Arthur Smith and 'Deliverance'

[rwsmith]

I just got into a discussion about the movie 'Deliverance' and it's main theme. 'Duelin' Banjos'. The tune was actually written by Arthur Smith who brought an infringement lawsuit against the filmakers....and won

He wrote 'Feudin' Banjos' in 1955. It actually used two types of banjos. A five-string fingerstyle 'Bluegrass' type by Don Reno and a 4 string played with a pick by Smith.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmMk9tsCjsc

I also heard that Smith died April of this year at the age of 93.
He was always on the TV at our house and he could play anything with strings......and play it WELL.

He was born in Clinton, SC, appeared in Spartanburg and Kershaw county and ended up in Charlotte where he was inducted into the NC Music Hall of Fame, in addition to numerous other awards and winning a Grammy for 'Duelin' Bangos' in 1973.

 

[islamoradamark]

the only thing i remember was some poor guy that had to squeal like a pig

 

[fat tom]

I remember Arthur and his show very well. For those who are interested,here's a little history.

Arthur Smith

f.t.

 

[gregintenn]

We went down the river that movie was filmed on just this week. The area looks just as I remember it in the movie; nothing there!

 

[MOONDAWG]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing...

 

[Jessie]

We went down the river that movie was filmed on just this week. The area looks just as I remember it in the movie; nothing there!

I don't know about that, I see something laying on that rock!

 

[rwsmith]

Rafts and canoes.

We went down the river that movie was filmed on just this week. The area looks just as I remember it in the movie; nothing there!

Ain't that some kind of wonderful place? I'm glad to hear they've done a good job keeping the river preserved. I like how they have the buffer zone on either side of the river where people have to work to access it. I've been down it in canoes and rafts. I was always crazy about white water. I wish I had been able to indulge in that past time more.

Story: After several hours on a raft people were hot, thirsty and hungry and missing civilization. We're paddling down the river and one gal pipes up...."HEY, I SEE THE GOLDEN ARCHES UP AHEAD!" We laff and laff.

 

[jrm53]

I know that Eric Wiessberg did the banjo picking in Deliverence and it looked like the kid did it but it was dubbed. Also the author of Deliverence Jim Dickey was in the movie, he played the sherriff who told the Atlanta boys "I dont know what happened but you boys dont come back down here". Jeff

 

[mc5aw]

That river don't go to Aintry ...

 

[boatme99]

We went down the river that movie was filmed on just this week. The area looks just as I remember it in the movie; nothing there!

There's something lying on the rock behind you.
Must have missed it in all that excitement.

 

[1morethan8]

Billy Redden was the inbred who played the banjo in the movie...
Mike Addis reached around him to play because Billy doesn't play the banjo. Last known, Billy was working at Walmart... Guess he quit his job washing dishes at the Cookie Jar Cafe? He's from Clayton, Georgia.

Deliverance was shot in the Tallulah Gorge southeast of Clayton, Georgia and on the Chattooga River, which divides the northeastern corner of the state of Georgia from the northwestern corner of the state of South Carolina.

A picture of the head waters.. which is in North Carolina...

 

[whitecoyote]

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Ronny Cox, the pride of Cloudcroft, New Mexico plays the guitar in the Deliverance duel.
It's been reported that he was hired for that role because he could play the guitar.

 

[vonn]

Some special country in that part of the world, got a good look at it when I was in the Army and still have a fondness for it.

 

[Muley Gil]

What I always thought was funky was that the banjo music that we heard was Scruggs style three finger picking, but the young man was clearing playing clawhammer (or frailing) style.

 

[gregintenn]

Ned Beatty had the toughest part in that movie!

 

[THE PILGRIM]

What I always thought was funky was that the banjo music that we heard was Scruggs style three finger picking, but the young man was clearing playing clawhammer (or frailing) style.

My favorite claw hammer style player would be Dr. Ralph Stanley, From up your way.

 

[bhayles]

Some special country in that part of the world, got a good look at it when I was in the Army and still have a fondness for it.

You musta been in Ranger school in Dahlonega.

Yep...its a GREAT area...which is why I live here. Folks ask why I never go anywhere...why, with all my spare time being retired, I never go "on vacation". I tell 'em its because I'm already on vacation right here in the north Georgia mountains, 100%% of the time.

 

[armenius]

One of my favorite movies.Burt Reynolds best one.A great book.
They would have payed plenty for my snobby Mod 66 or Colt Combat Commander which goes along on my adventures.Better to have it and not need it...

 

[george minze]

Years ago I read a article concerning the loosening of the old moral code in movies....Two of those movies mentioned were.."Deliverance", and "The wild Bunch"....both it was stated pushed the envelope long established in Hollywood by the censors. I saw them both and shame on me I liked them both....I took my wife to see Deliverance, big mistake! I knew better when The Wild Bunch came out..... learned my lesson!!!! However i liked them both.....