Earl just stands there like he's waiting for a bus! No sweat, no thought whatsoever....it's beyond second nature to that national treasure of a man!

Martin Short had described his friend Steve Martin this way - "It's all fun and games until the banjos come out."

All those banjo players -- including Martin -- are very professional and obviously talented. But Scruggs is the only one whose playing is so effortless he looks like he could play that song in his sleep. A legend.

Steve Martin. Does stand up. Acts. Sings. Plays banjo. Collects fine art. Is there anything this man can't do?

I worked as a sound tech and worked with Lester and Earl about a dozen times. They had an amazing ability to remember names and I never felt like a stranger at their shows.

I'm so thankful that I was born at a time that allows me to appreciate the pure genius of their talent .

I remember watching this when it aired (in 2006.) It was exhilarating. We lost Earl Scruggs in 2012. RIP maestro 🙏😢

I always tear up when I hear a bunch of musicians (or just 1) making music. I just think it is one of the noblest,beautiful things humans do: we make music and we share it. ♥️♥️♥️

So cool that Steve Martin introduced the other banjo players at the end. They could easily have been overlooked with Earl Scruggs on the stage.

Although he's on stage with a legend, Steve Martin can hold his own. So many people forget just how damn good he is on the banjo. Saw him in Asheville, NC & he tore it UP!

I never get tired of listening to Foggy Mountain Breakdown especially when Earl Scruggs or Steve Martin is playing it!

It's not hyperbolic to say Foggy Mountain Breakdown is one of the most influential and most enjoyed songs of the 20th Century. It's tough to find someone who's toes or fingers don't instinctively start tapping as soon as the opening notes are played. I was a working musician for a time and I came across a lot of people who liked and disliked a lot of styles of music, but I've never met anyone who doesn't like Foggy Mountain Breakdown.

Right up until the end Earl played that banjo so effortlessly it was like he was mindlessly tapping his fingers on a table. Just a pure legend. What really made me smile though was watching Paul go get it here. Wasn't expecting that.

is there anything steve martin cannot do....what an amazing talent he is and seemingly a perfect gentleman. a once in a lifetime talent

You can tell David Letterman was impressed - he didn't even attempt a wisecrack when the group was finished, just congratulated them on their outstanding performance.

DAYUM!! Too bad I can only smash the LIKE button once in my lifetime for this.

I'm so glad Steve got Earl out to play for the "mainstream" before he passed.

RIP Earl Scruggs, Roy Clark, and Jimmy Henley..the 3 greatest banjo players who ever lived

Found this 15 years after it aired..ABSOLUTELY AWESOME STEVE MARTIN...I THINK THAT YOU ARE STILL "A WILD & CRAZY GUY"

THIS IS AMERICANA! Can we also give credit to Paul Schafer for being one of the most amazing musicians in the planet? The man is unreal!

Earl Scruggs was to Bluegrass, same as Louis Armstrong was to Jazz.... Legendary.

Life hack: Playing this while driving in any car adds 49 horsepower.

Seeing Steve Martin play with a legend like Scruggs is awesome. I knew he played banjo but that’s great.

Martin holds his own pretty well.Scruggs is the master.

Letterman's booking person: "Look, you can't ALL play banjos at the same time..." Everyone in Earl Scruggs' band: "Oh, yeah?"

Steve Martin has won 5 Grammy Awards. 2 for comedy & 3 for his banjo.

You can't know what this means to me . My Dad and his brothers played every musical instrument known to man 👨 He had 7 brothers! Thanks so much for.the memories ♡♡♡♡♡

Amazing! One of the world's greatest comedians is also one of the world's greatest banjo players. I mean this most sincerely. God Bless you Steve!

I have Steve Martin's album "The Crow" (which most of you probably have, too). I love that he is so completely serious here, focused on the music, no clowning around or distancing himself from how good this older music really is.

I don’t think anybody’s cool enough to have foggy Mountain breakdown on the talk show today in 2020

I am now a blubbering mess in tears because I love BANJO music sooo much. These gentlemen are treasures. Pity we can't clone them. JUST SO MUCH TALENT.

Amazing!! Love the banjo and Steve Martin is humbled by the surrounding greatness. He's pretty good also!

I remember Steve doing Nixon, saying "I'll tell you where the tapes are, but first, here's 'Foggy Mountain Breakdown.'"

Glorious music from wonderful musicians I would loved to have known. Dressed well, no foul language and representative of a world we have no longer.

Such a pleasure seeing EARL SCRUGGS, the MASTER! Steve Martin is close to catching up to Scruggs. I was shocked the first time I saw Steve Martin play his banjo. He's one of the few banjo players that's good enough to play with Earl Scruggs.

I’ve never heard that song before, and I’m blown away. I knew there was music like that, but never actually listened before… wow! I want more

"It's all fun and games until the banjos come out." - Martin Short

I played this in my car and a chase scene broke out on a dirt road.

Earl Scruggs gave me Blue grass fever 60 years ago, every time I start to get better, Steve Martin re infects me. Love this arrangement.

Steve Martin put this history together, thank you sir!

Can't watch anything with Steve Martin without liking it, he's a multi-talented legend. Loved him on SNL.

Steve Martin was certainly the draw for many on this but hopefully some will recognize the talent on display. Incredible!

"Earl Scruggs And Friends - Foggy Mountain Breakdown" brought me here. I played that song over and over again, at least a dozen times this weekend on my way to my property out in the country. Steve Martin peaked my curiosity in that song. Thanks for posting this!

Love this king of music and add Steve Martin and Earl Scruggs, banjo music doesn’t get any better.

how in the world could anyone thumb down this?????? Fabulous!!!!

Great music never gets old.

Man, that banjo excellence. Martin shows true love and skill at this as he has followed the path for 50yrs.

WONDERFUL! The greatest banjo player ever (Earl Scruggs) with other amazing pickers & Steve Martin picking right along & then having the class to thank each musician by name.

Charles Wood's solo from 1:52 on is the bomb. Look what he's doing. Unbelievable. Like a clockwork. I've seen it a thousand times.

This is why I have always appreciated Steve Martin as an actor - he's also an outstanding musician!

Scruggs just cool and relaxed as always.. he just always seems so so comfortable.. the banjo is just an extension of his body and moves so naturally

Everyone looks like they are working so hard and then Earl Scruggs takes his turn and he just makes it look effortless.

This is my fave banjo instrumental of all. Steve Martin is so good, I was surpised to know he played professionally.

Well, this was right out of the blue for me! I've never heard such talented banjo playing before, and I didn't know that Steve Martin could even play a banjo! Earl Scruggs, of course, was his usual legendary self, too, and obviously the star of this show as well. What a video!

Love this collection of true history then & now !!! ❤👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸

I love banjo Music & I'm always impressed by how fast their nimble fingers fly over the strings!

"They didn't start chasing us until you put on that getaway music!"

earl Scruggs is my great grandpa 😊😊😊

i just absolutely love Foggy Mountain Breakdown, and i love this live version!

I honestly believe Earl Scruggs could've played banjo in his sleep. The King of Banjo pickers!!!!

Impossible to watch without smiling.

When I was young I always dismissed this kind of music, but as I grew and studied musicians in many genres I feel more amazed and awed at the talent and skill with these musicians.

You get a solo, YOU get a solo. Everyone gets a solo!!! Awesome!

I don't think I seen that many banjos played at one time. Love it!

Whos watching in 2020?

Always brings a smile to my face to see and hear these guys plaging Bluegrass at it's best.

5 strings, 3 fingers, and more notes to the bar than I can count; the music has moved me for most of my life, just wish I could play.

Fingers dancing like flames, hot and nimble! Absolutely beautiful.

What I particularly love about this beautiful take? That they ALL adhere to full two-verse phrasing, in this song.

nothing closer to the gates of haven than a man with a banjo, Thank you so much for sharing your talents with all of us

The presence of Steve Martin brings a lot of attention to banjo playing that normally wouldn't be there.

This was our "break away" song when I was onboard the USS Barney DDG-6, when we replenished at sea. Early to mid 70's

I love Steve Martin in a way I can't quite articulate. I get this sense of warmth and familiarity from him, that I've somehow known him forever. Maybe because I grew up on his movies, but I strongly feel that he is almost like a father figure to me. It's wierd I know, but I can't help but love him and I always have and will.

I get chills everytime I watch this.. Incredible music!!

What a talent Steve Martin is!! That being said, the Highlight of this sing is the INSANE PIANO SOLO!! UNREAL!!

Wow!! These guys are the greatest at banjo playing. Steve deserves to be there. Good job Steve.

If you listen to this, and your foot doesn’t start tapping, you must be dead.

As if the world needed more reasons to love Steve. God bless you, man.

Insane talent all around that stage! Loved hearing Paul on keys! Can't recall ever hearing piano played during a performance of Foggy Mountain Breakdown, and I've heard that song countless times. Nearly unbelievable that he could keep time with the banjos!

They're all so stoic! Not cracking a smile until the very end. That's a show, without showboating! What musicians.

I've watched this probably a hundred times over the last ten years and never grow tired of it. Play on guys.

R.I.P. Earl Scruggs, we'll never forget you !

Great players. Some of the best around. Pete Wernick is legendary. But man when Scruggs plays, it's a whole other level.

God Bless Mr. Earl Scruggs, the pioneer of 3-finger picking Banjo technique ~ Rest in Peace Sir and many Thanks.

steve martin played professionally as a banjo player back in the 60's. He was a regular on the Glen Campbell show.

Wow. Brilliant.

This song "foggy mountain breakdown" has always been one of my favorites in bluegrass - where some folks in the rv lifestyle claim "on the road again" - this is the Kentucky road song!!❤❤❤

I play this version. of it. There are some variations, I learned the original, the Earl Scruggs version. Here's the thing about the banjo. It's a friend magnet. So, if you don't want friends, don't learn to play it. Do, and... well... people come at you. "Let's jam together!" I was just... uh... (bear in mind, I've played since I was 8, and I'm 48 now.) I'd play by the poolside in San Diego, and folks would do that. I picked on my front porch in Fremont, Seattle, and they asked me to perform for their birthday party, and they didn't even know me, but once I was in, started playing, the birthday boy was all, "See! I told you there'd be live music!" I'd finish the set, and I'd just kinda be picking off to the side, laying down a little background music, and I'd ask the people next to me, "Sorry, is this too loud? Don't want to interrupt your conversation," And they went, "NO! Play more!" "Okay!" But this is the version I play.

That's really cool that Steve Martin introduced the other 3 players as well. Very classy.

My pop just lended me his banjo that he never really learned to pick and it’s signed by Scruggs. I played for 30 minutes basing it off my guitar picking skills and actually impressed myself. Definitely won’t quit till I can play something like this.😂

You know its a great band when Steve Martin happily plays second banjo.

THANK YOU GENTLEMEN. yOU PLAYED YOUR HEARTS OUT AND I LOVED EVERY NOTE OF IT.

A note for all those commenters here who are complaining about Paul Shaffer's participation and how he "ruined it". Here is a quote from Pete Wernick, one of the members of the group (standing next to Steve Martin), about that performance: "A fair number of people seemed to think Paul Shaffer somehow “horned in on” our band. In fact, Paul was invited by Earl upon our arrival at the Late Show studios. Paul had played on Earl's recent Grammy-winning cut of the same song, and showed some great speed-hand technique during the rehearsals and the taping." GRAMMY WINNING. THE SAME SONG. So get over yourselves. You might dislike someone, but try not to do it out of ignorance.

Anyone else notice that everyone really looks like they have to focus on what they’re doing…like really concentrate. And then Earl Scruggs doesn’t even look down hardly and has this relaxed smile in his face. 😊

Kudo's to Steve Martin for being able to keep up with those boys, very talented.

My great grandfather used to say all the time to me back in the 70s...."That's not music, it is just a bunch of noise!" (very matter of fact like) I am now 46 and I finally get what he was trying to tell me. THIS is music.

So often when an actor or comedian decides it's time to be a musician ...well they leave me wondering why... Steve Martin, thank-you, it is obvious that you love the music, your instrument, the practice, and the performance shows that.

Just makes me smile! How gracious Steve Martin is amongst all that talent makes me smile even more.

So awesome how you can pick Earl out among all those amazing players and banjos. That Earl tone!!

Everyone of this guys has his own unique banjo style. That’s a good thing, you can pick em out of a crowd.