
Tenneessee folklorist produces the sounds of the South
Clip: Season 8 Episode 802 | 2m 43sVideo has Closed Captions
Sounds of the south can be heard when this Tennessee folklorist plays the banjo.
Sounds of the south can be heard when this Tennessee folklorist plays the banjo and discusses what he calls the “simplistic joy” that the instrument is capable of producing.
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Support for Reel South is made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Center for Asian American Media and by SouthArts.

Tenneessee folklorist produces the sounds of the South
Clip: Season 8 Episode 802 | 2m 43sVideo has Closed Captions
Sounds of the south can be heard when this Tennessee folklorist plays the banjo and discusses what he calls the “simplistic joy” that the instrument is capable of producing.
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship[crickets chirping] - [Interviewer] Curious why you started playing the banjo less.
[string twangs] - Well, one reason is arthritis in my right hand, right thumb really.
It's a disincentive, you know?
And also, I just, I couldn't really focus on that sort of thing, you know?
But I love to hear it.
I love the banjo.
I think music that I can enjoy can be made on it by folks that play music that is fairly simple.
But you can still enjoy it, you know?
[crickets chirping] [insects chittering] It's probably simpler than the cricket songs that we're hearing right now.
I think there's some connection between the music people make and the music that's in nature.
A lot of people have thought about that and use their music to imitate the force of nature, and also, to take from it, you know?
[crickets chirping] But this is a kind of music that a lot of people don't take to.
And so I know a lot of this means absolutely nothing to a lot of people, but the people who can take it in, they deserve it.
[crickets chirping] [insects chittering] Want me to play that tune?
Okay.
Well, if I can play anything for you.
[banjo strums] [joyful banjo music] ♪ [ambient music]
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Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipSupport for Reel South is made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Center for Asian American Media and by SouthArts.