the passing of time really gets me down.
Nancy Blake is an awesome woman.
Thank you so much for this. It's also so nice to hear them speak about Mike Seeger and John Cohen the way they do, full circle indeed. Howdy from a Norman and Nancy fan all the way out here in Portugal.
Really enjoyed these special recollections. Could relate to so much of it. I've appreciated their music for mayears. I spent much of the 70s traveling around the country, trying to learn and play bluegrass and explore. Norman was a picker all the rest of us aspired to.
(Problems with phone-)
I saw Norman play once at a little local pub in Maryville I think called the Downyonder Saloon. Will never forget what a special time to hear him play. The Old Brown Case is still one of my all-time favorites.
Thank you so much to both of you for all the wonderful music over the years. It made life a little sweeter - more important now than ever in these tough times.
God bless them ~
God bless Norman and Nancy! Unsung American Treasures. I have spoken JGO 2020
I sure did enjoy seeing this . Wonderful listening to these "folks" who promoted and entertained the kind of music I dearly love. They are fun loving and that is so obvious in this day of people not knowing how to have fun. This music and the prople who perform it are my favorite kind of people and my favorite kind of music. Thanks for this great interlude between songs.
Excellent stuff. Only wish they hadn't edited the story of Ginseng Sullivan out when Norman began talking further on it...
I stumbled onto norman a decade or so back searching TH-cam for songs about hunting ginseng. Then ironically enough, started playing clawhammer banjo and playing in a band a few years later.
No kidding. That would have been fun.
@@floydprice3829 I first saw Norman 46 years ago. He played 2 old Martins that night.
There’s a live version on yt where Norman tells a good story about Ginseng if you haven’t seen it yet
It's cool that they all had a connection with Mike Seeger & Paul Seibal, all favorite and personal connections that I've experienced in the past, in addition to James Bryan, who continues to add to my musical experience. Thank you for this great interview. Wow!
excellent..
Nancy Blake is amazing! At about 40:00 she just nails it! Thank you Nancy! BTW, I was the photographer who make the image of you for Frets Magazine back in the middle late 80s.
Nancy is a hoot! I'm in love.
Wisdom of the Elders is my favorite part of the SERFA Conference! So glad to have this memory! Thanks so much for posting!
A delightful conversation! I loved Norman’s comment about “being home”.
After listening to the whole thang... and it was all good.. I now realize if Nancy and Norman knew Gamble Rogers and Earl Scruggs they also probably knew Paul Champion who was a high school class mate of mine... who I dearly loved all my life. Married or not Paul was the one person I was thrilled to run into in a local burger palace or taco hacienda and we'd sit together for a great meal together and swap good memories. I watched him many times at Fla. Folk Festival when he and Gamble were both on stage ... but never long enough on stage to suit my fancy. Adios amigos... it was great fun sitting in on this interview.
Paul Champion was a STUD with a banjo. Gone too soon.
This is awesome! Too bad that the Ginseng Sullivan story got cut out...
Totally agree. Makes you wonder which clown decided that was not important enough for us to hear. Shame on them. So disappointed.
Norman was our guest one Thanksgiving when Tony and I lived in Crystal River. He woke me up at 7 am playing his mandolin, but apologized when I walked out to make coffee for us all. I told him I had already laid their 30 min wishing I could wake to his playing every day of my life.
I make made baked Cornish hens with almond rice stuffing for our Thanksgiving dinner. He said they were the best little bittie chickens he had ever eaten.
We left to do the Blake and Rice tour after that. What a wonderful time we had being together. He is a wealth of knowledge concerning old troubadours. He said they were a way of spreading the news mostly about murders. So I was able to show Tony the route from Thomasville to Jerico which was only a sign left on a country road leading to Caswell Co. in N.C. He said I wish I knew which Thomasville they were talking about in the tune Little Sadie. I knew because I had relatives in Burlington and we crossed Jerico visiting them.
@@Quamela thank you so much for your story. I so love the two records Tony and Norman did together.
Very interesting! Love those stories of life in music! Thank you so much for sharing your experiences.
Agreed. Why did they edit the Ginseng Sullivan section?
I'm convinced that Nancy's coffee is spiked. With something...
yeah... whiskey and mushrooms
it usually is
I've never seen Norman with a cutaway guitar. I recall him saying, "Anything above the 14th fret is wasted on me."
That was delightful! Many thanks for sharing these wonderful folks here! Does anyone know if Norman and Nancy ever play "out" any more? I don't live far from where they stay now, and would so love to hear them again!
Unfortunately for us, Norman has retired from the stage but he and Nancy still play everyday. They have earned their time out of the limelight and are enjoying their simple home life. Luckily, they have left a wealth of musical memories in our hearts and TH-cam. Check this out: th-cam.com/video/mBWUVLGVI00/w-d-xo.html
@@jamesbacon480 Thank you Mr. Bacon! I did see that wonderful video a little while ago and left a note there. No doubt Norman and Nancy deserve time for themselves now and I am happy to hear they still enjoy playing everyday. I wish I could have had the good fortune to see them in person, but you are right, we are blessed to have so many of their performances recorded here.
Awesome!