Banjo Workshop; 08/16/1986

A C466

Artists: Larry Rader, Gerry Milnes, “Uncle” Jimmy Costa, Ron Mullenex (Moderator), and Frank George (joins later on in the performance).

Album/Event: Banjo Workshop with multiple artists during the 1986 Augusta summer programming

Contents:

1. Introductions and Larry Rader discusses banjo tuning.
2. They Ran Away in Retreat / Death March / ? Retreat – One of Harvey Sampson’s Tunes (Played by Larry Rader)
3. Calloway – Learned from Currence Hammonds (Played by Gerry Milnes)
4. John Henry – with unusual tuning (Played by Ron Mullenex)
5. ? – Learned from Lee Blankenship (Played by Jimmy Costa in “Lost Indian” tuning)
6. Nancy (Played by Larry Rader)
7. Gerry discussion on why there might be good players in a certain area due to one good player
8. Getting Up The Stairs – Learned from Currence Hammonds (Played by Gerry Milnes)
9. The Falls of Richmond (Played by Ron Mullenex)
10. Drink That Bottled-In-Bond – Learned from Aunt Jenny Wilson (Played by Jimmy Costa)
11. Molly Put The Kettle On (Played by Larry Rader)
12. Shaving A Dead Man – Learned from Cletis Johnson (Played by Gerry Milnes) and discussion of “F” tuning/unusual tuning and how he gets there.
13. The Dead Man’s Piece (Gets cut off by the end of Side A) – Learned from Lee Hammonds (Played by Ron Mullenex)
14. ? (Possibly played by Gerry Milnes)
15. Golden Slippers (Played by Jimmy Costa) and explanation of Uncle Dave’s playing style.
16. Little Brown Jug – Learned from Jim Farthings’ father (Played by Frank George)
17. Kitty Cole – Learned from Jimmy Dowdle in Webster County, WV (Played by Gerry Milnes)
18. Sugar Baby – Learned from Sherman Hammonds in “Sugar Baby” tuning (Played by Ron Mullenex)
19. The Gospel Plow – Learned from Jenes Cottrell (Played by Jimmy Costa) in low bass/D tuning.
20. Green Corn – Learned from Harvey Sampson (Played by Larry Rader)
21. The Boatman (Played by Frank George)
22. Muskrat – Learned from Currence Hammonds (Played by Gerry Milnes)
23. Ron Mullenex discussion of banjo design and inlays.
24. Elk Horn Ridge – Learned from Oscar Wright (Played by Ron Mullenex)
25. She’s Got the Money, Too (Played by Jimmy Costa)

Collected/Recorded by: ?

Date: 08/16/1986

Location: Elkins, WV

Notes: Larry Rader is from Elizabeth, WV, Gerry Milnes lived in Birch River, WV in Webster County at the time of the recording, Jimmy Costa is from Hinton, WV, Ron Mullenex is from Randolph, but lived in Bluefield, WV at the time of the recording, Frank George grew up in Bluefield, WV; Kids playing loudly in the background of tape

The Augusta Programming Collection contains recordings of events produced by the Augusta Heritage Center, beginning in the early 1970s. A number of people contributed to this collection, including Flawn Williams, Gerry Milnes, and Bob Smakula. The collection features recordings of Augusta concerts, cultural sessions, Master Artist visits, and more, which showcase a variety of musical and cultural traditions.