Don Reno - Why The Country Stars Refused To Follow Him (Butch Robins)
Vložit
- čas přidán 9. 07. 2023
- If you'd like to support this channel:
/ @bradapplemusic
In this captivating video, Butch Robins, renowned Bluegrass musician and former Bluegrass Boy, passionately shares the profound impact Don Reno had on his musical journey and his development as a performer. Robins delves into the extraordinary influence Reno wielded, not only as a masterful musician but also as a captivating entertainer, leaving an indelible mark on Robins' own playing style and stage presence.
Donald Wesley Reno (February 21, 1926 - October 16, 1984) was an American bluegrass and country musician, best known as a pioneering banjo and guitar player who partnered with Red Smiley, and later with guitarist Bill Harrell.
Born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States, Don Reno grew up on a farm in Haywood County, North Carolina. He began learning acoustic guitar at the age of five after borrowing a neighbors guitar, and not long after began learning banjo. In 1939, the 13-year-old Reno joined the Morris Brothers in performing at a local radio station.
He left one year later to join Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith, with whom he would years later record "Feudin' Banjos". In 1943, he received an offer from Bill Monroe to become a member of the Bluegrass Boys, but chose instead to enlist in the United States Army. Trained as a horse soldier at Fort Riley, Kansas, he was sent to the Pacific Theater to fight on foot. He eventually served in Merrill's Marauders and was wounded in action.
Influenced by old-time banjo player Snuffy Jenkins and others, Reno developed his own two finger "single-string" style, typically using either his index or middle finger along with his thumb, to pick a single string repeatedly, that allowed him to play scales and complicated fiddle tunes note-for-note. The Reno style encompasses much more than just single-string picking; double-stops, double-time picking, triple-pull offs-all of these, and other techniques make Reno's playing recognizable. According to his son, Don Wayne Reno, "My dad told me more than once that the reason he started his own style of banjo picking was this: When he came out of the service, many people said 'You sound just like Earl Scruggs.' He said that really bothered him considering he never played a banjo while he was in the service, and when he returned to the U.S., he continued to play in the style he had always played before."
Reno was also a major pioneer of flatpicking guitar. By 1946 he was regularly performing on the WSPA-FM station out of Spartanburg, South Carolina as a lead guitarist with different groups. Around this time he began giving guitar lessons to Hank Garland, and the two soon did twin guitar performances at the station. During the Reno and Smiley years, Reno would often switch from banjo to guitar especially on gospel songs, and fiddle tunes. One song Reno wrote "Country Boy Rock and Roll" considered to be the first bluegrass song to feature lead guitar as the main instrument. Reno would occasionally even play electric guitar during some performances in the 1950s. Reno continued playing guitar on and off during his time with Bill Harrell and recorded many guitar instrumentals during this time. Doc Watson was influenced by Reno's guitar playing, even saying during an interview the first time he heard someone play fiddle tunes on a guitar was Don Reno. Other accomplished guitarists including Clarence White and Joe Maphis were influenced by Reno's guitar style.
In 1948, Reno became a member of the Blue Grass Boys. Two years later, with Red Smiley, he formed Reno and Smiley and the Tennessee Cutups, a partnership that lasted fourteen years. Among their hits were "I'm Using My Bible For A Road Map", "I Wouldn't Change You If I Could" and "Don't Let Your Sweet Love Die". Included in this line-up was his son, Ronnie Reno, who played mandolin. Videos from those days are shown regularly on Ronnie's show on RFD-TV. In 1964, after the retirement of Red Smiley, Reno and guitarist Bill Harrell formed Reno & Harrell. Red Smiley joined Reno and Harrell in 1969, remaining with them until his death in 1972.
From 1964 until 1971, he also performed with Benny Martin. In the 1970s, he played with The Good Ol' Boys, composed of Frank Wakefield on mandolin, David Nelson on guitar, Chubby Wise on fiddle, and Pat Campbell on bass. Reno began performing with his sons Don Wayne and Dale in later years. - Hudba
Really enjoy these stories, thanks for posting!
Thanks so much for watching!
Don Reno was the real deal. Like many others, he always took the time for you. Good job Butch!
Don Reno was my next door neighbor in Lynchburg Virginia
Awesome! Did you get to know Don well?
@@bradapplemusic yes I also went to school with both of the younger boys.
These words are golden. Entertainers take note, it's not about you, give the people what they want and they will support you.
Very well said. Thanks for watching!
That’s the difference between an “entertainer” and a true artist such as Bob Dylan
Great insight. Thank you sir.
Thanks for watching!
A friend and I saw Reno and Smiley in the late sixties at a show headlined by George Jones and I can attest to the accuracy of this posting . Don and Red played on and on while George Jones refused to come out of the green room and became physically violent ( i.e. chair throwing while drunk ... I was told ) but in any case another act carried on while Don and Red took a break .Best of all they were very gracious and picked a little with us backstage , and just chatted . If you have any doubt about Dons virtuosity , he and my friend spent time working out a little ditty called "Nola" a theme from the Little Rascals movies . To say the least I was gobsmacked by Dons virtuosity and their friendliness to a couple of kids and for me the best of all ,I got to see, admire , and actually touch Red's D-45 . Does anyone know what happened to it ? Anyway they were the best and I'll never forget them ...just great people as well as musicians
WOW! Thank you so much for sharing this great story. Don and Red sounded like fine gentlemen.
Don Reno was one of the first super pickers, if it had strings Reno could play it. Once I saw him with Bill Harrell, it was great. Toward the end of the show Reno picked up his guitar, Tony Rice, Doc any of them had nothing on Reno! He was a monster! The crowd went nuts, me among them!
Thanks so much for sharing! I would have loved to have seen that! Don Reno was incredible!
@@bradapplemusic band was Reno, Harrell, Buck Ryan (fiddle) and Ed Ferris (bass). 1975.
Thats awesome! Don was a fantastic flatpicker. Doc credits Reno as a major influence on his guitar style. In the late forties Don gave lessons and worked with a young Hank Garkand on the big station out of Spartanburg
Reno & Smiley's stage formula of having an always entertaining mix of: danceable country, bluegrass, gospel & comedy was an inspiration for the stage work of 'Hot Rize'. As for country music stars supposedly refusing to follow the live shows of Reno & Smiley: while this may have been true for a few country acts, this is a bit of an old, urban myth, IMO.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
That kid who came in late -- was that Gary Busey?
So ultimately, the country stars had refused to follow "Reno & Smiley" all because of Carlton Haney unexpectedly cutting off Bill Anderson during the closing part of that one show & having Reno & Smiley do the closing instead? Did I understand that correctly? 🤔
Because he was a cut above than 99 percent of the musicians back in that time.. except for Scruggs..