I've been studying roots music and the ingenuity that went into making the instruments. I just love how people would grab some wood, a cigar box, a groundhog skin, and some screen wire and they had a banjo or a fiddle. When they were done, they made fine music. I bought a banjo kit and took some time to build one myself and when I was done, I think I enjoyed playing that thing more than any guitar or banjo I've ever owned. Now I want to build more. Not fine instruments, with inlays and gold tuners, but playable instruments that you can have fun with in the spirit of these people who did it for the joy of doing it. That's what I respect most out of that generation and mountain people of that generation. It reminds me of when my dad and I were in a small boat fishing once and I looked at this big old boat flying across the lake and I asked my dad why we didn't have a bigger boat like that. He asked me if I thought they were having more fun than we are and I said no, I suppose not. That's always stuck with me. The spirit of living life and just finding joy in the things that you have, not spending your life wishing for something else. This video helps me remember that you don't have to wish things were different and wish you could live like these people lived. You can do it right now. I'll jump off my soapbox now. lol

Used to see this band at a local fiddlers convention near Denver NC every Thanksgiving night. They were the real deal and it was always a treat to hear them.

One of my favorites videos on KZfaq, I listen to it almost every day

Not from Johnson City Tenn ! They from Roan Mountain Tenn in Carter County. 👍🏻😁

Never seen anyone play guitar like that, left-handed upside down. I used to pick up my father's guitar when I was really little and play it like that in my lap

This feller not only playing a righty guitar left handed, but hes playing it upside down too! Didn't even re-string to EADGBE and instead is playing it EBGDAE!

what beautiful souls, and such wonderful music. love from U.K by the way, great to see a wash tub bass being put to good use! : )

What a crazy looking banjo style. It comes out rhythmically like clawhammer or up picking, but looks a little like 2 finger.

I wanted to hear how Sally Ann got started with the washtub

True old time mtn. music right there,glad to be from carter county tn.

What magical talents.

the hilltoppers are the best!

They were purest in the strictest sense. Wish they were others but i havent found any not even good imitators

Loving this from Sydney, Oz.

Now that is how you have fun while playing music! Awesome washtub!

Love that roots music.

The bowing. It's the bowing!

I might be able to play that One sting Wash Bucket Bass

HALLELUJAH!! THANK YOU

wonderful!

What a joy

Superb!

whoooo yeah. love it. thank ya

Awesome

🙏

The best!! Thanks for posting!

6:47 - "Did you have neighbors that smoked cigars?"

Holy shit

Thank you!

YES!!!

That looks to be Mike Seeger as the host, and he looks very young. Does anyone know when this video recording was made? Thanks for posting the video of this great musical group. I'd never heard of them before.

fire

Carolina Chocolate Drops sent me here.

Alright

👍

What's the name of that banjo

I'd say that's Bill Birchfield on guitar... he plays fiddle too... that left hand is unique... not sure who the banjo as and fiddle are. This video must be from the early 70s...

You didnt interview the woman bass player!!!!

Don't make em like they us to

So good

Anybody know what the first word on Joe's hat is? "_____ Main Hilltopper Man."