Forum - Banjo Ben Clark

Book Club Recommendation... Wayfaring Stranger by Emma John

#1

Has anyone else here read this book?

I read it last week and I really liked it. Lots of Bluegrass experiences packed into one year for a writer/fiddle player from the UK. She got educated in the differences between Bluegrass and Old Time, and Traditional Bluegrass vs Progressive, jam etiquette, the differences between tent campers and RV campers at festivals. All covered in a storyteller method … nothing controversial (except for her politics which come up a little too much but hey it only cost $2 on the kindle. Actually she does cover the topic of how it is that Bluegrass music pulls people from different outlooks on life together. It’s a fun read and I highly recommend it.

3 Likes
#2

I’d be interested in reading some non fiction about bluegrass, it never crossed my mind that those type of books might exist :joy:

2 Likes
#3

Just finished reading this book per your recommendation. Took a while to read it is why so long in commenting. Interesting mixing of cultures. A girl from the UK traveling through Appalachia. Being a country person myself, but not from the area she traveled in, I could relate to those folks quite readily. Although Emma’s world view differed somewhat from many country people at the time of the writing, mine included, was good she kept an open mind to where albeit, she didn’t see eye to eye on various topics with a lot of the locals she met, was still able to fit in and get to know people while making friends.

Were some interesting people I didn’t know about such as, the Kruger brothers, a couple of Swiss virtuosos who played their own brand of acoustic music. Were also a lot of lessor known but first-rate players, although not household names, were well known in their circles.

One thing I figured as I read along is that she would be at a much higher skill level than how she described herself in the book, which turned out to be the case. She more or less talked about how was an awkward painful journey, coming from a classical background transitioning to bluegrass. I could relate to that myself having come from a different musical background than bluegrass. From that perspective, was a story of triumph, going from where she said she started out, to where she ended up. Here is Emma demonstrating her chops.

(3) “Bill Cheatham” ~ Emma John on bluegrass fiddle @ Happy Valley Fiddlers Convention - YouTube

2 Likes
#4

I’ve been reading this book, too! Very entertaining. She was for sure sandbagging about her fiddling abilities! Thanks for sharing that video.

I’ve never been to any of bluegrass festivals, fiddlers’ conventions, etc, so it was interesting to hear about her experiences and funny to hear an outsider’s perspective.

1 Like
#5

Yeah, the video actually ads some perspective to the book. The guy plying guitar there is one of her mentors she spoke about in the book by the name of Trevor who is a multi-instrumentalist, and a great player in his own right. A lot of the names of the players she crossed paths with had me curious, so I started to look them up. Since bluegrass isn’t your typical commercial top 40 music, most people wouldn’t know who those musicians are, so their talents sort of fly under the radar. I would guess people like Banjo Ben and maybe some others here may know who they are, or possibly even have met some.

The video is also a good study in playing bluegrass backup guitar. Ben has both an intermediate and advanced lesson for the song Bill Cheatam, which I haven’t gotten around to, but will now, just to have a backing track. I started playing with the backing track just to get the timing, then would ad in some of Trevor’s licks. The most difficult part of his rhythm is to get the timing down, since he has a lot of ad-in stuff.

I like that Ben has an easier more melody driven version to start out with, then can try the advanced version, which is played in more of a newgrass style. Hope I didn’t miscategorize your version of that song Ben.

1 Like
#6

Dang! I feel like Oprah!

#7

Saw this thread and was curious, so I looked at the profile Bhive posted, and saw him self-described as “on the North side of 50”. Being on the North side of 75, I’m often told to Bhave. I just ordered a hard copy (folks my age tend not to like e-readers: we tend to put them down and forget where they are), and will comment after I get to read it. And thanks to JA1 for posting the link. Ms. John certainly can play Mr. Cheatham’s hornpipe. Happy holidays to all!

2 Likes
#8

I’ve now received and started reading this book. It’s great fun, well-written, an interesting perspective. Definitely worth the time for anyone into “light” reading.

#9

I finished it and thought it was a fun book

#10

Emma had an interesting take on Bill Monroe. As people, everyone has more than one side to them, so Bill would have been no exception. He had a festival here in Indiana. I’ve never been to it but talked with a few people who met him. Never heard of anything negative about him but are two ways to see the other side of a person, either work with them or play in a band together.

So, lot of times, and very well could be the case with Bill, friction simply can stem from people having different ideas on how to go about the music, and which direction each person sees the band going. Bill being the leader, was probably very motivated, which can come off as a bit too hard driving to some, but most people who do well in whatever they try, have that inner drive.