One look at this and you’ll know why Doc Watson and Chet Atkins both named their sons after Merle.

(more…)

Roy Smeck, the Wizard of the Strings, was a multi-instrumntalist who rose to prominence on the vaudeville circuit in the 1920s. He could play just about anything with strings, and he combined jaw-dropping virtuosity with old-school showmanship. His recordings on Hawaiian steel guitar are first-rate, his banjo playing was excellent, and he was a stellar guitarist. Here he is playing the New Orleans classic ‘Tiger Rag’ on the ukulele.

(more…)