[dcab-l] Songs from the South: I Wonder How the Old Folks Are at Home

Music Lovers:

 

Here is another live performance from Rattlesnake Hill at the Appalachian Jubilee, our cover inspired by the great bluegrass singer: Mac Wiseman.

 

The first evidence of this song is from the Carter Family, who call it The Homestead on the Farm.  For the instrumental solos within the song, Mother Maybelle picks a totally different tune: There's No Place Like Home, which produces a nice change of pace, but still with the idea of "being home".

 

This song appeared within a Rattlesnake Hill  CD entitled:  Hard Drivin' Bluegrass.

 

For this live performance on the Appalachian Jubilee stage, musicians include:

 

     Kathy Willis   Bass and Harmony Vocal

     John Bruce    Banjo

     Ed Schaeffer  Guitar and Vocal

 

John David Bruce (Roscoe) was born in Conowingo, Md., on the dairy farm.  His uncle, Fred Graybeal, promoted the Conowingo Bluegrass Festival for years.

 

As a youngster, John played with both  "the Lundys" and James King in various bands.  The Lundy's played with Danny Paisley for years, and James King, likewise, has his own professional bluegrass band.  When Roscoe first met James King, at the Conowingo festival, James had just been discharged from the army, with no car and no money.  Roscoe loaned James an old black Yamaha guitar to get him started.

 

John has been with Rattlesnake Hill for 30 years; he has also appeared with Grass Reflection, Gunpowder Bluegrass, Deacon Brumfield, and the Faithful Four.

 

John plays a Gibson Bowtie banjo, named for the fret board inlays; he purchased that Bowtie banjo from Ola Belle Reed.

 

Kathy Willis (Coakley) was a fine local bass player and singer, who also appeared with Badly Bent  and Too Far Gone.  We remember her fondly.

 

To listen, just click:

 

http://rattlesnakehill.org/Web_Music/edsmusic.html

 

Enjoy!

 

Ed