Steve Martin writes films, novels and poetry. He acts and is the killer with concept comedy. He spends a large part of his fortune collecting and curating fine art and he can jam that banjo like a backwoods Cajun. He is the All-American.
Paul Simon is simply brilliant. A demi-god. And he's still crazy after all these years! The revelation is just how good Steve Martin is. Ain't they both great!
So Steve is a writer, composer, published author of books, movies, and music, and a stand-up comic, juggler, musician, producer, director, movie star actor, and basically an entertainment god.
Love it! I wish someone would post the skit they did together on this same episode. It was set back in the 70's and Paul wanted to be a comedian with wacky props, and Steve wanted to be a serious folk singer. So funny :)
Most musicians know that Paul Simon is actually rated as one of the top 100 best guitar players...EVER! That was not his moment, it was Steve Martin's, who obviously is an excellent musician in his own right.
Yes he was. I've looked for it, and like I said, there's old video or film of some of those songs they played; usually, Glen, John Hartford, both Smothers, Mason Williams ("Classical Gas"), and in the background, some others, including Steve Martin. He still had mostly dark hair then.
There's kind of a Harpo Marx parallel here....when Harpo was playing his harp, he was himself, not a comedian. Just plain, astounding talent. There are not many greater joys than music, and a man needs nothing else when he is playing.
Steve Martin learned how to play the banjo by listening to bluegrass music albums on slow-speed and working out how it was done. To me, that makes his skill even that much more impressive. On Paul's behalf, it is not easy to accompany someone on a song you've never heard unless you really know your instrument and have a really good ear for notes.
thanks for the info, this tune just makes me smile and feel great..The Steep Canyon Rangers are from my homestate of N.C., and I would love to see them and Steve in concert someday,the Merlefest is April 21 ( I think) and they have performed there before, and that would be a real treat!!
The mark of a true musician is that Steve is watching what he's doing, carefully, most of the time and Paul is also watching what Steve is doing most of the time too! ;)
I'm amazed by the number of people who didn't know Steve was a serious banjo player. No one seems to have uploaded it, but there is video out there somewhere of him playing on either The Smothers Brothers Show or the Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour. He was a comedy writer for both shows and I recall seeing clips of him playing with Glen on one of them in addition to writing.
I do remember all those yrs ago, loved The Smothers Bros., and Glen Campbell's was their summer replacement show....wasn't Steve a writer for the show too?, wish some of the cable channels would air some of their shows
Steve can't watch what Paul is doing - Steve wrote the tune and Paul is just hearing it. Paul knows the banjo is tuned in 'A' so he plays a corresponding 'G' chord on his guitar. Most banjo instrumentals have consistent rhythm that would normally be easy to strum a guitar with, but Paul managed really great considering he had just heard this one and eventually caught Steve's beat, hard to do when a banjo picker is off and running.
It's hard to just start playing along with someone when they have a whole fucking song mapped out in their head and you don't even know the chords yet. So anyone talking shit about his guitar playing has probably never played music with other people.
Yeah I'm sure Paul Simon is reading your comment there, 4theluv. "Gee, I've only been playing guitar for 55 years, maybe I need to take some lessons from some guy leaving comments on youtube. All of my Grammys and millions of records sold mean nothing compared with the advice of 4theluvofpete." Right.
@superman11978 I'll concur and grant you that, provided we also get to compare them by acting ability as well ^.^ (in which case they come out even; they're both gods in their own way) Though yeah as from as musical ability goes: Steve is a great banjo player, Simon is among the world's best at playing any instrument (hell the chorus part alone of Paul Simon's "Rewrite" - where he hammers the part that anyone else in the world would have to pick - is enough to put him in that category)
@IDmadge It isn't actually a contest. You're possibly thinking of Duelling Banjos. Paul was accompanying him. I'm guessing, you're not a musician are you?
Steve Martin is vastly underated as a banjo player,they are hard to follow on guitar unless you play bluegrass and know banjo chords.There was no break for Paul to have a solo, but it wasn't his dog! was it!
He was number 7 best guitar players of all time in Rolling Stones list as I remember ... well bloody deserved. I was gutted he wasn’t top 5 personally ......
@4theloveofpete-if you're doubting Simon's ability with a guitar,then you're seriously off the mark. Your comment makes no sense anyway. 'Paul-seriously,you can't fingerpick to a fast bluegrass tune'. Well,he just did it on this very video,so your comment is truly not worthy. By the way,don't doubt his ability with a guitar pick either. All I'll say about that is 'Live Rhymin'1974 Track 1.
Come on now, a lot of people that are wonderful guitarists do not, or cannot, do the "bluegrass strum". Just because they can't do it doesn't mean they cant play. Me? I can do it all!! LOL!!
Steve Martin is incredible, but let's just be honest. The banjo sucks compared to the guitar. Simon had no problem playing second fiddle (or guitar) because he doesn't need to prove a thing. If Steve Martin wasn't a comedic legend, the audience would have boo'ed him out of there so they could listen to Paul Simon alone.
Really? You couldn't have simply recorded the show from your TV? People who record from a cellphone camera a pre-recorded television program should be banished to Siberia. This is so cheap and rank amateurish.
This is what a Bluegrass Jam Session looks like.!! Paul Simon adds his part.... he does a great job!
Lightning Steve Martin!!🇺🇸🎩🇺🇸
Steve Martin writes films, novels and poetry. He acts and is the killer with concept comedy. He spends a large part of his fortune collecting and curating fine art and he can jam that banjo like a backwoods Cajun. He is the All-American.
Paul Simon is simply brilliant. A demi-god. And he's still crazy after all these years!
The revelation is just how good Steve Martin is.
Ain't they both great!
Something tells me Paul Simon truly respects Steve Martin as a musician, and rightly so. Steve has earned his way through comedy and music.
Brian West i
So Steve is a writer, composer, published author of books, movies, and music, and a stand-up comic, juggler, musician, producer, director, movie star actor, and basically an entertainment god.
Indeed he is. My father and I saw Steve in Vegas in 1978. My Dad said “this guy will never make it” well Dad, wrong again
He paints as well…
Add Magician
Don’t forget poet…
Several eggs, several baskets…very wise. Fickle business is show bizniss.
Steve Martin.....a man of very many talents!!
further proof Steve Martin is one of the genius artist in the USA
How Steve enjoys playing the banjo is admirable! Thank you for sharing this amazing video
Paul Simon was voted one of the top 100 guitarists of all time by Rolling Stone.
That would be a treat. You know, I really miss John Hartford. He and Steve Goodman were real American treasures.
Szeretem a filmjeit. Nem gondoltam volna, hogy ilyen virtuóz ! Piszok jó.
Don't underestimate the work Paul Simon did there to get in sync with Steve. Amazing stuff from both of them. Truly amazing artists.
+arniebunny He picked it up really quick. Master class.
+Kevin Kraft Wasn't it just!?
paul is a great guitar player and a very modest guy. I doubt there is anyone he couldn't keep up with.
The crowd clapping off beat fuks it all up
Love it! I wish someone would post the skit they did together on this same episode. It was set back in the 70's and Paul wanted to be a comedian with wacky props, and Steve wanted to be a serious folk singer. So funny :)
really??
Two brilliantly talented men. Love it!
Two very talented men... and also Jimmy Fallon
Most musicians know that Paul Simon is actually rated as one of the top 100 best guitar players...EVER! That was not his moment, it was Steve Martin's, who obviously is an excellent musician in his own right.
Steve Martin CAN FLIPPIN’ PICK! 🤯🤯🤯🤯
Talent in its purity.
Glad to see there is someone still living🍀🍺
Was great to see Paul Simon after a documentary film in the cinema.
He signed my Graceland, what a night
Yes he was. I've looked for it, and like I said, there's old video or film of some of those songs they played; usually, Glen, John Hartford, both Smothers, Mason Williams ("Classical Gas"), and in the background, some others, including Steve Martin. He still had mostly dark hair then.
Awesome performance! Thank you for posting it!
OMG!!! Steve Martin was serious for almost 2 minutes!!!
Love these guys!
is spectacular, both touching, wow
Greatness at work!
Wow both of them are amazing
GREAT STUFF ! ! ! 👍🌝
A little banjo goes a long way.
Time has been kind to Paul Simon. Very kind, but people get old. Even you will, if you are lucky.
That Was Awesome!
There's kind of a Harpo Marx parallel here....when Harpo was playing his harp, he was himself, not a comedian. Just plain, astounding talent. There are not many greater joys than music, and a man needs nothing else when he is playing.
Steve Martin learned how to play the banjo by listening to bluegrass music albums on slow-speed and working out how it was done. To me, that makes his skill even that much more impressive. On Paul's behalf, it is not easy to accompany someone on a song you've never heard unless you really know your instrument and have a really good ear for notes.
thanks for the info, this tune just makes me smile and feel great..The Steep Canyon Rangers are from my homestate of N.C., and I would love to see them and Steve in concert someday,the Merlefest is April 21 ( I think) and they have performed there before, and that would be a real treat!!
The mark of a true musician is that Steve is watching what he's doing, carefully, most of the time and Paul is also watching what Steve is doing most of the time too! ;)
STEVE MARTIN WITH PAUL SIMON!
Thanks for that Keir. I've since heard his two albums and they confirm just how good he is. Maybe if I practice really hard...
I'm amazed by the number of people who didn't know Steve was a serious banjo player. No one seems to have uploaded it, but there is video out there somewhere of him playing on either The Smothers Brothers Show or the Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour. He was a comedy writer for both shows and I recall seeing clips of him playing with Glen on one of them in addition to writing.
Underappreciated, never listed to, too soon gone.
I can't tell if Paul kept up with Steve because they gave so much more audio to the banjo that I cannot hear the guitar.
sweet!
Holy shit Steve!
Wow, 2009," time keeps slipping into the future....." Just found out this last month about Steve Martin could play the banjo! clawhammer? style too.
I do remember all those yrs ago, loved The Smothers Bros., and Glen Campbell's was their summer replacement show....wasn't Steve a writer for the show too?, wish some of the cable channels would air some of their shows
Paul Simon comps very well.
❤
Steve can't watch what Paul is doing - Steve wrote the tune and Paul is just hearing it. Paul knows the banjo is tuned in 'A' so he plays a corresponding 'G' chord on his guitar. Most banjo instrumentals have consistent rhythm that would normally be easy to strum a guitar with, but Paul managed really great considering he had just heard this one and eventually caught Steve's beat, hard to do when a banjo picker is off and running.
Paul Simon kind of looks like David Carradine looked in "Kill Bill Vol. 2"
Hey this guys goood.
Look at the ghost lamp, shining on Steve's arm!
All props to Paul, but Steve pretty much wipes the floor with him, here.
Whoa. DAG GUM! WOOOOO!
AND IT'S PAUL FUCKING SIMON!!!! The Man's a Legend... Especially WITHOUT Garfunkel!
So thank you for saying something!
Paul Simon said lets do a duet and Steve Martin Says sure. How could he say no? Everyone does what Simon says,
The album is good.
It's hard to just start playing along with someone when they have a whole fucking song mapped out in their head and you don't even know the chords yet. So anyone talking shit about his guitar playing has probably never played music with other people.
He finally found his rhythm
Hit like if you actually get the reference
Yeah I'm sure Paul Simon is reading your comment there, 4theluv. "Gee, I've only been playing guitar for 55 years, maybe I need to take some lessons from some guy leaving comments on youtube. All of my Grammys and millions of records sold mean nothing compared with the advice of 4theluvofpete." Right.
When people start clapping I get too embarrassed to continue watching. How did it end?
@superman11978 I'll concur and grant you that, provided we also get to compare them by acting ability as well ^.^ (in which case they come out even; they're both gods in their own way)
Though yeah as from as musical ability goes: Steve is a great banjo player, Simon is among the world's best at playing any instrument (hell the chorus part alone of Paul Simon's "Rewrite" - where he hammers the part that anyone else in the world would have to pick - is enough to put him in that category)
Grandpaaaaaaa.......bought a rubber.
I see. Well, kind of. Thanks.
Martin ( pardon the pun ) guitars does not make a signature model for just anyone... But they did for Paul Simon...thankyou and goodnight.
They're trying to make sure you aren't a spaming robot.
@Bambiezbotron Because we are use to seeing him with gray hair. He started going gray early in life.
Pro audience tip:
You know when you’re in the audience and you get that urge to clap along with the musicians?
Resist that urge. Don’t do that.
more cowbell
about 90% of those people can't clap in time. haha
I shall believe you're joking. So..LOL!
Was Paul Simon even there? Steve Martin is a banjo player!!
If you liked this you will love him with Edie Brickell and the Steep Canyon Rangers.
Edie Brickell is Paul Simon's wife.
Audience...do you know how hard it is to keep time when you clap off beat. Don't do it!
@IDmadge It isn't actually a contest. You're possibly thinking of Duelling Banjos. Paul was accompanying him. I'm guessing, you're not a musician are you?
Could someone please explain to me the point of these stupid words CZcams make you type when you've posted a few comments?
He also is a serious writer and one of his novellas turned into the movie "Shop Girl".
Loved that novella!!!!
@Truthiness231 EDIT* meant "as far as" not "as from as"... anyhoo...
Banjo just seems to get more poon these days. Just got mine a couple weeks ago
Where's Edie?
Recorded from a TV set! Just Bull..
YOU POSTED VIDEO of your TV screen? WOW
This gives LAME a bad name
Steve Martin is vastly underated as a banjo player,they are hard to follow on guitar unless you play bluegrass and know banjo chords.There was no break for Paul to have a solo, but it wasn't his dog! was it!
@zeppyfish omg im laughing my ass off at this comment right now...hahahahaha
4theluvofpete
Sitting in front of a tv and holding a video camera is a bad idea.....
@sootygizmo Sorry mate that's a banjo he is playing....
no.....why do you say that?
@4theluvofpete I got your humour! Everyone else that commented negative to you needs an enema!
Imagine if Steve Martin had chosen electric guitar as his instrument? He could have conquered the world.
What? Top 100 songwriters, sure, he's up there. But guitar players?
He was number 7 best guitar players of all time in Rolling Stones list as I remember ... well bloody deserved. I was gutted he wasn’t top 5 personally ......
yea, guitar players...
Cloning Steve Martin... sigh, what a wonderful world it would be!
@4theloveofpete-if you're doubting Simon's ability with a guitar,then you're seriously off the mark. Your comment makes no sense anyway. 'Paul-seriously,you can't fingerpick to a fast bluegrass tune'. Well,he just did it on this very video,so your comment is truly not worthy. By the way,don't doubt his ability with a guitar pick either. All I'll say about that is 'Live Rhymin'1974 Track 1.
Wut?
Didn't sound like a dog running like hell somewhere. I think S. Martin could have said it was about him picking his nose and gotten away with it.
Come on now, a lot of people that are wonderful guitarists do not, or cannot, do the "bluegrass strum". Just because they can't do it doesn't mean they cant play. Me? I can do it all!! LOL!!
Steve Martin is incredible, but let's just be honest. The banjo sucks compared to the guitar. Simon had no problem playing second fiddle (or guitar) because he doesn't need to prove a thing. If Steve Martin wasn't a comedic legend, the audience would have boo'ed him out of there so they could listen to Paul Simon alone.
ok dipstick
Really? You couldn't have simply recorded the show from your TV? People who record from a cellphone camera a pre-recorded television program should be banished to Siberia. This is so cheap and rank amateurish.
This video is basically old enough to drive. Chill.