Country Music

Folks, I'd like to do ya the first tune that my mother ever taught me and the first tune that I ever learned to play, and it's called "Shout Little Lulie". (banjo music) -

Interviewer

And what style of banjo playing was it? What style? - Yes. Clawhammer. I call it the clawhammer. The way I first learned to play it. Without any picks. The old time way, my mother played it that way. -

Interviewer

What does it do to your fingers? Nothing. (laughs) I'm used to it. (laughs) -

Interviewer

I would think you'd get bloody fingers that way. - Well, I guess if you played all night, you might. (laughs) My fingernails I use mostly. Didn't hit my fingers. My fingernails is what gets the sound. I learned that, and my mother taught me that one. -

Interviewer

How many times do you think you've done "Shout Little Lulie"? I guess a million or two. (laughs) I don't know. How many years have I been picking? 50, 60? Huh? -

Interviewer

67. 57? - 67. 67 years, that's a long time, isn't it? -

Interviewer

What advice do you give a young guy who wants to go into-- - What advice? Get down and work hard. Sing the melody of a song, and don't put no put-on fancy. Just sing it the way you feel it. You've got it. Don't stray away. (laughs) Treat 'em right. Speak to 'em. Shake hands with 'em. Welcome 'em to your show. Thank 'em for bragging on you. Please 'em. (laughs)