The Wayback Machine - http://web.archive.org./web/20120629025106/http://wn.com:80/Banjo
Thursday, 28 June 2012
Deliverance - Banjo Duel
Guinness World Record Todd Taylor Fastest Banjo
9-Year-Old Plays Banjo on David Letterman Show - Sleepy Man Banjo Boys
David Letterman - Steve Martin's Dueling Banjos
Steve Martin, Bela Fleck, Tony Trischka Banjo HDTV The Crow
Rascal Flatts - Banjo
Banjo Lesson Beginning Bluegrass Banjo - Cripple Creek
Star Wars on a Banjo
8 Year Old Jonny Mizzone - Flint Hill Special - Sleepy Man Banjo Boys
Dueling Banjos
How It's Made: Banjos
Rascal Flatts - Banjo (Lyric Version)

Banjo

Make changes yourself !



Deliverance - Banjo Duel
  • Order:
  • Published: 28 Jul 2007
  • Duration: 4:11
  • Updated: 12 Jun 2012
Author: sciencedude06
Cool music, gets ur feet tappin'
http://web.archive.org./web/20120629025106/http://wn.com/Deliverance - Banjo Duel
Guinness World Record Todd Taylor Fastest Banjo
  • Order:
  • Published: 03 Feb 2007
  • Duration: 2:16
  • Updated: 10 Jun 2012
Author: banjoman22
Florida Today Coverage and footage of the Guinness Event Worlds Fastest Banjo Player, Grammy Nominated Banjo Player Todd Taylor Sets New World Record
http://web.archive.org./web/20120629025106/http://wn.com/Guinness World Record Todd Taylor Fastest Banjo
9-Year-Old Plays Banjo on David Letterman Show - Sleepy Man Banjo Boys
  • Order:
  • Published: 18 Jul 2011
  • Duration: 4:24
  • Updated: 12 Jun 2012
Author: sleepymanbanjoboys
Now charting on Billboard! - Sleepy Man Banjo Boys 'America's Music' iTunes - bit.ly Amazon - amzn.to CD - www.sleepymanbanjoboys.com 9 year old banjo boy Jonny Mizzone and his brothers Tommy 13 on guitar, and Robbie 12 on fiddle perform "Flint Hill Special" by Earl Scruggs on the Late Show with David Letterman.
http://web.archive.org./web/20120629025106/http://wn.com/9-Year-Old Plays Banjo on David Letterman Show - Sleepy Man Banjo Boys
David Letterman - Steve Martin's Dueling Banjos
  • Order:
  • Published: 12 Nov 2010
  • Duration: 5:00
  • Updated: 11 Jun 2012
Author: CBS
Steve Martin plays Dueling Banjos with the winner of his prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass, Noam Pikelny. For full episodes, follow the link-www.cbs.com
http://web.archive.org./web/20120629025106/http://wn.com/David Letterman - Steve Martin's Dueling Banjos
Steve Martin, Bela Fleck, Tony Trischka Banjo HDTV The Crow
  • Order:
  • Published: 28 Apr 2007
  • Duration: 3:23
  • Updated: 11 Jun 2012
Author: gbtexas
Triple banjo on David Letterman 4/26/07. The song is called "the Crow" and is written by Steve Martin. It can be found on Tony Trischka's new double banjo album.
http://web.archive.org./web/20120629025106/http://wn.com/Steve Martin, Bela Fleck, Tony Trischka Banjo HDTV The Crow
Rascal Flatts - Banjo
  • Order:
  • Published: 13 Mar 2012
  • Duration: 4:57
  • Updated: 12 Jun 2012
Author: RascalFlattsVEVO
Music video by Rascal Flatts performing Banjo. (C) 2012 Big Machine Records, LLC.
http://web.archive.org./web/20120629025106/http://wn.com/Rascal Flatts - Banjo
Banjo Lesson Beginning Bluegrass Banjo - Cripple Creek
  • Order:
  • Published: 30 Nov 2006
  • Duration: 6:07
  • Updated: 11 Jun 2012
Author: musiciansworkshop
Full Video Here: www.workshoprecords.com Includes: Banjo Lesson introducing the 5-string banjo to the complete beginner, identification of all the parts, how to tune, basic chord formations, how to read banjo tablature, wearing your picks, 5 roll patterns, and he teaches you to play 4 tunes in complete detail. Tunes include: Cripple Creek, She'll be Comin Round the Mountain, Oh Susannah, and Cumberland Gap (two variations: regular and up-the-neck). You can also find us on Facebook!: www.facebook.com
http://web.archive.org./web/20120629025106/http://wn.com/Banjo Lesson Beginning Bluegrass Banjo - Cripple Creek
Star Wars on a Banjo
  • Order:
  • Published: 18 Jul 2006
  • Duration: 1:43
  • Updated: 09 Jun 2012
Author: safetypants
This would be myself playing the theme music from Star Wars on my 1995 Gibson RB-3 banjo.
http://web.archive.org./web/20120629025106/http://wn.com/Star Wars on a Banjo
8 Year Old Jonny Mizzone - Flint Hill Special - Sleepy Man Banjo Boys
  • Order:
  • Published: 21 Feb 2011
  • Duration: 1:20
  • Updated: 11 Jun 2012
Author: sleepymanbanjoboys
Now charting on Billboard! - Sleepy Man Banjo Boys 'America's Music' iTunes - bit.ly Amazon - amzn.to CD - www.sleepymanbanjoboys.com Another bedroom practice of Earl Scruggs's Flint Hill Special. Brothers Jonny Mizzone age 8 on banjo, Robbie Mizzone age 12 on fiddle, and Tommy Mizzone age 13 on guitar. http facebook.com
http://web.archive.org./web/20120629025106/http://wn.com/8 Year Old Jonny Mizzone - Flint Hill Special - Sleepy Man Banjo Boys
Dueling Banjos
  • Order:
  • Published: 09 Jan 2010
  • Duration: 3:02
  • Updated: 11 Jun 2012
Author: nedluberecki
Ned Luberecki and Ned Luberecki perform Dueling Banjos for GuitarTricks.com. Ned is an instructor on GuitarTricks.com and this is part of the lesson on how to play the guitar part or Dueling Banjos. For more information; guitartricks.com This video is posted with the permission of GuitarTricks.com. If you like this video, please like my facebook page http
http://web.archive.org./web/20120629025106/http://wn.com/Dueling Banjos
How It's Made: Banjos
  • Order:
  • Published: 03 Feb 2008
  • Duration: 4:58
  • Updated: 09 Jun 2012
Author: grantalewis
From the Science Channel's Series, "How It's Made." Construction of a banjo.
http://web.archive.org./web/20120629025106/http://wn.com/How It's Made: Banjos
Rascal Flatts - Banjo (Lyric Version)
  • Order:
  • Published: 28 Feb 2012
  • Duration: 3:40
  • Updated: 12 Jun 2012
Author: RascalFlattsVEVO
Music video by Rascal Flatts performing Banjo. (C) 2012 Big Machine Records, LLC.
http://web.archive.org./web/20120629025106/http://wn.com/Rascal Flatts - Banjo (Lyric Version)
Mountain Rhythm - Dueling Banjos
  • Order:
  • Published: 10 Dec 2006
  • Duration: 3:23
  • Updated: 11 Jun 2012
Author: michaelaiken
The band clowns around a bit with "Dueling Banjos" - 'til Robert runs away with it!
http://web.archive.org./web/20120629025106/http://wn.com/Mountain Rhythm - Dueling Banjos
Super Mario Banjo
  • Order:
  • Published: 21 Aug 2007
  • Duration: 2:53
  • Updated: 09 Jun 2012
Author: zanorg
Super mario bros theme played on 6 strings banjo (aka "banjitar"). It's a banjo tuned like a guitar, please stop growling in comments. Original music by Koji Kondo. Tabs for guitar are available easily on internet.
http://web.archive.org./web/20120629025106/http://wn.com/Super Mario Banjo
  • Deliverance - Banjo Duel...4:11
  • Guinness World Record Todd Taylor Fastest Banjo...2:16
  • 9-Year-Old Plays Banjo on David Letterman Show - Sleepy Man Banjo Boys...4:24
  • David Letterman - Steve Martin's Dueling Banjos...5:00
  • Steve Martin, Bela Fleck, Tony Trischka Banjo HDTV The Crow...3:23
  • Rascal Flatts - Banjo...4:57
  • Banjo Lesson Beginning Bluegrass Banjo - Cripple Creek...6:07
  • Star Wars on a Banjo...1:43
  • 8 Year Old Jonny Mizzone - Flint Hill Special - Sleepy Man Banjo Boys...1:20
  • Dueling Banjos...3:02
  • How It's Made: Banjos...4:58
  • Rascal Flatts - Banjo (Lyric Version)...3:40
  • Mountain Rhythm - Dueling Banjos...3:23
  • Super Mario Banjo...2:53
Cool music, gets ur feet tappin'
4:11
De­liv­er­ance - Banjo Duel
Cool music, gets ur feet tap­pin'...
pub­lished: 28 Jul 2007
2:16
Guin­ness World Record Todd Tay­lor Fastest Banjo
Flori­da Today Cov­er­age and footage of the Guin­ness Event Worlds Fastest Banjo Play­er, Gram...
pub­lished: 03 Feb 2007
au­thor: ban­jo­man22
4:24
9-Year-Old Plays Banjo on David Let­ter­man Show - Sleepy Man Banjo Boys
Now chart­ing on Bill­board! - Sleepy Man Banjo Boys 'Amer­i­ca's Music' iTunes - ...
pub­lished: 18 Jul 2011
5:00
David Let­ter­man - Steve Mar­tin's Du­el­ing Ban­jos
Steve Mar­tin plays Du­el­ing Ban­jos with the win­ner of his prize for Ex­cel­lence in Banjo and...
pub­lished: 12 Nov 2010
au­thor: CBS
3:23
Steve Mar­tin, Bela Fleck, Tony Trisch­ka Banjo HDTV The Crow
Triple banjo on David Let­ter­man 4/26/07. The song is called "the Crow" and is wr...
pub­lished: 28 Apr 2007
au­thor: gb­texas
4:57
Ras­cal Flatts - Banjo
Music video by Ras­cal Flatts per­form­ing Banjo. (C) 2012 Big Ma­chine Records, LLC....
pub­lished: 13 Mar 2012
6:07
Banjo Les­son Be­gin­ning Blue­grass Banjo - Crip­ple Creek
Full Video Here: www.​workshoprecords.​com In­cludes: Banjo Les­son in­tro­duc­ing the 5-string b...
pub­lished: 30 Nov 2006
1:43
Star Wars on a Banjo
This would be my­self play­ing the theme music from Star Wars on my 1995 Gib­son RB-3 banjo....
pub­lished: 18 Jul 2006
au­thor: safe­ty­pants
1:20
8 Year Old Jonny Miz­zone - Flint Hill Spe­cial - Sleepy Man Banjo Boys
Now chart­ing on Bill­board! - Sleepy Man Banjo Boys 'Amer­i­ca's Music' iTunes - ...
pub­lished: 21 Feb 2011
3:02
Du­el­ing Ban­jos
Ned Lu­berec­ki and Ned Lu­berec­ki per­form Du­el­ing Ban­jos for GuitarTricks.​com. Ned is an ins...
pub­lished: 09 Jan 2010
4:58
How It's Made: Ban­jos
From the Sci­ence Chan­nel's Se­ries, "How It's Made." Con­struc­tion of a ba...
pub­lished: 03 Feb 2008
au­thor: grantalewis
3:40
Ras­cal Flatts - Banjo (Lyric Ver­sion)
Music video by Ras­cal Flatts per­form­ing Banjo. (C) 2012 Big Ma­chine Records, LLC....
pub­lished: 28 Feb 2012
3:23
Moun­tain Rhythm - Du­el­ing Ban­jos
The band clowns around a bit with "Du­el­ing Ban­jos" - 'til Robert runs away w...
pub­lished: 10 Dec 2006
au­thor: michae­laiken
2:53
Super Mario Banjo
Super mario bros theme played on 6 strings banjo (aka "ban­ji­tar"). It's a ba...
pub­lished: 21 Aug 2007
au­thor: zanorg
3:31
Du­el­ing Ban­jos - Sleepy Man Banjo Boys - Re­venge of the Gui­tar
The boys prac­tice a ver­sion of Eric Weiss­berg's "Du­el­ing Ban­jos" in the Bedr...
pub­lished: 13 Mar 2012
1:17
Mean Mary play­ing banjo - Black­ber­ry Blos­som
Mean Mary play­ing Black­ber­ry Blos­som on the banjo. Taped at Chick­a­saw State Park....
pub­lished: 13 Jul 2008
au­thor: mean­mary80
16:08
To Hear Your Banjo Play - 1947
Folk mas­ter Pete Seeger nar­rates Alan Lomax's doc­u­men­tary on the evo­lu­tion and ap­pre­ci...
pub­lished: 15 Jun 2007
au­thor: weirdovideos
4:42
Lau­ris Reiniks - Banjo Laura - Of­fi­cial Music Video- Eu­ro­vi­sion LATVIA 2011 (#2)
DOWN­LOAD on iTunes: goo.​gl on doremi.​lv goo.​gl "Banjo Laura" - Music and lyrics ...
pub­lished: 06 Feb 2011
au­thor: skinier4u
39:24
Frail­ing Banjo Les­son One
In this les­son we go over tun­ing, parts of the banjo and the basic frail­ing strum. All fou...
pub­lished: 14 Jan 2007
au­thor: Do­bro33H
2:24
Du­el­ing Ban­jos
Gui­tare Bob An­tho­nioz Banjo Philippe Bour­geois...
pub­lished: 26 Aug 2009
2:14
Du­el­ing Banjo
We hope you like our ver­sion of this clas­sic tune....
pub­lished: 28 Jan 2007
au­thor: mr­greer51
1:13
Steve Mar­tin per­forms on the Grand Ole Opry
Mul­ti-tal­ent­ed co­me­di­an/actor/writ­er/mu­si­cian Steve Mar­tin makes his debut on the Grand Ol...
pub­lished: 31 May 2009
au­thor: oprylive


  • A 5-string banjo
    Creative Commons
  • Banjo Paterson Park. Another historical landmark is the cottage Rockend, where the poet Banjo Paterson lived in the 1870s and 1880s.
    Creative Commons / Bidgee
  • Rockend, where Banjo Paterson lived
    Creative Commons / Sardaka
  • Gas Turbine System Technician (Electrical) 3rd Class Johnathan Spiegel plays banjo in his work space during a break aboard USS Stockdale (DDG 106).
    US Navy / Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class James R. Evans
  • McCabe's Guitar Shop - Located at 3101 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, McCabe's is a musical instrument store that opened in 1958 specializing in acoustic and folk instruments: guitars, banjos, mandolins, dulcimers, fiddles, psalteries, bouzoukis, sitars, ouds, ethnic percussion.
    Creative Commons
  • INDIA-GODDESS-ANNAPURNA-RASH-YATRA-MELAThe King Krishna Chandra Roy of Nadia is responsible for this Rash Yatra at Nabadwip. Here Hari and Hara, Krishna & Kali are the halves of each other. Various types of images are worshipped in different pandals. They are well decorated with light and various types of Sola made ornaments and ‘Daker Saaj’. The beatings of Drums, the music of Flutes and Banjos and somewhere Mridangas and Kartals fill the air of Nabadwip. Who does not enjoy all these at a time?
    WN / Bhaskar Mallick
  • INDIA-GODDESS-ANNAPURNA-RASH-YATRA-MELAThe King Krishna Chandra Roy of Nadia is responsible for this Rash Yatra at Nabadwip. Here Hari and Hara, Krishna & Kali are the halves of each other. Various types of images are worshipped in different pandals. They are well decorated with light and various types of Sola made ornaments and ‘Daker Saaj’. The beatings of Drums, the music of Flutes and Banjos and somewhere Mridangas and Kartals fill the air of Nabadwip. Who does not enjoy all these at a time?
    WN / Bhaskar Mallick
  • INDIA-LORD-SHIVA-RASH-YATRA-MELAThe King Krishna Chandra Roy of Nadia is responsible for this Rash Yatra at Nabadwip. Here Hari and Hara, Krishna & Kali are the halves of each other. Various types of images are worshipped in different pandals. They are well decorated with light and various types of Sola made ornaments and ‘Daker Saaj’. The beatings of Drums, the music of Flutes and Banjos and somewhere Mridangas and Kartals fill the air of Nabadwip. Who does not enjoy all these at a time? This i
    WN / Bhaskar Mallick
  • INDIA-LORD-SHIVA-RASH-YATRA-MELAThe King Krishna Chandra Roy of Nadia is responsible for this Rash Yatra at Nabadwip. Here Hari and Hara, Krishna & Kali are the halves of each other. Various types of images are worshipped in different pandals. They are well decorated with light and various types of Sola made ornaments and ‘Daker Saaj’. The beatings of Drums, the music of Flutes and Banjos and somewhere Mridangas and Kartals fill the air of Nabadwip. Who does not enjoy all these at a time? This i
    WN / Bhaskar Mallick
  • INDIA-GODDESS-ANNAPURNA-RASH-YATRA-MELAThe King Krishna Chandra Roy of Nadia is responsible for this Rash Yatra at Nabadwip. Here Hari and Hara, Krishna & Kali are the halves of each other. Various types of images are worshipped in different pandals. They are well decorated with light and various types of Sola made ornaments and ‘Daker Saaj’. The beatings of Drums, the music of Flutes and Banjos and somewhere Mridangas and Kartals fill the air of Nabadwip. Who does not enjoy all these at a time?
    WN / Bhaskar Mallick
  • INDIA-GODDESS-KALI-RASH-YATRA-MELAThe King Krishna Chandra Roy of Nadia is responsible for this Rash Yatra at Nabadwip. Here Hari and Hara, Krishna & Kali are the halves of each other. Various types of images are worshipped in different pandals. They are well decorated with light and various types of Sola made ornaments and ‘Daker Saaj’. The beatings of Drums, the music of Flutes and Banjos and somewhere Mridangas and Kartals fill the air of Nabadwip. Who does not enjoy all these at a time? This
    WN / Bhaskar Mallick
  • INDIA-GODDESS-ANNAPURNA-RASH-YATRA-MELAThe King Krishna Chandra Roy of Nadia is responsible for this Rash Yatra at Nabadwip. Here Hari and Hara, Krishna & Kali are the halves of each other. Various types of images are worshipped in different pandals. They are well decorated with light and various types of Sola made ornaments and ‘Daker Saaj’. The beatings of Drums, the music of Flutes and Banjos and somewhere Mridangas and Kartals fill the air of Nabadwip. Who does not enjoy all these at a time?
    WN / Bhaskar Mallick
  • INDIA-GODDESS-IMMERSION-RASH-YATRA-MELAThe King Krishna Chandra Roy of Nadia is responsible for this Rash Yatra at Nabadwip. Here Hari and Hara, Krishna & Kali are the halves of each other. Various types of images are worshipped in different pandals. They are well decorated with light and various types of Sola made ornaments and ‘Daker Saaj’. The beatings of Drums, the music of Flutes and Banjos and somewhere Mridangas and Kartals fill the air of Nabadwip. Who does not enjoy all these at a time?
    WN / Bhaskar Mallick
  • INDIA-GODDESS-IMMERSION-RASH-YATRA-MELAThe King Krishna Chandra Roy of Nadia is responsible for this Rash Yatra at Nabadwip. Here Hari and Hara, Krishna & Kali are the halves of each other. Various types of images are worshipped in different pandals. They are well decorated with light and various types of Sola made ornaments and ‘Daker Saaj’. The beatings of Drums, the music of Flutes and Banjos and somewhere Mridangas and Kartals fill the air of Nabadwip. Who does not enjoy all these at a time?
    WN / Bhaskar Mallick
  • INDIA-GODDESS-IMMERSION-RASH-YATRA-MELAThe King Krishna Chandra Roy of Nadia is responsible for this Rash Yatra at Nabadwip. Here Hari and Hara, Krishna & Kali are the halves of each other. Various types of images are worshipped in different pandals. They are well decorated with light and various types of Sola made ornaments and ‘Daker Saaj’. The beatings of Drums, the music of Flutes and Banjos and somewhere Mridangas and Kartals fill the air of Nabadwip. Who does not enjoy all these at a time?
    WN / Bhaskar Mallick
  • INDIA-GODDESS-IMMERSION-RASH-YATRA-MELAThe King Krishna Chandra Roy of Nadia is responsible for this Rash Yatra at Nabadwip. Here Hari and Hara, Krishna & Kali are the halves of each other. Various types of images are worshipped in different pandals. They are well decorated with light and various types of Sola made ornaments and ‘Daker Saaj’. The beatings of Drums, the music of Flutes and Banjos and somewhere Mridangas and Kartals fill the air of Nabadwip. Who does not enjoy all these at a time?
    WN / Bhaskar Mallick
  • INDIA-GODDESS-IMMERSION-RASH-YATRA-MELAThe King Krishna Chandra Roy of Nadia is responsible for this Rash Yatra at Nabadwip. Here Hari and Hara, Krishna & Kali are the halves of each other. Various types of images are worshipped in different pandals. They are well decorated with light and various types of Sola made ornaments and ‘Daker Saaj’. The beatings of Drums, the music of Flutes and Banjos and somewhere Mridangas and Kartals fill the air of Nabadwip. Who does not enjoy all these at a time?
    WN / Bhaskar Mallick
  • INDIA-GODDESS-IMMERSION-RASH-YATRA-MELAThe King Krishna Chandra Roy of Nadia is responsible for this Rash Yatra at Nabadwip. Here Hari and Hara, Krishna & Kali are the halves of each other. Various types of images are worshipped in different pandals. They are well decorated with light and various types of Sola made ornaments and ‘Daker Saaj’. The beatings of Drums, the music of Flutes and Banjos and somewhere Mridangas and Kartals fill the air of Nabadwip. Who does not enjoy all these at a time?
    WN / Bhaskar Mallick
  • INDIA-GODDESS-IMMERSION-RASH-YATRA-MELAThe King Krishna Chandra Roy of Nadia is responsible for this Rash Yatra at Nabadwip. Here Hari and Hara, Krishna & Kali are the halves of each other. Various types of images are worshipped in different pandals. They are well decorated with light and various types of Sola made ornaments and ‘Daker Saaj’. The beatings of Drums, the music of Flutes and Banjos and somewhere Mridangas and Kartals fill the air of Nabadwip. Who does not enjoy all these at a time?
    WN / Bhaskar Mallick
  • INDIA-GODDESS-IMMERSION-RASH-YATRA-MELAThe King Krishna Chandra Roy of Nadia is responsible for this Rash Yatra at Nabadwip. Here Hari and Hara, Krishna & Kali are the halves of each other. Various types of images are worshipped in different pandals. They are well decorated with light and various types of Sola made ornaments and ‘Daker Saaj’. The beatings of Drums, the music of Flutes and Banjos and somewhere Mridangas and Kartals fill the air of Nabadwip. Who does not enjoy all these at a time?
    WN / Bhaskar Mallick
  • INDIA-GODDESS-IMMERSION-RASH-YATRA-MELAThe King Krishna Chandra Roy of Nadia is responsible for this Rash Yatra at Nabadwip. Here Hari and Hara, Krishna & Kali are the halves of each other. Various types of images are worshipped in different pandals. They are well decorated with light and various types of Sola made ornaments and ‘Daker Saaj’. The beatings of Drums, the music of Flutes and Banjos and somewhere Mridangas and Kartals fill the air of Nabadwip. Who does not enjoy all these at a time?
    WN / Bhaskar Mallick
  • INDIA-ANNAPURNA-RASH-YATRA-MELAThe King Krishna Chandra Roy of Nadia is responsible for this Rash Yatra at Nabadwip. Here Hari and Hara, Krishna & Kali are the halves of each other. Various types of images are worshipped in different pandals. They are well decorated with light and various types of Sola made ornaments and ‘Daker Saaj’. The beatings of Drums, the music of Flutes and Banjos and somewhere Mridangas and Kartals fill the air of Nabadwip. Who does not enjoy all these at a time? This is
    WN / Bhaskar Mallick
  • INDIA-LORD-SHIVA-RASH-YATRA-MELAThe King Krishna Chandra Roy of Nadia is responsible for this Rash Yatra at Nabadwip. Here Hari and Hara, Krishna & Kali are the halves of each other. Various types of images are worshipped in different pandals. They are well decorated with light and various types of Sola made ornaments and ‘Daker Saaj’. The beatings of Drums, the music of Flutes and Banjos and somewhere Mridangas and Kartals fill the air of Nabadwip. Who does not enjoy all these at a time? This i
    WN / Bhaskar Mallick
  • INDIA-GODDESS-KALI-RASH-YATRA-MELAThe King Krishna Chandra Roy of Nadia is responsible for this Rash Yatra at Nabadwip. Here Hari and Hara, Krishna & Kali are the halves of each other. Various types of images are worshipped in different pandals. They are well decorated with light and various types of Sola made ornaments and ‘Daker Saaj’. The beatings of Drums, the music of Flutes and Banjos and somewhere Mridangas and Kartals fill the air of Nabadwip. Who does not enjoy all these at a time? This
    WN / Bhaskar Mallick
  • INDIA-LORD-KRISHNA-RASH-YATRA-MELAThe King Krishna Chandra Roy of Nadia is responsible for this Rash Yatra at Nabadwip. Here Hari and Hara, Krishna & Kali are the halves of each other. Various types of images are worshipped in different pandals. They are well decorated with light and various types of Sola made ornaments and ‘Daker Saaj’. The beatings of Drums, the music of Flutes and Banjos and somewhere Mridangas and Kartals fill the air of Nabadwip. Who does not enjoy all these at a time? This
    WN / Bhaskar Mallick
  • INDIA-GODDESS-KALI-RASH-YATRA-MELAThe King Krishna Chandra Roy of Nadia is responsible for this Rash Yatra at Nabadwip. Here Hari and Hara, Krishna & Kali are the halves of each other. Various types of images are worshipped in different pandals. They are well decorated with light and various types of Sola made ornaments and ‘Daker Saaj’. The beatings of Drums, the music of Flutes and Banjos and somewhere Mridangas and Kartals fill the air of Nabadwip. Who does not enjoy all these at a time? This
    WN / Bhaskar Mallick
  • INDIA-GODDESS-KALI-RASH-YATRA-MELAThe King Krishna Chandra Roy of Nadia is responsible for this Rash Yatra at Nabadwip. Here Hari and Hara, Krishna & Kali are the halves of each other. Various types of images are worshipped in different pandals. They are well decorated with light and various types of Sola made ornaments and ‘Daker Saaj’. The beatings of Drums, the music of Flutes and Banjos and somewhere Mridangas and Kartals fill the air of Nabadwip. Who does not enjoy all these at a time? This
    WN / Bhaskar Mallick
  • INDIA-GODDESS-KALI-RASH-YATRA-MELAThe King Krishna Chandra Roy of Nadia is responsible for this Rash Yatra at Nabadwip. Here Hari and Hara, Krishna & Kali are the halves of each other. Various types of images are worshipped in different pandals. They are well decorated with light and various types of Sola made ornaments and ‘Daker Saaj’. The beatings of Drums, the music of Flutes and Banjos and somewhere Mridangas and Kartals fill the air of Nabadwip. Who does not enjoy all these at a time? This
    WN / Bhaskar Mallick
  • Sufjan Stevens playing banjo
    Creative Commons / Joe Lencioni
  • Sufjan Stevens playing banjo edit2
    Creative Commons / Joe Lencioni
  • NZ Herald Scientists have discovered a frightening weapon used by one of Australia's deadliest prehistoric predators to attack its prey. Banjo, or Australovenator wintonensis, became the most complete example of a carnivorous dinosaur discovered in...
  • Belfast Telegraph Ashley Banjo has said he's looking for contestants on the next series of Got To Dance to surprise him. This year's series of the Sky1 HD show was won by Irish dancing hip-hop act Prodijig,...
  • IMDb Today's (Jun 23) celebrity pictures see Ireland's most successful boyband...
  • Yahoo Daily News New Deering Goodtime Rare Bird Alert Banjo Package Spring Valley, CA (PRWEB) June 12, 2012 Deering Banjo Company introduces the latest in Steve Martin inspired Goodtime banjos. The new Rare Bird Alert Goodtime banjos are now available and include a full accessory package. Included in the accessory...
  • Bloomberg Friday in the city calls for rooftop drinks. Upstairs at the Kimberly Hotel has a refreshing seasonal mix of watermelon, fresh pineapple and vodka, called the Electrolyte. There’s also the Chrysler, made from cognac and champagne which would be nice to sip while viewing its gleaming Art Deco...
  • BBC News A worker at Dounreay is making banjos using wood salvaged from buildings at the nuclear power plant in Caithness. Neil Parkin has made four of the musical instruments so far and has started work on a fifth. Some of...
  • Crunch Facebook Apple Google Android Disrupt NYC MisssomethingatDisrupt?Watchthevideoshere! apps Comment Banjo For iOS Becomes More Photo-Friendly Thanks To Update Chris Velazco posted 10 mins ago Comments View Staff Page Follow me on twitter...
  • Yahoo Daily News Many new banjo players are being misled by "false economy low prices" of very cheap banjos from non-specialist retailers who know very little about the instrument, says the founder of the UK's leading banjo shop Banjos Direct in a new guide to buying your first banjo. (PRWEB UK) 31 May...
  • The Independent Intensely modest, he possessed a warm, clear baritone voice that exuded sincerity and had an engaging, folksy stage presence that would see him punctuating his performances with stories and witty asides. More importantly, he brought integrity and a clean, crisp quality to his playing that endeared...
  • more news on: Banjo
    Banjo
    BluegrassBanjo.jpg
    A 5-string bluegrass banjo
    String instrument
    Hornbostel–Sachs classification 321.322-5
    (Composite chordophone sounded by the bare fingers)
    Developed 18th century
    Playing range
    Range banjo.png
    (a standard tuned four-string banjo)

    The banjo is a four, five or six stringed instrument with a piece of plastic or animal skin stretched over a circular frame. Simpler forms of the instrument were fashioned by Africans in Colonial America, adapted from several African instruments of similar design.[1]

    The banjo is usually associated with country, folk, Irish traditional music and bluegrass music. Historically, the banjo occupied a central place in African American traditional music, before becoming popular in the minstrel shows of the 19th century. In fact, slaves influenced early development of the music that became country and bluegrass, through the introduction of the banjo and through the innovation of musical techniques for both the banjo and fiddle.[2][3][4] The banjo, with the fiddle, is a mainstay of American old-time music.

    Contents

    History[link]

    There are several theories concerning the origin of the name banjo. It may derive from the Kimbundu term mbanza.[5] Some etymologists believe it comes from a dialectal pronunciation of the Portuguese "bandore" or from an early anglicisation of the Spanish word "bandurria", though other research suggests that it may come from a Senegambian term for a bamboo stick formerly used for the instrument's neck.[6]

    Various instruments in Africa, chief among them the kora, feature a skin head and gourd (or similar shell) body.[7] The African instruments differ from early Afro American banjos in that the necks do not possess a Western-style fingerboard and tuning pegs, instead having stick necks, with strings attached to the neck with loops for tuning.[7] Banjos with fingerboards and tuning pegs are known from the Caribbean as early as the 17th Century.[7] 18th and early 19th century writers transcribed the name of these instruments variously as "bangie", "banza", "banjer" and "banjar". Instruments similar to the banjo (e.g., the Japanese shamisen, Persian tar and Moroccan sintir) have been played in many countries. Another likely ancestor of the banjo is the akonting, a spike folk lute played by the Jola tribe of Senegambia, and the ubaw-akwala of the Igbo.[8] Similar instruments include the xalam of Senegal and the ngoni of the Wassoulou region including parts of Mali, Guinea, and the Ivory Coast as well as a larger variation of the ngoni developed in Moroccan by sub-Saharan Africans known as the Gimbri .[citation needed]

    Early, African-influenced banjos were built around a gourd body and a wooden stick neck. These instruments had varying numbers of strings, though often including some form of drone. The five-string banjo was popularized by Joel Walker Sweeney, an American minstrel performer from Appomattox Court House, Virginia.[9]

    Helmholtz notation
    Note: This article uses Helmholtz pitch notation to define banjo tunings.

    In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage.[9] His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new banjo was at first tuned dGDF#A, though by the 1890s this had been transposed up to gCGBD. Banjos were introduced in Britain by Sweeney's group, the American Virginia Minstrels, in the 1840s, and became very popular in music halls.[10]

    Technique[link]

    Forward roll[11] About this sound Play .
    File:Banjo drone in Yankee Doodle.png
    Melody to "Yankee Doodle", on the banjo, without and with drone notes[12] About this sound Play without and About this sound with drone .

    Two techniques closely associated with the banjo are rolls and drones. Rolls are, "right hand [accompanimental] fingering pattern[s] consisting of eight (eighth) notes [subdividing each measure]".[11] "Drone notes are quick little notes [typically eighth notes] that are always played on the 5th (short) string and are used to fill in around the melody notes [typically eighth notes]..."[12] These techniques are both idiomatic to the banjo in all styles, and their sound is characteristic of bluegrass.

    Modern banjo[link]

    The modern banjo comes in a variety of forms, including four- and five-string versions. A six-string version, tuned and played similarly to a guitar, has gained popularity. In almost all of its forms, banjo playing is characterized by a fast arpeggiated plucking, though there are many different playing styles.

    The body, or "pot", of a modern banjo typically consists of a circular rim (generally made of wood, though metal was also common on older banjos) and a tensioned head, similar to a drum head. Traditionally the head was made from animal skin, but today is often made of various synthetic materials. Most modern banjos also have a metal "tone ring" assembly that helps further clarify and project the sound, however many older banjos do not include a tone ring.

    The banjo is usually tuned with friction tuning pegs or planetary gear tuners, rather than the worm gear machine head used on guitars. Frets have become standard since the late 19th century, though fretless banjos are still manufactured and played by those wishing to execute glissando or otherwise achieve the sound and feeling of early playing styles.

    Modern banjos are typically strung with metal strings. Usually the fourth string is wound with either steel or bronze-phosphor alloy. Some players may string their banjos with nylon or gut strings to achieve a more mellow, old-time tone.

    Open-back and resonator[link]

    Some banjos have a separate resonator plate on the back of the pot, designed to project the sound forward and give the instrument more volume. This type of banjo is usually used in bluegrass music, though resonator banjos are played by players of all styles, and are also used in old-time as a substitute for electric amplification when playing in large venues.

    Open-back banjos generally have a mellower tone and weigh less than resonator banjos. They usually have a different setup than a resonator banjo, often with a higher string action.[citation needed]

    Five-string banjo[link]

    Typical Banjo.

    The modern 5-string banjo is a variation on Sweeney's original design. The fifth string is usually the same gauge as the first, but starts from the fifth fret, three quarters the length of the other strings. (The long-necked Vega Pete Seeger model starts the fifth string from the eighth fret.) This lets the string be tuned to a higher open pitch than possible for the full-length strings. The short fifth string means that, unlike many string instruments, strings pitches on a five string banjo do not go in order from lowest to highest across the fingerboard. Instead, from low to high, they go fourth, third, second, first, and fifth. This is a form of reentrant tuning.

    The short fifth string presents special problems for a capo. For small changes (going up or down one or two semitones, for example) it is possible simply to re-tune the fifth string. Otherwise, various devices called fifth string capos can effectively shorten the string. Many banjo players use model railroad spikes or titanium spikes (usually installed at the seventh fret and sometimes at others), that they hook the string under to press it down on the fret.

    File:Banjo range.png
    Range of five-string banjo tuned g'cgbd'.

    Many tunings are used for the five-string banjo. Probably the most common, particularly in bluegrass, is the Open-G tuning g'dgbd'. In earlier times, the tuning g'cgbd' was commonly used instead. Other tunings found in old-time music include double C (g'cgc'd'), "sawmill" (g'dgc'd') also called "mountain modal" and open D (f#'df#ad'.) These tunings are often taken up a tone, either by tuning up or using a capo. For example "old-time D" tuning (a'dad'e') - commonly reached by tuning up from double C - is often played to accompany fiddle tunes in the key of D and Open-A (a'eac#'e') is usually used for playing tunes in the key of A.

    While the size of the five string banjo is largely standardized, smaller and larger sizes are available including the long-neck or Seeger neck variation designed by Pete Seeger. Petite variations on the 5-string banjo have been available since the 1890s. S.S. Stewart introduced the banjeaurine, tuned one fourth above a standard five-string. Piccolo banjos are smaller, and tuned one octave above a standard banjo. Between these sizes and the standard there is the A-scale banjo, which is two frets shorter and usually tuned one full step above standard tunings. A "Stealth" brand banjo is a modern 5 string banjo with a 25.5" scale length, similar to a guitar.

    A five-string banjo.

    American old-time music typically uses the five-string open back banjo. It is played in a number of different styles, the most common being clawhammer or frailing, characterized by the use of a downward rather than upward motion when striking the strings with a fingernail. Frailing techniques use the thumb to catch the fifth string for a drone after each strum or twice in each action ("double thumbing"), or to pick out additional melody notes in what is known as "drop-thumb." Pete Seeger popularised a folk style by combining clawhammer with "up picking", usually without the use of fingerpicks. Another common style of old-time banjo playing is Fingerpicking banjo or classic banjo. This style is based upon parlor-style guitar.[13]

    Bluegrass music, which uses the five-string resonator banjo almost exclusively, is played in several common styles. These include Scruggs style, named after Earl Scruggs; melodic, or Keith style, named for Bill Keith; and three-finger style with single string work, also called Reno style after Don Reno. In these styles the emphasis is on arpeggiated figures played in a continuous eighth-note rhythm, known as rolls. All of these styles are typically played with fingerpicks.

    The five-string banjo has been used in classical music since before the turn of the 20th century. Contemporary and modern works have been written or arranged for the instrument by Buck Trent, Béla Fleck, Tony Trischka, Steve Martin, Tim Lake, George Crumb, Modest Mouse, Jo Kondo, Paul Elwood, Hans Werner Henze (notably in his Sixth Symphony), Daniel Mason of Hank Williams III's Damn Band, Beck, the Water Tower Bucket Boys, J.P. Pickens, Peggy Honeywell, Norfolk & Western, Putnam Smith, Iron & Wine, The Avett Brothers, and Sufjan Stevens.

    The first 5-string electric solid-body banjo was developed by Charles (Buck) Wilburn Trent, Harold "Shot" Jackson, and David Jackson in 1960.

    Four-string banjos[link]

    Plectrum banjo from Gold Tone
    Cello banjo from Gold Tone

    The plectrum banjo is a standard banjo without the short drone string. It usually has 22 frets on the neck and a scale length of 26 to 28 inches, and was originally tuned cgbd'. It can also be tuned like the top four strings of a guitar, which is known as "Chicago tuning." As the name suggests, it is usually played with a guitar-style pick (that is, a single one held between thumb and forefinger), unlike the five-string banjo, which is either played with a thumbpick and two fingerpicks, or with bare fingers. The plectrum banjo evolved out of the five-string banjo, to cater to styles of music involving strummed chords. The plectrum is also featured in many early jazz recordings and arrangements.

    Four-string banjo
    File:Item-it-250f-(irish-tenor)-1419 lg.jpg
    Irish tenor banjo from Gold Tone

    The shorter-necked, tenor banjo is also typically played with a plectrum. It became a popular instrument after about 1910. Early models used for melodic picking typically had 17 frets on the neck and a scale length of 19½ to 21½ inches. By the mid-1920s, when the instrument was used primarily for strummed chordal accompaniment, 19-fret necks with a scale length of 21¾ to 23 inches became standard. The usual tuning is cgd'a', like a viola or mandola, but some players (particularly in Irish traditional music) tune it Gdae′ like an octave mandolin, which lets the banjoist duplicate fiddle and mandolin fingering. The invention and/or popularisation of this tuning was usually attributed to the late Barney McKenna, banjoist with The Dubliners[citation needed].

    The tenor banjo was a common rhythm instrument in early 20th-century dance bands. Its volume and timbre suited early jazz (and jazz-influenced popular music styles) and could both compete with other instruments (such as brass instruments and saxophones) and be heard clearly on acoustic recordings. George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, in Ferde Grofe's original jazz orchestra arrangement, includes tenor banjo, with widely-spaced chords not easily playable on plectrum banjo in its conventional tuning(s). With development of the archtop and electric guitar, the tenor banjo largely disappeared from jazz and popular music, though keeping its place in traditional "Dixieland" jazz.

    Rarer than either the tenor or plectrum banjo is the cello banjo. It's normally tuned CGda, one octave below the tenor banjo like the cello and mandocello. It played a role in banjo orchestras in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Bass banjos have been produced in both upright bass formats and with standard, horizontally-carried banjo bodies.

    Four-string banjos, both plectrum and tenor, can be used strictly for chordal accompaniment (as in early jazz), strictly for single string melody playing (as in Irish traditional music), in "chord melody" style (a succession of chords are played in which the highest notes carry the melody), in tremolo style (both on chords and single strings) and a mixed technique called duo style, which combines single string tremolo and rhythm chords. Fingerstyle opportunities of tenor banjo retuned to open G tuning dgd'g' or lower open D tuning Adad' (three finger picking, frailing) are explored by Mirek Patek.

    Eddie Peabody was the greatest proponent of the plectrum banjo in the early to mid twentieth century. Johnny Baier, Bill Lowrey, Steve Peterson, and Buddy Wachter are prominent contemporary four-string banjoists currently working professionally. Harry Reser, who also played plectrum banjo, was arguably the best tenor banjoist of the same era and wrote a large number of works for tenor banjo as well as instructional material. He was well known in the banjo player community up until his death in 1965. His single string and "chord melody" technique and ability arguably set the "high mark" that many subsequent tenor players endeavor to attain. Other prominent professional tenor performers were Mike Pingitore and Roy Smeck. Smeck was an influential performer on many fretted instruments, including the four-string banjo. He also wrote a number of solos and instructional books. Prominent contemporary tenor players are Don Vappie, Ken Aoki, Steve Di Bonaventura, David Bandrowski, the late Narvin Kimball of Preservation Hall Jazz Band fame, and Charlie Tagawa. Tagawa has been the music director of the Peninsula Banjo Band, one of the most prominent banjo bands in the U.S., since 1966. He was a student and devotee of Harry Reser. In the United Kingdom, Frank Lawes was one of the most prolific composers of four string banjo music.

    The four-string banjo is used from time to time in musical theater. Examples include: Hello, Dolly!, Mame, Chicago, Cabaret, Oklahoma!, Half a Sixpence, Annie, Barnum, The Threepenny Opera, Monty Python's Spamalot, and countless others. Joe Raposo had used it variably. in the imaginative 7-piece orchestration for the long-running TV show Sesame Street, and has sometimes had it overdubbed with itself or an electric guitar. The banjo is still (albeit rarely) in use in the show's arrangement currently.

    Six-string banjos[link]

    Old 6-string zither banjo

    The 6-string banjo (note, these still have the short thumb string with re-entrant tuning) began as a British innovation by William Temlet, one of England's earliest banjo makers. He opened a shop in London in 1846, and sold banjos with closed backs and up to 7 strings. He marketed these as "zither" Banjos from his 1869 patent. American Alfred Davis Cammeyer (1862–1949), a young violinist-turned banjo concert player, devised the 5/6-string Zither banjo around 1880. It had a wood resonator and metal "wire" strings (the 1st and 2nd melody strings and 5th "thumb" string. The 3rd melody string was gut and the 4th was silk covered) as well as frets and guitar-style tuning machines.

    A Zither banjo usually has a closed back and sides with the drum body (usually metal) and skin tensioning system suspended inside the wooden rim/back, the neck and string tailpiece was mounted on the wooden outer rim, the short string usually led through a tube in the neck so that the tuning peg could be mounted on the peg head. They were often made by builders who used guitar tuners that came in banks of three and so if 5 stringed had a redundant tuner. The banjos could also be somewhat easily converted over to a six string banjo. British opera diva Adelina Patti advised Cammeyer that the zither-banjo might be popular with English audiences (which was certainly true, as it was invented there), and Cammeyer went to London in 1888. Due to his virtuoso playing he helped show that banjos could be used for more sophisticated music than was normally played by blackface minstrels, he was soon performing for London society, where he met Sir Arthur Sullivan, who recommended that Cammeyer progress from writing banjo arrangements of music to composing his own music. (Interesting to note that, supposedly unbeknownst to Cammeyer, William Temlett had patented a 7-string closed back banjo in 1869, and was already marketing it as a "zither-banjo.")

    In the late 1890s Banjo maker F.C Wilkes developed a 6-string version of the banjo with the 6th string "tunnelled" through the neck. It is arguable that Arthur O. Windsor had much influence in creating and perfecting the Zither banjo and creating the open-back banjo[14] along with other modifications to the banjo type instruments, such as the non-solid attached resonator that banjos' today have (Gibson lays claim to this modification on the American Continent). Windsor claims to be the first in creating the hollow neck banjo with a truss rod, and he buried the 5th string in the neck after the 5th fret so to put the tuning peg on the peg-head rather than in the neck. Gibson lays claim to perfecting the banjo with the tone rings.

    The six-string or banjitar was the instrument of the early jazz great Johnny St. Cyr, as well as of jazzmen Django Reinhardt, Danny Barker, Papa Charlie Jackson and Clancy Hayes, as well as the blues and gospel singer The Reverend Gary Davis. Nowadays, it sometimes appears under such names as guitanjo, guitjo, ganjo, banjitar, or bantar. Today, musicians as diverse as Keith Urban, Rod Stewart, Taj Mahal, Joe Satriani, David Hidalgo and Doc Watson play the 6-String guitar banjo.

    Rhythm guitarist Dave Day of 1960's proto-punks The Monks replaced his guitar with a six-string, gut-strung guitar banjo on which he played guitar chords. This instrument sounds much more metallic, scratchy and wiry than a standard electric guitar, due to its amplification via a small microphone stuck inside the banjo's body.

    Banjo hybrids and variants[link]

    A number of hybrid instruments exist, crossing the banjo with other stringed instruments. Most of these use the body of a banjo, often with a resonator, and the neck of the other instrument. Examples include the banjo mandolin, the Banjolin, bandolin, and the banjo ukulele or banjolele, most famously played by the English comedian George Formby.[15] These were especially popular in the early decades of the twentieth century, and were probably a result of a desire either to allow players of other instruments to jump on the banjo bandwagon at the height of its popularity, or to get the natural amplification benefits of the banjo resonator in an age before electric amplification.

    Instruments using the five-string banjo neck on a wooden body (for example, that of a bouzouki or resonator guitar) have also been made, such as the banjola. A 20th-Century Turkish instrument very similar to the banjo is called the cümbüş.

    See also[link]

    References[link]

    1. ^ Bluegrass Music: The Roots." IBMA. Retrieved on 2006-08-25.
    2. ^ Winship, David."The African American Music Tradition in Country Music." BCMA, Birthplace of Country Music Alliance. Retrieved 02-08-2007. Archived February 4, 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
    3. ^ Conway, Cecelia (2005). African Banjo Echoes in Appalachia. The University of Tennessee Press. p. 424. 
    4. ^ "Old-time (oldtimey) Music What is it?." TML, A Traditional Music Library. Retrieved 02-08-2007.
    5. ^ http://www.thebanjoguru.com/music/276-how-did-banjos-get-their-name/
    6. ^ http://web.comhem.se/abzu/akonting/akont.html
    7. ^ a b c Pestcoe, Shlomoe and Adams, Greg C., Banjo Roots Research: Exploring the Banjo’s African American Origins & West African Heritage, 2010. Essay can be found online at [1].
    8. ^ Chambers, Douglas B. (2009). Murder at Montpelier: Ibo Africans in Virginia. Univ. Press of Mississippi. p. 180. ISBN 1-60473-246-6. http://books.google.com/books?id=vqpoxEl_0_4C&pg=PA180. 
    9. ^ a b Metro Voloshin, The Banjo, from Its Roots to the Ragtime Era: An Essay and Bibliography Music Reference Services Quarterly, Vol. 6(3) 1998.
    10. ^ Information on the banjo and development of the Zither-banjo.
    11. ^ a b Davis, Janet (2002). [Mel Bay's] Back-Up Banjo, p.54. ISBN 0-7866-6525-4. Emphasis original.
    12. ^ a b Erbsen, Wayne (2004). Bluegrass Banjo for the Complete Ignoramus, p.13. ISBN 1-883206-44-8.
    13. ^ Trischka, Tony (1992). Banjo Songbook, p.20. ISBN 0-8256-0197-5.
    14. ^ http://www.zither-banjo.org/pages/windsornew.htm
    15. ^ "George Formbys Little Strad banjolele up for sale". The Times (London). 2008-05-30. http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article4029395.ece. 

    Further reading[link]

    Banjo history[link]

    • Conway, Cecelia (1995). African Banjo Echoes in Appalachia: A Study of Folk Traditions, University of Tennessee Press. Paper: ISBN 0-87049-893-2; cloth: ISBN 0-87049-892-4. A study of the influence of African Americans on banjo playing throughout U.S. history.
    • Gura, Philip F. and James F. Bollman (1999). America's Instrument: The Banjo in the Nineteenth Century. The University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 0-8078-2484-4. The definitive history of the banjo, focusing on the instrument's development in the 1800s.
    • Katonah Museum of Art (2003). The Birth of the Banjo. Katonah Museum of Art, Katonah, New York. ISBN 0-915171-64-3.
    • Linn, Karen (1994). That Half-Barbaric Twang: The Banjo in American Popular Culture. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0-252-06433-X. Scholarly cultural history of the banjo, focusing on how its image has evolved over the years.
    • Tsumura, Akira (1984). Banjos: The Tsumura Collection. Kodansha International Ltd. ISBN 0-87011-605-3. An illustrated history of the banjo featuring the world's premier collection.
    • Webb, Robert Lloyd (1996). Ring the Banjar!. 2nd edition. Centerstream Publishing. ISBN 1-57424-016-1. A short history of the banjo, with pictures from an exhibition at the MIT Museum.

    External links[link]

    http://wn.com/Banjo



    David Letterman

    Letterman performing on his show in June 2011.
    Pseudonym Earl Hofert
    Born (1947-04-12) April 12, 1947 (age 65)
    Indianapolis, Indiana, United States[1]
    Medium Stand-up, talk show
    Nationality American
    Years active 1974–present
    Genres Observational comedy, surreal humor, deadpan
    Subject(s) Self-deprecation, everyday life
    Influences Steve Allen,[citation needed] Johnny Carson,[2] Jack Paar,[citation needed] Paul Dixon[3]
    Influenced Jimmy Kimmel, Jim Gaffigan, Jon Stewart, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon
    Spouse Michelle Cook (1969–1977)
    Regina Lasko (2009–present)
    Domestic partner(s) Regina Lasko (1986–2009)
    Notable works and roles Host of The David Letterman Show (NBC)
    Host of Late Night with David Letterman (NBC)
    Host of Late Show with David Letterman (CBS)
    Signature David Letterman Autograph.svg
    Website CBS.com/latenight/lateshow
    Emmy Awards
    Outstanding Host or Hostess in a Variety Series
    1981 The David Letterman Show
    Outstanding Individual Achievement — Writers
    1981 The David Letterman Show
    Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program
    1984 Late Night with David Letterman
    1985 Late Night with David Letterman
    1986 Late Night with David Letterman
    1987 Late Night with David Letterman
    Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series
    1994 Late Show with David Letterman
    American Comedy Awards
    Funniest Male Performer in a TV Special (Leading or Supporting) Network, Cable or Syndication
    1989 Late Night with David Letterman
    1995 Late Show with David Letterman: Video Special
    Funniest Male Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) Network, Cable or Syndication
    1994 Late Show with David Letterman
    2001 Late Show with David Letterman

    David Michael Letterman (born April 12, 1947) is an American television host and comedian.[1] He hosts the late night television talk show, Late Show with David Letterman, broadcast on CBS. Letterman has been a fixture on late night television since the 1982 debut of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC. Letterman recently surpassed friend and mentor Johnny Carson for having the longest late-night hosting career in the United States of America.[4]

    Letterman is also a television and film producer. His company Worldwide Pants produces his show as well as its network follow-up The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Worldwide Pants has also produced several prime-time comedies, the most successful of which was Everybody Loves Raymond, currently in syndication.

    In 1996, David Letterman was ranked #45 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time.[5]

    Contents

    Early life and career[link]

    Letterman was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. His father, Harry Joseph Letterman (April 1915 – February 1973),[6] was a florist of British descent; his mother Dorothy Letterman (née Hofert, now Dorothy Mengering), a Presbyterian church secretary of German descent, is an occasional figure on the show, usually at holidays and birthdays.

    Letterman lived on the north side of Indianapolis (Broad Ripple area), not far from Speedway, IN, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and he enjoyed collecting model cars, including racers.[7] In 2000, he told an interviewer for Esquire that, while growing up, he admired his father's ability to tell jokes and be the life of the party. Harry Joseph Letterman survived a heart attack at age 36, when David was a young boy. The fear of losing his father was constantly with Letterman as he grew up.[8] The elder Letterman died of a second heart attack[9] at age 57.

    Letterman attended his hometown's Broad Ripple High School at the same time as Marilyn Tucker (future wife of Dan Quayle) and worked as a stock boy at the local Atlas supermarket.[10] According to the Ball State Daily News, he originally had wanted to attend Indiana University, but his grades weren't good enough, so he decided to attend Ball State University, in Muncie, Indiana.[11] He is a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, and he graduated from what was then the Department of Radio and Television, in 1969. A self-described average student, Letterman endowed a scholarship for what he called "C students" at Ball State.[12]

    Though he registered for the draft and passed his physical after graduating from college, he was not drafted for service in Vietnam due to receiving a draft lottery number of 352 (out of 365).[13]

    Letterman began his broadcasting career as an announcer and newscaster at the college's student-run radio stationWBST—a 10-watt campus station which now is part of Indiana Public Radio.[14] He was fired for treating classical music with irreverence.[14]

    Letterman then became involved with the founding of another campus station—WAGO-AM 570 (now WWHI, 91.3).[15]

    Letterman credits Paul Dixon—host of the Paul Dixon Show, a Cincinnati-based talk show also shown in Indianapolis while Letterman was growing up—for inspiring his choice of career:[3]

    "I was just out of college [in 1969], and I really didn't know what I wanted to do. And then all of a sudden I saw him doing it [on TV]. And I thought: That's really what I want to do!"

    Weatherman[link]

    Letterman began his career as a radio talk show host on WNTS (AM), and on Indianapolis television station WLWI (now called WTHR) as an anchor, and weatherman. He received some attention for his unpredictable on-air behavior, which included congratulating a tropical storm for being upgraded to a hurricane and predicting hail stones "the size of canned hams."[16] He would also occasionally report the weather and the day's very high and low temps for fictitious cities ("Eight inches of snow in Bingree and surrounding areas.") while on another occasion saying that a state border had been erased.[17] ("From space you can see the border between Indiana and Ohio has been erased. I'm not in favor of this.") He also starred in a local kiddie show, made wisecracks as host of a late night TV show called "Freeze-Dried Movies" (he once acted out a scene from "Godzilla" using plastic dinosaurs),[18] and hosted a talk show that aired early on Saturday mornings called "Clover Power,"[19] in which he interviewed 4-H members about their projects.[20]

    In 1971, Letterman appeared as a pit road reporter for ABC Sports' tape-delayed coverage of the Indianapolis 500.[21] David initially is introduced as Chris Economaki in his job as a corner reporter. Letterman interviews Mario Andretti who has just crashed out of the race and asks him a question about traffic on the course.

    Move to Los Angeles[link]

    In 1975, encouraged by his then-wife Michelle and several of his Sigma Chi fraternity brothers, Letterman moved to Los Angeles, California, with hope of becoming a comedy writer.[22] He started off by writing material for comedian Jimmie Walker.[23] He also began performing stand-up comedy at The Comedy Store, a proving ground for unknown comics.

    In the summer of 1977, Letterman was a writer and regular on the six-week summer series The Starland Vocal Band Show, broadcast on CBS.[24] He hosted a 1977 pilot for a game show entitled The Riddlers[25][26] that was never picked up and co-starred in the Barry Levinson-produced comedy special Peeping Times that aired in January 1978. Later that year, Letterman was a cast member on Mary Tyler Moore's variety show, Mary.[27] Letterman made a guest appearance on Mork & Mindy (as a parody of EST leader Werner Erhard[28]) and appearances on game shows such as The $20,000 Pyramid,[29] The Gong Show, Password Plus[30] and Liar's Club, as well as talk shows such as The Mike Douglas Show.[31] He was also screen tested for the lead role in the 1980 film Airplane!, a role that eventually went to Robert Hays.[32]

    His dry, sarcastic humor caught the attention of scouts for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and Letterman was soon a regular guest on the show. Letterman became a favorite of Carson's and was a regular guest host for the show beginning in 1978. Letterman credits Carson as the person who influenced his career the most.[2]

    NBC[link]

    Letterman at the 38th Primetime Emmy Awards in 1986

    Morning show[link]

    On June 23, 1980, Letterman was given his own morning comedy show on NBC, The David Letterman Show. It was originally 90 minutes long, but was shortened to 60 minutes in August 1980.[33] The show was a critical success, winning two Emmy Awards, but was a ratings disappointment and was canceled in October 1980.

    [edit] Late Night with David Letterman

    NBC kept Letterman under contract to try him in a different time slot. Late Night with David Letterman debuted February 1, 1982; the first guest on the first show was Bill Murray.[34] Murray also guested on January 31, 2012 – 30 years later. The show ran Monday through Thursday at 12:30 a.m. Eastern Time, immediately following The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (a Friday night broadcast was added in June 1987). It was seen as being edgy and unpredictable, and soon developed a cult following (particularly among college students). Letterman's reputation as an acerbic interviewer was borne out in verbal sparring matches with Cher[35] (who even called him an asshole on the show), Shirley MacLaine,[36] Charles Grodin, and Madonna. The show also featured comedy segments and running characters, in a style heavily influenced by the 1950s and 1960s programs of Steve Allen.[37] Although Ernie Kovacs is often cited as an influence on the show,[38] Letterman has denied this.[2]

    The show often featured quirky, genre-mocking regular features, including "Stupid Pet Tricks[39] ", dropping various objects off the roof of a five-story building,[40] demonstrations of unorthodox clothing (such as suits made of Alka-Seltzer,[41] Velcro[42] and suet), a recurring Top 10 list, the Monkey-Cam[43] (and the Audience Cam), and a facetious letter-answering segment.[44] The Top 10 list, several "Film[s] by My Dog Bob" in which a camera was mounted on Letterman's own dog[45] (often with comic results), Stupid Human Tricks,[46] Small Town News,[47] and Stupid Pet Tricks[48] (which had its origins on Letterman's morning show) all eventually moved with Letterman to CBS.

    Other memorable moments included Letterman using a bullhorn to interrupt a live interview on The Today Show, announcing that he was the NBC president while not wearing any pants; interrupting Al Roker on WNBC-TV's broadcast of Live at Five by walking into their studio (which occupied the same floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza as Letterman's studio); and staging "elevator races", complete with commentary by NBC Sports' Bob Costas. In one infamous appearance, in 1982, Andy Kaufman (who was already wearing a neck brace) appeared to be slapped and knocked to the ground by professional wrestler Jerry Lawler (though Lawler and Kaufman's friend Bob Zmuda later revealed that the event was staged.)[49] In another memorable exchange, sex expert Dr. Ruth Westheimer included cucumbers in a list of handy sex objects that women could find at home. The following night, guest Ted Koppel asked Letterman "May I insert something here?" and Dave responded "OK, as long as it's not a cucumber."[citation needed]

    [edit] Late Show with David Letterman

    In 1992, Johnny Carson retired, and many fans believed that Letterman would become host of The Tonight Show. When NBC instead gave the job to Jay Leno, Letterman departed NBC to host his own late-night show on CBS, opposite The Tonight Show at 11:30 p.m., called the Late Show with David Letterman. The new show debuted on August 30, 1993 and was taped at the historic Ed Sullivan Theater, where Ed Sullivan taped his eponymous variety series from 1948 to 1971. For Letterman's arrival, CBS spent $8 million in renovations.[50] In addition to that cost, CBS also signed Letterman to a lucrative three-year, $14 million/year contract,[51] doubling his Late Night salary. The total cost for everything (renovations, negotiation right paid to NBC, signing Letterman, announcer Bill Wendell, Shaffer, the writers and the band) was over $140 million.

    But while the expectation was that Letterman would retain his unique style and sense of humor with the move, Late Show was not an exact replica of his old NBC program. Recognizing the more formal mood (and wider audience) of his new time slot and studio, Letterman eschewed his trademark blazer with khaki pants and white sneakers wardrobe combination in favor of expensive shoes, tailored suits and light-colored socks. The monologue was lengthened and Paul Shaffer and the "World's Most Dangerous Band" followed Letterman to CBS, but they added a brass section and were rebranded the "CBS Orchestra" as a short monologue and a small band were mandated by Carson while Letterman occupied the 12:30 slot. Additionally, because of intellectual property disagreements, Letterman was unable to import many of his Late Night segments verbatim,[52] but he sidestepped this problem by simply renaming them (the "Top Ten List" became the "Late Show Top Ten", "Viewer Mail" became the "CBS Mailbag", etc.)

    Popularity[link]

    The main competitor of The Late Show is NBC's The Tonight Show, which was hosted by Jay Leno for nearly 16 years, but from June 1, 2009, to January 22, 2010, was hosted by Conan O'Brien. In 1993 and 1994, The Late Show consistently gained higher ratings than The Tonight Show. But in 1995, ratings dipped and Leno's show consistently beat Letterman's in the ratings from the time that Hugh Grant came on Leno's show after Grant's arrest for soliciting a prostitute.;[53] Leno typically attracted about 5 million nightly viewers between 1999 and 2009. The Late Show lost nearly half its audience during its competition with Leno, attracting 7.1 million viewers nightly in its 1993–94 season and about 3.8 million per night as of Leno's departure in 2009.[54] In the final months of his first stint as host of The Tonight Show, Leno beat Letterman in the ratings by a 1.3 million viewer margin (5.2 million to 3.9 million), and Nightline and The Late Show were virtually tied.[55] Once O'Brien took over Tonight, however, Letterman closed the gap in the ratings.[56][57][58] O'Brien initially drove the median age of Tonight Show viewers from 55 to 45, with most older viewers opting to watch The Late Show instead.[59]

    Following Leno's return to The Tonight Show, however, Leno has regained his lead.[60]

    Letterman's shows have garnered both critical and industry praise, receiving 67 Emmy Award nominations, winning 12 times in his first 20 years in late night television. From 1993–2009, Letterman ranked higher than Leno in the annual Harris Poll of Nation's Favorite TV Personality 12 times.[61] For example, in 2003 and 2004 Letterman ranked second in that poll, behind only Oprah Winfrey, a year that Leno was ranked fifth.[62] Leno was higher than Letterman on that poll three times during the same period, in 1998, 2007, and 2008.[61]

    Hosting the Academy Awards[link]

    On March 27, 1995, Letterman acted as the host for the 67th Academy Awards ceremony. Critics blasted[63] Letterman for what they deemed a poor hosting of the Oscars, noting that his irreverent style undermined the traditional importance and glamor of the event.[citation needed] In a joke about their unusual names (inspired by a similar joke by Woody Allen), he started off by introducing Uma Thurman to Oprah Winfrey, and then both of them to Keanu Reeves: "Oprah...Uma. Uma...Oprah," "Have you kids met Keanu?"[64] This and many of his other jokes fell flat.[citation needed] Although Letterman attracted the highest ratings to the annual telecast since 1983, many felt that the bad publicity garnered by Letterman's hosting caused a decline in the Late Show's ratings.[65]

    Letterman recycled the apparent debacle into a long-running gag. On his first show after the Oscars, he joked, "Looking back, I had no idea that thing was being televised." He lampooned his stint two years later, during Billy Crystal's opening Oscar skit, which also parodied the plane-crashing scenes from that year's chief nominated film, The English Patient.

    For years afterward, Letterman recounted his hosting the Oscars, although the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences continued to hold Letterman in high regard and they had invited him to host the Oscars again.[66][67] On September 7, 2010, he made an appearance on the premiere of the 14th season of The View, and confirmed that he had been considered for hosting again.

    Heart surgery hiatus[link]

    On January 14, 2000, a routine check-up revealed that an artery in Letterman's heart was severely obstructed. He was rushed to emergency surgery for a quintuple bypass.[68]

    During the initial weeks of his recovery, reruns of the Late Show were shown and introduced by friends of Letterman including Drew Barrymore,[58] Ray Romano, Robin Williams, Bonnie Hunt, Megan Mullally, Bill Murray, Regis Philbin, Charles Grodin, Nathan Lane, Julia Roberts,[58] Bruce Willis, Jerry Seinfeld, Martin Short, Steven Seagal, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Danny DeVito, Steve Martin, and Sarah Jessica Parker.

    Subsequently, while still recovering from surgery, Letterman revived the late night tradition that had virtually disappeared on network television during the 1990s of 'guest hosts' by allowing Bill Cosby, Kathie Lee Gifford (recommended by Regis Philbin, who was asked first but had no time in his schedule), Dana Carvey, Janeane Garofalo, and others to host new episodes of The Late Show. Cosby—the show's first guest host—refused to sit at Letterman's desk out of respect, using the couch instead; Garofalo followed suit, utilizing a set of grade-school desks instead.

    Upon his return to the show on February 21, 2000, Letterman brought all of the doctors and nurses on stage who had participated in his surgery and recovery (with extra teasing of a nurse who had given him bed baths—"This woman has seen me naked!"),[69] including Dr. O. Wayne Isom and physician Louis Aronne, who frequently appears on the show. In a show of emotion, Letterman was nearly in tears as he thanked the health care team with the words "These are the people who saved my life!" The episode earned an Emmy nomination. For a number of episodes, Letterman continued to crack jokes about his bypass, including saying, "Bypass surgery: it's when doctors surgically create new blood flow to your heart. A bypass is what happened to me when I didn't get The Tonight Show! It's a whole different thing." In a later running gag he lobbied his home state of Indiana to rename the freeway circling Indianapolis (I-465) "The David Letterman Bypass." He also featured a montage of faux news coverage of his bypass surgery, which included a clip of Dave's heart for sale on the Home Shopping Network. Letterman became friends with his doctors and nurses. In 2008, a Rolling Stone interview stated "he hosted a doctor and nurse who'd helped perform the emergency quintuple-bypass heart surgery that saved his life in 2000. 'These are people who were complete strangers when they opened my chest,' he says. 'And now, eight years later, they're among my best friends.' "[4]

    Additionally, Letterman invited the band Foo Fighters to play "Everlong",[70] introducing them as "my favorite band, playing my favorite song."[71] During a later Foo Fighters appearance, Letterman said that Foo Fighters had been in the middle of a South American tour which they canceled to come play on his comeback episode.

    Letterman again handed over the reins of the show to several guest hosts (including Bill Cosby, Brad Garrett, Elvis Costello, John McEnroe, Vince Vaughn, Will Ferrell, Bonnie Hunt, Luke Wilson and bandleader Paul Shaffer) in February 2003, when he was diagnosed with a severe case of shingles. Later that year, Letterman made regular use of guest hosts—including Tom Arnold and Kelsey Grammer—for new shows broadcast on Fridays. In March 2007, Adam Sandler—who had been scheduled to be the lead guest—served as a guest host while Letterman was ill with a stomach virus.[72]

    Re-signing with CBS[link]

    Letterman hosting President Barack Obama at Late Show with David Letterman, September 2009

    In March 2002, as Letterman's contract with CBS neared expiration, ABC offered him the time slot for long-running news program Nightline with Ted Koppel. Letterman was interested as he believed he could never match Leno's ratings at CBS due to Letterman's complaint of weaker lead-ins from the network's late local news programs, but was reluctant to replace Koppel.[73] Letterman addressed his decision to re-sign on the air, stating that he was content at CBS and that he had great respect for Koppel.

    On December 4, 2006, CBS revealed that Letterman signed a new contract to host The Late Show with David Letterman through the fall of 2010. "I'm thrilled to be continuing on at CBS," said Letterman. "At my age you really don't want to have to learn a new commute."[74] Letterman further joked about the subject by pulling up his right pants leg, revealing a tattoo, presumably temporary, of the ABC logo.

    "Thirteen years ago, David Letterman put CBS late night on the map and in the process became one of the defining icons of our network," said Leslie Moonves, president and CEO of CBS Corporation. "His presence on our air is an ongoing source of pride, and the creativity and imagination that the Late Show puts forth every night is an ongoing display of the highest quality entertainment. We are truly honored that one of the most revered and talented entertainers of our time will continue to call CBS 'home.'"[75]

    According to a 2007 article in Forbes magazine, Letterman earned $40 million a year.[76] A 2009 article in The New York Times, however, said his salary was estimated at $32 million per year.[77] In June 2009, Letterman's Worldwide Pants and CBS reached agreement to continue the Late Show until at least August 2012. The previous contract had been set to expire in 2010, and the two-year extension is shorter than the typical three-year contract period negotiated in the past.[77] Worldwide Pants agreed to lower its fee for the show, though it had remained a "solid moneymaker for CBS" under the previous contract.[77]

    On the February 3, 2011, edition of the Late Show, during an interview with Howard Stern, Letterman said he would continue to do his talk show for "maybe two years, I think."[78]

    2007–2008 writers' strike[link]

    The Late Show went off air for eight weeks during the months of November and December because of the Writers Guild of America strike. Letterman's production company—Worldwide Pants—was the first company to make an individual agreement with the WGA,[79] thus allowing his show to come back on air on January 2, 2008. On his first episode since being off air, he surprised the viewing audience with his newly grown beard, which signified solidarity with the strike.[80] His beard was shaved off during the show on January 7, 2008.

    Controversy over jokes about daughter of Sarah Palin[link]

    On June 8 and June 9, 2009, Letterman told a sexually-themed joke on his show each night about a daughter of Sarah Palin.[81] Palin was in New York City at the time with her fourteen year-old daughter, Willow, and the jokes were said to be aimed at the daughter, never named, who was visiting New York City with her mother.[81] Palin criticized the jokes, saying in a statement posted on the internet that "I doubt he'd ever dare make such comments about anyone else's daughter," and "laughter incited by sexually-perverted comments made by a 62-year-old male celebrity aimed at a 14-year-old girl" is "disgusting."[82] On June 10, Letterman responded to the controversy on his show by stating that the jokes were meant to be about Palin's eighteen year-old daughter, Bristol, whose pregnancy as an unmarried teenager had caused controversy during the 2008 Presidential election, and that "(t)hese are not jokes made about (Palin's) 14-year-old daughter. I would never, never make jokes about raping or having sex of any description with a 14-year-old girl."[82] His remarks didn't put an end to the public criticism, however, with the National Organization for Women, who supported Palin in a statement, noting he had given only "something of an apology."[81] With the controversy not subsiding, Letterman addressed the issue again on his June 15 show, faulting himself for the error and apologizing "especially to the two daughters involved, Bristol and Willow, and also to the governor and her family and everybody else who was outraged by the joke."[83]

    Letterman and Carson[link]

    In spite of Johnny Carson's clear intention to pass his title to Letterman, NBC selected Jay Leno to host The Tonight Show after Carson's departure.[84] Letterman maintained a close relationship with Carson through his break with NBC. Three years after he left for CBS, HBO produced a made-for-television movie called The Late Shift, based on a book by New York Times reporter Bill Carter, chronicling the battle between Letterman and Leno for the coveted Tonight Show hosting spot. Letterman would mock the film for months afterward, specifically on how the actor playing him, John Michael Higgins, did not resemble him in the least.[citation needed]

    Carson later made a few cameo appearances as a guest on Letterman's show. Carson's final television appearance came May 13, 1994, on a Late Show episode taped in Los Angeles, when he made a surprise appearance during a 'Top 10 list' segment. The audience went wild as Letterman stood up and proudly invited Carson to sit at his desk. The applause was so protracted that Carson was unable to say anything, and he finally returned backstage as the applause continued (it was later explained that Carson had laryngitis, though Carson can be heard talking to Letterman during his appearance).

    In early 2005, it was revealed that Carson still kept up with current events and late-night TV right up to his death that year, and that he occasionally sent jokes to Letterman, who used these jokes in his monologue; according to CBS senior vice president Peter Lassally (a onetime producer for both men), Carson got "a big kick out of it."[85] Letterman would do a characteristic Johnny Carson golf swing after delivering one of Carson's jokes. In a tribute to Carson, all of the opening monologue jokes during the first show following Carson's death were written by Carson.

    Lassally also claimed that Carson had always believed Letterman, not Leno, to be his "rightful successor."[86] Letterman also frequently employs some of Carson's trademark bits on his show, including "Carnac the Magnificent" (with Paul Shaffer as Carnac), "Stump the Band" and the "Week in Review."

    Letterman and Oprah Winfrey[link]

    Letterman and Oprah had a 16 year feud which according to Letterman started when he and his girlfriend decided to skip out on a bill, tricking the waiter into thinking Oprah agreed to pay it.[87]

    On September 10, 2007, Letterman made his first appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show at Madison Square Garden in New York City. He shared pictures of his son and live-in girlfriend. The so-called feud between Letterman and Winfrey apparently ended in 2005 when Winfrey appeared on CBS's Late Show with David Letterman on December 2, in an event Letterman jokingly referred to as "the Super Bowl of Love".[88] Winfrey had previously appeared on Letterman's show when he was hosting NBC's Late Night on May 2, 1989.

    Winfrey and Letterman also appeared together in a Late Show promo that aired during CBS's coverage of Super Bowl XLI in February 2007, with the two sitting next to each other on the couch watching the game. Since the game was played between the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears, the Indianapolis-born Letterman wears a Peyton Manning jersey, while Winfrey—who tapes her show in Chicago—is in a Brian Urlacher jersey.[89] Three years later, during CBS's coverage of Super Bowl XLIV, the two appeared again, this time with Winfrey sitting on a couch between Letterman and Jay Leno. The appearance was Letterman's idea: Leno flew to New York City in an NBC corporate jet, sneaking into the Ed Sullivan Theater during the Late Show's February 4 taping wearing a disguise, meeting Winfrey and Letterman at a living room set created in the theater's balcony where they taped their promo.[90]

    Response to Internet death threat[link]

    On August 17, 2011, it was reported that a Muslim militant had posted a death threat against Letterman on a website frequented by Al-Qaeda supporters, calling on American Muslims to kill Letterman for making a joke about the death of an Al-Qaeda leader killed in a drone strike in Pakistan in June 2011.[91] In his show on August 22, Letterman joked about the threat, saying "State Department authorities are looking into this. They're not taking this lightly. They're looking into it. They're questioning, they're interrogating, there's an electronic trail—but everybody knows it's Leno."[92]

    Appearances in other media[link]

    Letterman appeared in issue 239 of the Marvel comic book The Avengers, in which the title characters are guests on Late Night.[93] A parody of Letterman, named "David Endochrine," is gassed to death along with his bandleader named "Paul" and their audience in Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns.[94]

    Letterman appeared in the pilot episode of the short-lived 1986 series "Coach Toast", and he appears with a bag over his head as a guest on Bonnie Hunt's ca. 1993 sitcom The Building. He also appears in The Simpsons, as himself in a couch gag when The Simpsons find themselves (and the couch) in "Late Night with David Letterman." He had a cameo in the feature film Cabin Boy, with Chris Elliott, who worked as a writer on Letterman's show. In this and other appearances, Letterman is listed in the credits as "Earl Hofert", the name of Letterman's maternal grandfather. He also appeared as himself in the Howard Stern biopic Private Parts as well as the 1999 Andy Kaufman biopic Man on the Moon, in a few episodes of Garry Shandling's 1990s TV series The Larry Sanders Show and in "The Abstinence", a 1996 episode of the sitcom Seinfeld. Letterman also made an uncredited appearance in the first episode of the third season of the sitcom The Nanny.

    Letterman provided vocals for the Warren Zevon song "Hit Somebody" from My Ride's Here,[95] and provided the voice for Butt-head's father in the 1996 animated film Beavis and Butt-head Do America.

    In 2010, a documentary Dying to Do Letterman was released directed by Joke Fincioen and Biagio Messina featuring Steve Mazan, a stand up comic, who has cancer and wants to appear on the Letterman Show. The film won Best Documentary and Jury Awards at the Cinequest Film Festival.[96] Steve Mazan published a same-titled book (full title, Dying to Do Letterman: Turning Someday into Today) about his own saga.[97]

    Known for rarely giving television interviews, Letterman appeared as an exclusive guest on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight on May 29, 2012. He was interviewed for one full hour by a long-time friend and fellow television host Regis Philbin, who guest hosted the show during Piers Morgan's leave during that week.

    Other projects[link]

    Worldwide Pants[link]

    Letterman started his own production company—Worldwide Pants Incorporated—which produced his show and several others, including Everybody Loves Raymond, The Late Late Show, and several critically acclaimed, but short-lived television series for Bonnie Hunt. Worldwide Pants also produced the dramedy program Ed, which aired on NBC from 2000–2004. It was Letterman's first association with NBC since he left the network in 1993. During Ed's run, the star, Tom Cavanagh, appeared as a guest on The Late Show several times.

    In 2005, Worldwide Pants produced its first feature film, Strangers with Candy, which was a prequel to the Comedy Central TV series of the same title. In 2007, Worldwide Pants produced the ABC comedy series, Knights of Prosperity.

    Worldwide Pants made significant news in December 2007 when it was announced that Letterman's company had independently negotiated its own contract with the Writers Guild of America, East, thus allowing Letterman, Craig Ferguson, and their writers to return to work, while the union continued its strike against production companies, networks and studios who had not reached an agreement.

    Record company[link]

    In late April 2010, several music industry websites reported that Letterman started a record label named Clear Entertainment/C.E. Music and signed his first artist, Runner Runner.[98][99] Lucy Walsh announced on her MySpace page that she has been signed by Letterman and Clear Entertainment/C.E. Music and is working on her album.

    Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing[link]

    Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLLR) is an auto racing team that currently races in the American Le Mans Series, and part-time in the Indy Racing League. It is co-owned by 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal, businessman Mike Lanigan, and Letterman himself, and is based in Hilliard, Ohio. The team won the 2004 Indianapolis 500 with driver Buddy Rice. Letterman was a pit reporter for ABC in the 1971 Indianapolis 500.[21]

    American Foundation for Courtesy and Grooming[link]

    American Foundation for Courtesy and Grooming is Letterman's private foundation. Through it, Letterman has donated millions of dollars to charities and other non-profits in Indiana and Montana, celebrity-affiliated organizations such as Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, universities such as Ball State, and other organizations such as the American Cancer Society, Salvation Army, and Doctors Without Borders.

    Personal life[link]

    Marriages and long-term relationships[link]

    In 1969, Letterman married Michelle Cook; the marriage ended by divorce in 1977.[100] He also had a long-term relationship with former head writer and producer on Late Night, Merrill Markoe. Markoe was the mind behind several Late Night staples, such as "Stupid Pet/Human Tricks".

    Letterman has a son, Harry Joseph Letterman (born on November 3, 2003), with Regina Lasko. Harry is named after Letterman's father.[101] In 2005, police discovered a plot to kidnap Harry Letterman and ransom him for $5 million. Kelly Frank, a house painter who had worked for Letterman, was charged in the conspiracy.[102]

    Letterman and Lasko, who had been together since 1986, wed on March 19, 2009, during a quiet courthouse civil ceremony in Choteau, Montana, where he purchased a ranch in 1999.[103][104][105] Letterman announced the marriage during the taping of his March 23 show, shortly after congratulating Bruce Willis for getting married the previous week. Letterman told the audience he nearly missed the ceremony because his truck became stuck in mud two miles from their house.[106] The family resides in North Salem, New York, on a 108-acre (44 ha) estate.[107]

    Stalking incident[link]

    Beginning in May 1988, Letterman was stalked by Margaret Mary Ray, a woman suffering from schizophrenia. She once stole his Porsche, repeatedly broke into his house, and camped out on his tennis court. Her exploits drew national attention, and Letterman occasionally joked about her behavior in his show, although never mentioning her name. After she committed suicide in 1998, Letterman told the New York Times that he had had great compassion for her,[108] and publicly expressed sympathy.[109]

    [edit] Extortion attempt and revelation of affairs

    On his October 1, 2009, show, Letterman announced that he had been the victim of an extortion attempt by someone threatening to reveal that he had had sex with several of his female employees, and at the same time, he confirmed that he had had such relationships.[110] He stated that three weeks earlier (on September 9, 2009) someone had left a package in his car with material he said he would write into a screenplay and a book if Letterman did not pay him $2 million. Letterman said that he contacted the Manhattan District Attorney's office, ultimately cooperating with them to conduct a sting operation involving giving the man a phony check.[111] Subsequently, Robert J. "Joe" Halderman, a producer of the CBS true crime journalism series 48 Hours, was arrested after trying to deposit the check. He was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury and pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempted grand larceny on October 2, 2009.[112] Eventually, on March 9, 2010, he pleaded guilty to this same felony and served a 6-month jail sentence, followed by probation and community service.[113]

    A central figure in the case and one of the women Letterman had had a sexual relationship with was his longtime personal assistant Stephanie Birkitt, who often appeared with him on his show. She had also worked for 48 Hours.[114] Until a month prior to the revelations, she had shared a residence with Halderman,[115] who allegedly had copied her personal diary and used it, along with private emails, in the blackmail package.[116]

    On October 3, 2009, a former CBS employee, Holly Hester, announced that she and Letterman had engaged in a year-long "secret" affair in the early 1990s while she was his intern and a student at New York University.[117]

    In the days following the initial announcement of the affairs and the arrest, several prominent women, including Kathie Lee Gifford, co-host of NBC's Today Show, and NBC news anchor Ann Curry questioned whether Letterman's affairs with subordinates created an unfair working environment.[118] A spokesman for Worldwide Pants said that the company's sexual harassment policy did not prohibit sexual relationships between managers and employees.[119] According to business news reporter Eve Tahmincioglu, "CBS suppliers are supposed to follow the company's business conduct policies" and the CBS 2008 Business Conduct Statement states that "If a consenting romantic or sexual relationship between a supervisor and a direct or indirect subordinate should develop, CBS requires the supervisor to disclose this information to his or her Company's Human Resources Department..."[120]

    On October 5, 2009, Letterman devoted a segment of his show to a public apology to his wife and staff.[121][122] Three days later, Worldwide Pants announced that Birkitt had been placed on a "paid leave of absence" from the Late Show.[123] On October 15, CBS News announced that the company's Chief Investigative Correspondent, Armen Keteyian, had been assigned to conduct an "in-depth investigation" into Halderman's blackmail of Letterman.[124]

    Awards and honors[link]

    Awards[link]

    In his capacities as either a writer, producer, performer, or as part of a writing team, Letterman is among the most nominated people in Emmy Award history with 52 nominations, winning two Daytime Emmys and five Primetime Emmys since 1981. His nomination record is second only to producer Jac Venza, who holds the record for the most Emmy nominations for an individual (57). Letterman has been nominated every year since 1984, when he first appeared on late night television as the host of Late Night with David Letterman. Additionally, he has won four American Comedy Awards. Letterman was the first recipient of the Johnny Carson Award for Comedic Excellence at The Comedy Awards in 2011.

    David Letterman Communication and Media Building.

    David Letterman Communication and Media Building[link]

    On September 7, 2007, Letterman visited his alma mater, Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, for the dedication of a communications facility named in his honor for his dedication to the university throughout his career as a comedian. The $21 million, 75,000-square-foot (7,000 m2) David Letterman Communication and Media Building opened for the 2007 fall semester. It features state-of-the-art recording equipment and facilities. Thousands of Ball State students, faculty, and local residents welcomed Letterman back to Indiana.[125] Letterman's emotional speech touched on his struggles as a college student and his late father, and also included the "top ten good things about having your name on a building", finishing with, "if reasonable people can put my name on a $21 million building, anything is possible."[126]

    At the same time, Letterman also received a Sagamore of the Wabash award given by Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, which recognizes distinguished service to the state of Indiana.[125]

    References[link]

    1. ^ a b "David Letterman Biography". The New York Times. http://movies.nytimes.com/person/954441/David-Letterman/biography. Retrieved 2009-02-03. 
    2. ^ a b c An interview with David Letterman (TV-series). Charlie Rose, WNET. 1996-02-26. http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/6364. Retrieved 2008-11-14. 
    3. ^ a b Kiesewetter, John (1997-02-24). "Local show inspired young Letterman". The Cincinnati Enquirer. http://www.enquirer.com/editions/1997/02/24/loc_letterman.html. Retrieved 2007-05-23. 
    4. ^ a b "Dave at Peace: The Rolling Stone Interview". Archived from the original on 2010-04-07. http://web.archive.org/web/20100407022925/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/22791344/dave_at_peace_the_rolling_stone_interview/print. Retrieved 2011-09-05. 
    5. ^ "Special Collectors' Issue: 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time". TV Guide (December 14–20). 1996. 
    6. ^ Record of Harry Letterman, Social Security Death Index
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    31. ^ IMDB, broadcast April 3, 1979.
    32. ^ Jon Davison, Jim Abrahams, Jerry Zucker, David Zucker. Airplane! audio commentary (DVD). Paramount Pictures. Event occurs at 9:50–10:00. ISBN 0-7921-6688-4. 
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    93. ^ The Avengers meet David Letterman reviewed at misterkitty.org
    94. ^ Review of The Dark Knight Returns at Batman-on-film.com
    95. ^ Warren Zevon : Hit Somebody (The Hockey Song) from Artistdirect
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    98. ^ Runner Runner sign to EMI
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    106. ^ Snead, Elizabeth (2009-03-23). "David Letterman (finally) gets hitched to Regina Lasko". Los Angeles Times. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedishrag/2009/03/ok-theres-somet.html. Retrieved 2009-03-26. 
    107. ^ Dave's domain from the March 22, 2007 "Gimme Shelter" column in the New York Post
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    110. ^ Gold, Matea (October 2, 2009). "David Letterman on extortion attempt: 'I felt menaced by this'". Los Angeles Times. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2009/10/david-letterman-on-extortion-attempt-i-felt-menaced-by-this.html. 
    111. ^ Martinez, Edecio (October 2, 2009). "Robert Joe Halderman, 48 Hours Producer, Named in David Letterman Sex Extortion Plot". CBSnews.com. http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/10/02/crimesider/entry5357903.shtml?tag=cbsnewsCrimesiderArea.0. 
    112. ^ Honan, Edith (September 2, 2009). "Suspect in Letterman extortion pleads not guilty". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE5910GR20091002. Retrieved 2009-10-02. 
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    118. ^ "Will women viewers turn away from Letterman?". Associated Press. October 4, 2009. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/33167148/ns/today-entertainment/t/will-women-viewers-turn-away-letterman/. Retrieved 2009-10-04. 
    119. ^ Gold, Matea; Collins, Scott (October 3, 2009). "David Letterman affair is no joke". Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-et-letterman3-2009oct03,0,257832,full.story. Retrieved 2009-10-04. "'We have a written policy in our employee manual that covers harassment,' the spokesman said in a statement. 'It is circulated to every employee every year. Dave is not in violation of our policy and no one has ever raised a complaint against him.'" 
    120. ^ Tahmincioglu, Eve (October 4, 2009). "Sleeping with the boss often leads to trouble: Policies on workplace romances aim to limit legal liabilities". MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33146450/ns/business-careers/. Retrieved 2009-10-04. "If a consenting romantic or sexual relationship between a supervisor and a direct or indirect subordinate should develop, CBS requires the supervisor to disclose this information to his or her Company's Human Resources Department to ensure that there are no issues of actual or apparent favoritism, conflict of interest, sexual harassment, or any other negative impact on others in the work environment." 
    121. ^ "Letterman apologizes to wife on Monday's show: Late-night host says Regina Lasko has been 'horribly hurt' by his behavior". Associated Press. MSNBC. October 5, 2009-. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33184320/ns/entertainment-television/. Retrieved 2009-10-05. 
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    External links[link]

    Media offices
    First Host of Late Night
    Feb. 1, 1982 – June 25, 1993
    Succeeded by
    Conan O'Brien
    First Host of The Late Show
    Aug. 30, 1993 – present
    Incumbent
    Preceded by
    Whoopi Goldberg
    Host of the Academy Awards
    1995
    Succeeded by
    Whoopi Goldberg

    http://wn.com/David_Letterman



    Steve Martin

    Martin in April 2011
    Birth name Stephen Glenn Martin
    Born (1945-08-14) August 14, 1945 (age 66)
    Waco, Texas, United States
    Medium Concert, film, recordings, television, books
    Nationality American
    Years active 1967–present
    Genres Surreal humor, Musical comedy, physical comedy, sketch comedy, Wit/word play
    Music: bluegrass
    Influences British television, Red Skelton, Jerry Lewis, Jack Benny, Laurel and Hardy, Wally Boag[1]
    Influenced Judd Apatow, Will Arnett, Louis C.K., Stephen Colbert,[2] Eddie Izzard, Patton Oswalt,[3] Lucy Porter, Sarah Silverman, Jon Stewart
    Spouse Victoria Tennant (1986–1994)[4]
    Anne Stringfield (2007–present)
    Signature SteveMartin.png
    Website www.stevemartin.com
    Emmy Awards
    Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy, Variety or Music
    1969 The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
    Grammy Awards
    Best Comedy Album
    1978 Let's Get Small
    1979 A Wild and Crazy Guy
    Best Country Instrumental Performance
    2002 Foggy Mountain Breakdown
    Best Bluegrass Album
    2009 The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo
    American Comedy Awards
    Lifetime Achievement Award in Comedy
    2000 Lifetime Achievement
    NYFCC Award for Best Actor
    All of Me (1984)

    Stephen Glenn "Steve" Martin (born August 14, 1945) is an American actor, comedian, author, playwright, producer, musician and composer. Martin came to public notice as a writer for the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and later became a frequent guest on The Tonight Show. In the 1970s, Martin performed his offbeat, absurdist comedy routines before packed houses on national tours. In 2004, Comedy Central[5] ranked Martin at sixth place in a list of the 100 greatest stand-up comics.

    Since the 1980s, having branched away from stand-up comedy, Martin has become a successful actor in both comedic and dramatic roles, as well as an author, playwright, pianist, and banjo player, eventually earning Emmy, Grammy, and American Comedy awards, among other honors.

    Contents

    Early life[link]

    Martin was born in Waco, Texas,[6] the son of Mary Lee (née Stewart) and Glenn Vernon Martin, a real estate salesman and aspiring actor.[4][7] Martin was raised in Inglewood, California, and then later in Garden Grove, California, in a Baptist family.[8] Martin was a cheerleader of Garden Grove High School.[9] One of his earliest memories is of seeing his father, as an extra, serving drinks onstage at the Call Board Theatre on Melrose Place. During World War II, in England, Martin's father had appeared in a production of Our Town with Raymond Massey. Years later, he would write to Massey for help in Steve's fledgling career, but would receive no reply. Expressing his affection through gifts of cars, bikes, etc., Martin's father was stern, and not emotionally open to his son.[10] He was proud but critical, with Martin later recalling that in his teens his feelings for his father were mostly ones of hatred.[11] Martin's first job was at Disneyland, selling guidebooks on weekends and full-time during the summer school break. That lasted for three years (1955–1958). During his free time he frequented the Main Street Magic shop, where tricks were demonstrated to potential customers.[10] By 1960, he had mastered several of the tricks and illusions, and took a paying job there in August. There he perfected his talents for magic, juggling, and creating balloon animals, frequently performing for tips.[12] In his authorized biography, close friend Morris Walker suggests that Martin could "be described most accurately as an agnostic [...] he rarely went to church and was never involved in organized religion of his own volition".[13]

    Comedy[link]

    After high school graduation, Martin attended Santa Ana Junior College, taking classes in drama and English poetry. In his free time, he teamed up with friend and Garden Grove High School classmate Kathy Westmoreland to participate in comedies and other productions at the Bird Cage Theatre. He joined a comedy troupe at Knott's Berry Farm.[10] Later, he met budding actress Stormie Sherk, and they developed comedy routines and became romantically involved. Sherk's influence caused Martin to apply to the California State University, Long Beach, for enrollment with a major in Philosophy.[10] Stormie enrolled at UCLA, about an hour's drive north, and the distance eventually caused them to lead separate lives.[14]

    Inspired by his philosophy classes, Martin considered becoming a professor instead of an actor-comedian. His time at college changed his life. "It changed what I believe and what I think about everything. I majored in philosophy. Something about non-sequiturs appealed to me. In philosophy, I started studying logic, and they were talking about cause and effect, and you start to realize, 'Hey, there is no cause and effect! There is no logic! There is no anything!' Then it gets real easy to write this stuff, because all you have to do is twist everything hard—you twist the punch line, you twist the non sequitur so hard away from the things that set it up".[15] Martin recalls wondering in a psychology class "What if there were no punch lines? What if there were no indicators? What if I created tension and never released it? What if I headed for a climax, but all I delivered was an anticlimax? What would the audience do with all that tension? Theoretically, it would have to come out sometime. But if I kept denying them the formality of a punch line, the audience would eventually pick their own place to laugh, essentially out of desperation."[16] Martin periodically spoofed his philosophy studies in his 1970s stand-up act, comparing philosophy with studying geology. "If you're studying geology, which is all facts, as soon as you get out of school you forget it all, but philosophy you remember just enough to screw you up for the rest of your life."[17]

    In 1967, Martin transferred to UCLA and switched his major to theater. While attending college, he appeared in an episode of The Dating Game. Martin began working local clubs at night, to mixed notices, and at twenty-one he dropped out of college.[18]

    Career[link]

    Early career – stand-up[link]

    Steve Martin, circa 1977

    In 1967, his former girlfriend Nina Goldblatt, a dancer on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, helped Martin land a writing job with the show by submitting his work to head writer Mason Williams.[19] Williams initially paid Martin out of his own pocket. Along with the other writers for the show, Martin won an Emmy Award[20] in 1969, aged 23.[10] He also wrote for John Denver (a neighbor of his in Aspen, Colorado, at one point), The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, and The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour. Martin's first TV appearance was on The Steve Allen Show in 1969. He says: "[I] appeared on The Virginia Graham Show, circa 1970. I looked grotesque. I had a hairdo like a helmet, which I blow-dried to a puffy bouffant, for reasons I no longer understand. I wore a frock coat and a silk shirt, and my delivery was mannered, slow and self-aware. I had absolutely no authority. After reviewing the show, I was depressed for a week."[21] During these years his roommates included comedian Gary Mule Deer and singer/guitarist Michael Johnson.[22] Martin opened for groups such as The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Carpenters, and Toto. He appeared at San Francisco's The Boarding House, among other venues. He continued to write, earning an Emmy nomination for his work on Van Dyke and Company in 1976.

    In the mid-1970s, Martin made frequent appearances as a stand-up comedian on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.,[21] and on The Gong Show, HBO's On Location and NBC's Saturday Night Live (SNL). SNL's audience jumped by a million viewers when he made guest appearances, though despite a common misconception, he was never a cast member.[10] Martin has guest-hosted Saturday Night Live 15 times, bested only in number of presentations by host Alec Baldwin (who has hosted 16 times as of September 2011). On the show, Martin popularized the air quotes gesture, which uses four fingers to make double quote marks in the air.[23] While on the show Martin became close with several of the cast members, including Gilda Radner. On the day Radner died of ovarian cancer in 1989, a visibly shaken Martin hosted SNL and featured footage of himself and Radner together in a 1978 sketch.

    His TV appearances in the 1970s led to the release of comedy albums that went platinum.[10] The track "Excuse Me" on his first album, Let's Get Small, helped establish a national catch phrase.[10] His next album, A Wild and Crazy Guy (1978), was an even bigger success, reaching the No.2 spot on the US sales chart, selling over a million copies. "Just a wild and crazy guy" became another of Martin's known catch phrases.[10] The album featured a character based on a series of Saturday Night Live sketches where Martin and Dan Aykroyd played "Georgi" and "Yortuk" the Festrunk Brothers, a couple of bumbling Czechoslovak would-be playboys. The album ends with the song "King Tut", sung and written by Martin and backed by the "Toot Uncommons", members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. It was later released as a single, reaching No.17 on the US charts in 1978 and selling over a million copies.[10][24] The song came out during the King Tut craze that accompanied the popular traveling exhibit of the Egyptian king's tomb artifacts. Both albums won Grammys for Best Comedy Recording in 1977 and 1978, respectively. Martin performed "King Tut" on the April 22, 1978, edition of SNL.

    On his comedy albums, Martin's stand-up is self-referential and sometimes self-mocking. It mixes philosophical riffs with sudden spurts of "happy feet", banjo playing with balloon depictions of concepts like venereal disease, and the controversial kitten juggling (he is a master juggler). His style is off-kilter and ironic, and sometimes pokes fun at stand-up comedy traditions, such as Martin opening his act (from A Wild and Crazy Guy) by saying, "I think there's nothing better for a person to come up and do the same thing over and over for two weeks. This is what I enjoy, so I'm going to do the same thing over and over and over [...] I'm going to do the same joke over and over in the same show, it'll be like a new thing." Or: "Hello, I'm Steve Martin, and I'll be out here in a minute."[23][25] In one comedy routine, used on the Comedy Is Not Pretty! album, Martin claimed that his real name was "Gern Blanston". The riff took on a life of its own. There is a Gern Blanston website, and for a time a rock band took the moniker as their name.[26] He stopped stand-up in 1981 to concentrate on movies and never went back.[10]

    Acting career – film[link]

    Martin in 1982

    By the end of the 1970s, Martin had acquired the kind of following normally reserved for rock stars, with his tour appearances typically occurring at sold-out arenas filled with tens of thousands of screaming fans. But unknown to his audience, stand-up comedy was "just an accident" for him; his real goal was to get into film.[15]

    Martin's first film was a short, The Absent-Minded Waiter (1977). The seven-minute-long film, also featuring Buck Henry and Teri Garr, was written by and starred Martin. The film was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Short Film, Live Action. He made his first feature film appearance in the musical Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, where he sang The Beatles' "Maxwell's Silver Hammer". In 1979, Martin co-wrote and starred in his first full-length movie, The Jerk, directed by Carl Reiner. The movie was a huge success, grossing over $100 million on a budget of approximately $4 million.[27]

    Stanley Kubrick met with him to discuss the possibility of Martin starring in a screwball comedy version of Traumnovelle (Kubrick later changed his approach to the material, the result of which was 1999's Eyes Wide Shut). Martin was executive producer for Domestic Life, a prime-time television series starring friend Martin Mull, and a late-night series called Twilight Theater. It emboldened Martin to try his hand at his first serious film, Pennies from Heaven, a movie he was anxious to perform in because of his desire to avoid being typecast. To prepare for that film, Martin took acting lessons from director Herbert Ross, and spent months learning how to tap dance. The film was a financial failure; Martin's comment at the time was "I don't know what to blame, other than it's me and not a comedy."[28]

    Martin was in three more Reiner-directed comedies after The Jerk: Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid in 1982, The Man with Two Brains in 1983 and All of Me in 1984, possibly his most critically acclaimed comic performance to date.[29][30] In 1986, Martin joined fellow Saturday Night Live veterans Martin Short and Chevy Chase in ¡Three Amigos!, directed by John Landis, and written by Martin, Lorne Michaels, and singer-songwriter Randy Newman. It was originally entitled The Three Caballeros and Martin was to be teamed with Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. In 1986, Martin was in the movie musical film version of the hit Off-Broadway play Little Shop of Horrors (based on a famous B-movie), playing the sadistic dentist, Orin Scrivello. The film was the first of three films teaming Martin with Rick Moranis. In 1987, Martin joined comedian John Candy in the John Hughes movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles. That same year, Roxanne, the film adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac which Martin co-wrote, won him a Writers Guild of America, East award. It also garnered recognition from Hollywood and the public that he was more than a comedian. In 1988, he performed in the Frank Oz film Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, a remake of Bedtime Story, alongside Michael Caine.

    Martin starred in the Ron Howard film Parenthood, with Moranis in 1989. He later met with Moranis to make the Mafia comedy My Blue Heaven in 1990. In 1991, Martin starred in and wrote L.A. Story, a romantic comedy, in which the female lead was played by his then-wife Victoria Tennant. Martin also appeared in Lawrence Kasdan's Grand Canyon, in which he played the tightly-wound Hollywood film producer, Davis, who was recovering from a traumatic robbery that left him injured, which was a more serious role for him. Martin also appeared in a remake of the comedy Father of the Bride in 1991 (followed by a sequel in 1995). He starred in the 1992 comedy HouseSitter, with Goldie Hawn and Dana Delany.

    In David Mamet's 1997 thriller, The Spanish Prisoner, Martin played a darker role as a wealthy stranger who takes a suspicious interest in the work of a young businessman (Campbell Scott). He went on to star with Eddie Murphy in the 1999 comedy Bowfinger, which Martin also wrote. He appeared in a version of Waiting for Godot as Vladimir, with Robin Williams as Estragon and Bill Irwin as Lucky. In 1998, Martin guest starred with U2 in the 200th episode of The Simpsons titled "Trash of the Titans", providing the voice for sanitation commissioner Ray Patterson. In 1999, Martin and Hawn starred in a remake of the 1970 Neil Simon comedy, The Out-of-Towners. By 2003, Martin ranked 4th on the box office stars list, after starring in Bringing Down The House and Cheaper By The Dozen, each of which earned over $130 million at U.S. theaters. That same year, he also played the villainous Mr. Chairman in the animation/live action blend, Looney Tunes: Back in Action.

    Martin wrote and starred in Shopgirl (2005), based on his own novella (2000), and starred in Cheaper by the Dozen 2. He also starred in the box office hit The Pink Panther in 2006, standing in Peter Sellers's shoes as the bumbling Inspector Clouseau, a role which he reprised in 2009's The Pink Panther 2. In Baby Mama (2008), he played the founder of a health food company, and in It's Complicated (2009), he played opposite Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin. In 2009, an article in The Guardian listed Martin as one of the best actors never to receive an Oscar nomination.[31]

    He appeared with Jack Black, Owen Wilson, and JoBeth Williams in the birdwatching comedy The Big Year, in 2011.

    Writing[link]

    Martin at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival

    In 1993, Martin wrote his first full length play Picasso at the Lapin Agile. The first reading of the play took place in Beverly Hills, California at Steve Martin's home, with Tom Hanks reading the role of Pablo Picasso and Chris Sarandon reading the role of Albert Einstein. Following this, the play opened at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois, and played from October 1993 to May 1994, then went on to run successfully in Los Angeles, New York City and several other US cities.[32] In 2009, the La Grande, Oregon school board refused to allow the play to be performed after several parents complained about the content. In an open letter in the local Observer newspaper, Martin wrote "I have heard that some in your community have characterized the play as 'people drinking in bars, and treating women as sex objects.' With apologies to William Shakespeare, this is like calling Hamlet a play about a castle [...] I will finance a non-profit, off-high school campus production [...] so that individuals, outside the jurisdiction of the school board but within the guarantees of freedom of expression provided by the Constitution of the United States can determine whether they will or will not see the play".[33]

    Throughout the 1990s, Martin wrote various pieces for The New Yorker. In 2002, he adapted the Carl Sternheim play The Underpants, which ran Off Broadway at Classic Stage Company and in 2008, co-wrote and produced Traitor, starring Don Cheadle. He has also written the novellas, Shopgirl (2000), and The Pleasure of My Company (2003), both more wry in tone than raucous.[34] A story of a 28-year-old woman behind the glove counter at the Neiman Marcus department store in Beverly Hills, Shopgirl was made into a film starring Martin and Claire Danes.[34] The film premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2005 and was featured at the Chicago International Film Festival and the Austin Film Festival before going into limited release in the US. In 2007, he published a memoir, Born Standing Up, which TIME magazine named as one of the Top 10 Nonfiction Books of 2007, ranking it at #6, and praising it as "a funny, moving, surprisingly frank memoir."[35] In 2010, he published the novel An Object of Beauty.

    Hosting[link]

    Martin hosted Academy Awards solo in 2001 and 2003 and with Alec Baldwin in 2010.[36] In 2005, Martin co-hosted Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years, marking the park's anniversary. Disney continued to run the show until March 2009, which now plays in the lobby of Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.

    Music[link]

    Martin first picked up the banjo when he was around 17 years of age. Martin has claimed in several interviews and in his autobiography, "Born Standing Up", that he used to take 33 rpm bluegrass records and slow them down to 16 rpm and tune his banjo down, so the notes would sound the same. Martin was able to pick out each note, and perfect his playing.

    Martin learned how to play the banjo with help from John McEuen, who later joined the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. McEuen's brother later managed Martin as well as the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Martin did his stand-up routine opening for the band in the early 1970s. He had the band play on his hit song, "King Tut", being credited as "The Toot Uncommons" (as in Tutankhamun).

    File:Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers in Seattle.JPG
    Steve Martin playing with the Steep Canyon Rangers in Seattle

    The banjo was a staple of Martin's 1970s stand-up career, and he periodically poked fun at his love for the instrument.[21] On the Comedy Is Not Pretty! album he included an all-instrumental jam, titled "Drop Thumb Medley", and played the track on his 1979 concert tour. His final comedy album, The Steve Martin Brothers (1981), featured one side of Martin's typical stand-up material, with the other side featuring live performances of Steve playing banjo with a bluegrass band.

    In 2001, he played banjo on Earl Scruggs's remake of "Foggy Mountain Breakdown". The recording was the winner of the Best Country Instrumental Performance category at the following year's Grammys. In 2008, Martin appeared with the band, In the Minds of the Living, during a show in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.[37]

    In 2009, Martin released his first all-music album, The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo with appearances from stars such as Dolly Parton.[38] The album won the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album in 2010.[39] Nitty Gritty Dirt Band member John McEuen produced the album.

    Martin made his first appearance on The Grand Ole Opry on May 30, 2009.[40] In the American Idol season eight finals, he performed alongside Michael Sarver and Megan Joy in the song "Pretty Flowers". In June, Martin played banjo along with the Steep Canyon Rangers on A Prairie Home Companion, and began a two-month U.S. tour with the Rangers in September, including an appearances at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival, Carnegie Hall and Benaroya Hall in Seattle.[41][42] In November, they went on to play at the Royal Festival Hall in London with support from Mary Black.[43] In 2010, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers appeared at the New Orleans Jazzfest, Merlefest Bluegrass Festival in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, at Bonnaroo Music Festival, at the ROMP[44] Bluegrass festival in Owensboro, Kentucky, at the Red Butte Garden Concert series and on the BBC's Later... with Jools Holland.[45][46] Martin performed "Jubilation Day" with the Steep Canyon Rangers on The Colbert Report on March 21, 2011, on Conan on May 3, 2011, and on BBC's The One Show on July 6, 2011.[47] Martin performed a song he wrote called "Me and Paul Revere"[48] in addition to two other songs on the lawn of the Capitol Building in Washington, DC, at the "Capitol Fourth Celebration" on July 4, 2011.[49]

    Personal life[link]

    Martin was romantically involved with actress and singer Bernadette Peters, his costar in the films The Jerk and Pennies from Heaven, during the 1970s and early 1980s. He married actress Victoria Tennant on November 20, 1986, and the union lasted until 1994. On July 28, 2007, after three years together, Martin married Anne Stringfield, a writer and former staffer for The New Yorker magazine.[50] Former Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey presided over the ceremony at Martin's Los Angeles home. Lorne Michaels, creator of Saturday Night Live, was best man.[50] Several of the guests, including close friends Tom Hanks, Eugene Levy, comedian Carl Reiner, and magician/actor Ricky Jay were not informed that a wedding ceremony would take place. Instead, they were told they were invited to a party, and were surprised by the nuptials.[50]

    Investigators at Berlin's state criminal police office (LKA) think that Martin was one victim of a German art forgery scandal. In July 2004 Martin purchased what he believed to be a 1915 work by the German-Dutch painter Heinrich Campendonk, "Landschaft mit Pferden", or "Landscape With Horses", from a Paris gallery for what should have been a bargain price in the neighborhood of €700,000 (around $850,000 at the time). Before the purchase an expert authenticated the work and identified the painter's signature on a label attached to the back. Fifteen months later Martin put the painting up for sale, and auction house Christie's disposed of it in February 2006 to a Swiss businesswoman for €500,000 – a loss of €200,000. Police believe the fake Campendonk originated from an invented art collection devised by a group of German swindlers caught in 2010. Skillfully forged paintings from this group were sold to French galleries like the one where Martin bought the forgery.[51]

    Awards and honors[link]

    Written works by Martin[link]

    • The Jerk (1979) (Screenplay written with Carl Gottlieb)
    • Cruel Shoes (1979) (Essays)
    • Picasso at the Lapin Agile and Other Plays: Picasso at the Lapin Agile, the Zig-Zag Woman, Patter for the Floating Lady, WASP (1996) (Play)
    • L.A. Story and Roxanne: Two Screenplays (published together in 1997) (Screenplays)
    • Pure Drivel (1998) (Stories)
    • Bowfinger (1999) (Screenplay)
    • Eric Fischl : 1970–2000 (2000) (Afterword)
    • Modern Library Humor and Wit Series (2000) (Introduction and Series Editor)
    • Shopgirl (2000) (Novella)
    • Kindly Lent Their Owner: The Private Collection of Steve Martin (2001) (Art)
    • The Underpants: A Play (2002) (Play)
    • The Pleasure of My Company (2003) (Novel)
    • The Alphabet from A to Y with Bonus Letter Z (2007) (Children's Books illustrated by Roz Chast)
    • Born Standing Up (2007) (Memoir)
    • An Object of Beauty (2010) (Novel)
    • Late For School (2010) (Children's book)
    • The Ten, Make That Nine, Habits of Very Organized People. Make That Ten.: The Tweets of Steve Martin (February 21, 2012) (Collection)

    Released stand-up shows[link]

    • Steve Martin-Live! (1986, VHS)
    • Saturday Night Live: The Best Of Steve Martin (1998, DVD)

    Filmography[link]

    Year Film Role Notes
    1956 Disneyland Dream Documentary
    1977 The Absent-Minded Waiter Short Subject
    1978 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Dr. Maxwell Edison
    1979 The Muppet Movie Insolent Waiter
    The Kids Are Alright Documentary
    The Jerk Navin R. Johnson Also Writer
    1981 Pennies from Heaven Arthur Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
    1982 Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid Rigby Reardon Also Writer
    1983 The Man with Two Brains Dr. Michael Hfuhruhurr
    1984 The Lonely Guy Larry Hubbard
    All of Me Roger Cobb National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor
    New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor
    Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
    1985 Movers & Shakers Fabio Longio
    1986 Three Amigos Lucky Day Also Writer and Executive Producer
    Little Shop of Horrors Orin Scrivello, DDS Billed as "Special Appearance"
    1987 Roxanne C.D. Bales Also Writer and Executive Producer
    Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
    National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor
    Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
    Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
    Planes, Trains and Automobiles Neal Page
    1988 Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Freddy Benson
    1989 Parenthood Gil Buckman Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
    1990 My Blue Heaven Vinnie Antonelli
    1991 L.A. Story Harris K. Telemacher Also Writer and Executive Producer
    Father of the Bride George Banks Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance
    Grand Canyon Davis
    1992 HouseSitter Newton Davis
    Leap of Faith Jonas Nightengale
    1993 And the Band Played On The Brother Cameo
    1994 A Simple Twist of Fate Michael McCann Also Writer and Executive Producer
    Mixed Nuts Philip
    1995 Father of the Bride Part II George Banks Nominated – American Comedy Award for Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role)
    Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
    1996 Sgt. Bilko Master Sergeant Ernest G. Bilko
    1997 The Spanish Prisoner Jimmy Dell
    1998 The Prince of Egypt Hotep Voice
    1999 The Out-of-Towners Henry Clark
    Bowfinger Bobby Bowfinger Also writer
    The Venice Project Cameo
    Fantasia 2000 Introductory Host Disney Re-Release
    2000 Joe Gould's Secret Charlie Duell
    2001 Novocaine Frank Sangster
    2002 Smothered: The Censorship Struggles of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour As himself
    2003 Bringing Down the House Peter Sanderson
    Looney Tunes: Back in Action Mr. Chairman
    Cheaper by the Dozen Tom Baker
    2004 Jiminy Glick in Lalawood Cameo
    The Merchant of Venice
    2005 Shopgirl Ray Porter Also Writer and Producer
    Cheaper by the Dozen 2 Tom Baker
    Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years As himself
    2006 The Pink Panther Inspector Clouseau A remake of the earlier series
    2008 Baby Mama Barry
    Traitor Writer and Producer
    2009 The Pink Panther 2 Inspector Clouseau Also Screenplay
    Nominated - Razzie Award for Worst Actor
    It's Complicated Adam Schaffer
    2011 The Big Year Stu Preissler

    Discography[link]

    Albums[link]

    Album Year Peak chart positions Certifications
    US
    [54]
    US Bluegrass
    [54][55]
    Let's Get Small 1977 10
    A Wild and Crazy Guy 1978 2
    • US: 2× Platinum[56]
    Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band soundtrack 1978 5
    Comedy Is Not Pretty! 1979 25
    The Steve Martin Brothers 1981 135
    Little Shop of Horrors soundtrack 1986
    The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo 2009 93[58] 1
    Rare Bird Alert[59] 2011 43 1
    "—" denotes a title that did not chart.

    Singles[link]

    Single Year Peak chart positions
    US
    [60]
    "Grandmother's Song" 1977 72
    "King Tut" 1978 17
    "Cruel Shoes" 1979 91

    Music videos[link]

    Video Year Director
    "Jubilation Day"[61] 2011 Ryan Reichenfeld

    TV specials[link]

    Title Year Network
    "Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy" 1978 NBC
    "All Commercials... A Steve Martin Special" 1980 NBC
    "Steve Martin: Comedy is Not Pretty" 1980 NBC
    "Steve Martin's Best Show Ever" 1981 NBC
    "The Winds of Whoopie" 1983 NBC

    References[link]

    1. ^ Martin (2007) p18–19
    2. ^ King, Larry. "Interview with Stephen Colbert". Larry King Live. October 11, 2007.
    3. ^ "The AST Interview: Patton Oswalt". Web.archive.org. November 21, 2005. Archived from the original on October 13, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20071013165258/http://aspecialthing.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=1465. Retrieved November 13, 2011. 
    4. ^ a b Morris (1999) p 2.
    5. ^ Comedy Central's 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of all Time
    6. ^ Walker (1999) p1
    7. ^ "Ancestry of Steve Martin". Wargs.com. http://www.wargs.com/other/martin.html. Retrieved November 13, 2011. 
    8. ^ Martin (2007) pp.20–39
    9. ^ http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/feb/20/top-5-famous-former-male-cheerleaders/
    10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Steve Martin, a Mild and Crazy Guy". Time Magazine article. November 15, 2007. Accessed August 14, 2010.
    11. ^ Wills, Dominic. "Steve Martin – Biography". TalkTalk. http://www.talktalk.co.uk/entertainment/film/biography/artist/steve-martin/biography/118. Retrieved May 15, 2010. 
    12. ^ Martin (2007) p 39
    13. ^ Walker (1999) p40
    14. ^ Martin (2007) p 65
    15. ^ a b Fong-Torres, Ben (1982) "Steve Martin Sings: The Rolling Stone Interview". Rolling Stone February 18, 1982. Issue 363
    16. ^ "Being Funny: How the path-breaking comedian got his act together" By Steve Martin. Smithsonian magazine. February 2008. Accessed August 14, 2010
    17. ^ Steve Martin at the Internet Movie Database
    18. ^ "SteveMartin.com | Stop the Presses"[dead link]
    19. ^ Martin, (2007) p. 76
    20. ^ Steve Martin Emmy Award Winner
    21. ^ a b c Martin, Steve (2008). "Being Funny". Smithsonian Magazine. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/funny-martin-200802.html. Retrieved February 22, 2008. 
    22. ^ Martin, (2007) p. 77
    23. ^ a b Frum, David (2000). How We Got Here: The '70s. New York, New York: Basic Books. pp. 36–37. ISBN 0-465-04195-7. 
    24. ^ "King Tut" Video. Accessed August 14, 2010.
    25. ^ "Rationalist of the Absurd: Steve Martin’s extraordinarily calculated comedy".New York Books" Nov 18, 2007. Accessed August 12, 2010[dead link]
    26. ^ Martin (2007) p176–77
    27. ^ Chris Brummel (2010). "The Jerk". http://chrisbrummel.com/the-jerk-that-movie-about-hating-cans. Retrieved June 19, 2010. 
    28. ^ American film Volume 7. 1981. American Film Institute, Arthur M. Sackler Foundation
    29. ^ "All of Me". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1000640-all_of_me/. Retrieved November 13, 2011. 
    30. ^ All of Me. New York Times film review. September 21, 1984. Accessed August 12, 2010
    31. ^ Singer, Leigh (February 19, 2009). "Oscars: the best actors never to have been nominated". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2009/feb/19/best-actors-never-nominated-for-oscars. Retrieved November 13, 2011. 
    32. ^ History: Picasso At The Lapin Agile. Oct. 13, 1993 – May. 12, 1994. Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Accessed August 14, 2010
    33. ^ "Of arts and sciences". by Steve Martin. Article in The Observer (Oregon). March 13, 2009. Accessed August 14, 2010
    34. ^ a b But Seriously, Folks. Time Magazine article. October 16, 2000. Accessed August 14, 2010
    35. ^ Grossman, Lev (December 9, 2007). "Born Standing Up'' review". Time.com. http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/top10/article/0,30583,1686204_1686244_1691787,00.html. Retrieved November 13, 2011. 
    36. ^ "Hosts of the 2010 (82nd) Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
    37. ^ "Steve Martin Plays The Banjo Really Well (Video)". October 6, 2009. HuffingtonPost.com. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
    38. ^ Itzkoff, Dave (August 5, 2009). "Steve Martin brings it all home with his banjo". Guardian. Retrieved May 15, 2010
    39. ^ The Crow album on Martin's official website. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
    40. ^ "Steve Martin To Make Grand Ole Opry Debut". April 1, 2009. Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
    41. ^ "Benaroya Hall Calendar, Seattle Symphony Orchestra".
    42. ^ Madison, Tjames (August 4, 2009). "Steve Martin and his banjo map fall tour". LiveDaily.com. Retrieved on October 4, 2009.
    43. ^ Gill, Andy (November 10, 2009). "Steve Martin with The Steep Canyon Rangers, Royal Festival Hall, London". The Independent.
    44. ^ "2011 ROMP". Bluegrass-museum.org. International Bluegrass Music Museum. http://www.bluegrass-museum.org/general/home.php. 
    45. ^ "Concerts – 2010 Outdoor Concert Series". Red Butte Garden. The University of Utah. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
    46. ^ "BBC – BBC Two Programmes – Later... with Jools Holland, Series 35, Episode 9". BBC. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
    47. ^ Tobey, Matt (March 21, 2011). "This Week on the Colbert Report: Steve Martin". Ccinsider.comedycentral.com. Comedy Partners. http://ccinsider.comedycentral.com/2011/03/21/this-week-on-the-colbert-report-steve-martin/. Retrieved November 13, 2011. 
    48. ^ Barker, Olivia (June 29, 2011). "Steve Martin's 'Paul Revere' picks away at history". USA Today.
    49. ^ "A Capitol Fourth". PBS. Retrieved July, 4, 2011.
    50. ^ a b c "Steve Martin weds girlfriend Anne Stringfield". July 29, 2007. USA Today.
    51. ^ Der Spiegel (May 30, 2011). "German Art Forgery Scandal Reaches Hollywood". http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,765658,00.html. Retrieved May 30, 2011. 
    52. ^ a b c d http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=%22steve+martin%22&title=&year=All&genre=All
    53. ^ Los Angeles Times via Sydney Morning Herald; August 28, 1989 Late Edition; NEWS AND FEATURES; Pg. 11
    54. ^ a b "Steve Martin – Billboard Albums". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p198/charts-awards. Retrieved January 15, 2011. 
    55. ^ "Steve Martin Album & Song Chart History". Billboard.com. Prometheus Media Group. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
    56. ^ a b c "RIAA – Searchable Database: Steve Martin". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22Martin,%20Steve%22. Retrieved November 14, 2011. 
    57. ^ "RIAA – Searchable Database: Lonely Hearts Club Band". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22Lonely%20Hearts%20Club%20Band%22. Retrieved November 14, 2011. 
    58. ^ "Bluegrass Albums | Billboard.com". Billboard. June 13, 2009. http://www.billboard.com/#/charts/bluegrass-albums?chartDate=2009-06-13. Retrieved March 24, 2011. 
    59. ^ "Rare Bird Alert". Rounder.com. Rounder Records. March 1, 2011. http://www.rounder.com/2011/03/new-releases/rare-bird-alert. Retrieved November 13, 2011. 
    60. ^ "Steve Martin – Billboard Albums". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p198/charts-awards/billboard-singles. Retrieved January 15, 2011. 
    61. ^ "CMT : Videos : Steve Martin : Jubilation Day". Country Music Television. http://www.cmt.com/videos/steve-martin/659725/jubilation-day.jhtml. Retrieved June 7, 2011. 

    Sources[link]

    External links[link]

    http://wn.com/Steve_Martin



    Tony Trischka

    Tony Trischka, 2008
    Background information
    Birth name Tony Trischka
    Born (1949-01-16) January 16, 1949 (age 63)
    Origin Syracuse, New York, USA
    Genres Bluegrass, Country
    Occupations Bluegrass musician
    Years active 1970s–present
    Labels Rounder Records
    Notable instruments
    Banjo, steel guitar

    Tony Trischka (born January 16, 1949 in Syracuse, New York) is an American five-string banjo player.

    Contents

    Biography[link]

    Tony Trischka was born in Syracuse, New York, and graduated from Syracuse University (in Syracuse, New York) with a B.A in Fine Arts, and was inspired to play the banjo in 1963, listening to the Kingston Trio's "Charlie and The MTA".

    File:Tony Trischka01.jpg
    Performing in 2008

    Trischka was a founding member of the Syracuse band Down City Ramblers during and beyond his college years, along with such musicians as Harry "Tersh" Gilmore (aka Lou Martin), Tom Hosmer, John Cadley, John Dancks, Greg Root, Greg Johnson, and Joel Diamond. Along with Gilmore and Hosmer he was also in the trio calling itself The Inedible String Bland. Both bands primarily, and frequently, played at Syracuse's premier music club/restaurant of the 1960s, Cap'n Mac's Clam Shack.

    In 1971 he made his recording debut on 15 Bluegrass Instrumentals with the Ithaca, NY based Country Cooking, (Peter Wernick, Kenny Kosek, Andy Statman, John Miller, Harry "Tersh" Gilmore) and at the same time, he was also a member of Syracuse's Country Granola (Herb Feuerstein, Johno Lanford, Greg Root, Danny Weiss, etc.). In 1973, he began a two-year stint with the New York City band, Breakfast Special (Kenny Kosek, Andy Statman, Roger Mason, Stacy Phillips, Jim Tolles). (This was Trischka's "food band" period.) Between 1974 and 1975, he recorded two solo albums, Bluegrass Light and Heartlands. After another solo album in 1976, Banjoland, he became musical leader for the Broadway show, The Robber Bridegroom. Trischka toured with the show in 1978, the year he also played with the Monroe Doctrine. Beginning in 1978, he also played with artists such as Peter Rowan, Richard Greene, and Stacy Phillips.

    In the early 1980s, he began recording with his new group Skyline, which recorded its first album in 1983. Subsequent albums included Robot Plane Flies over Arkansas (solo, 1983), Stranded in the Moonlight (with Skyline, 1984) and Hill Country (solo, 1985). In 1984, he performed in his first feature film, Foxfire. Three years later, he worked on the soundtrack for Driving Miss Daisy. Trischka produced the Belgian group Gold Rush's No More Angels in 1988. The following year, Skyline recorded its final album, Fire of Grace. He also recorded the theme song for Books on the Air, a popular National Public Radio Show, and continued his affiliation with the network by appearing on Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion, Mountain Stage, From Our Front Porch, and other radio shows.

    Trischka's solo recordings include 1993's World Turning, 1995's Glory Shone Around: A Christmas Collection and 1999's Bend. New Deal, a studio album that followed in 2003, was a bluesy adaptation of bluegrass standards that included a vocal cameo by Loudon Wainwright. Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular, with an appearance by comedian Steve Martin, came out four years later.

    Trischka was banjo teacher to Béla Fleck, regarded, along with Trischka, as one of the world's top banjoists.[1]

    In the late 1990s, Trischka teamed up with David Grier, Darol Anger, Mike Marshall, and Todd Phillips as "Psychograss" and formed a new band, whose debut album Bend explored yet more territory uncharted by banjo.

    In January 2007 Trischka released, to critical and popular acclaim, Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular, featuring new music and performances by a stellar line-up of musicians including Earl Scruggs, Béla Fleck and the multi-talented Steve Martin. On April 26, 2007, he performed live on The Late Show With David Letterman with Steve Martin and Béla Fleck.

    On October 4, 2007 Trischka won three International Bluegrass Music Awards, for Album of the Year, Recorded Event of the Year, and Banjo Player of the Year.

    In 2008, Trischka released an album on Smithsonian Folkways entitled Territory, which in 2009 won the 8th annual Independent Music Awards for Best Americana Album.[2]

    In 2009, Tony Trischka launched the 'Tony Trischka School of Banjo', an online banjo school.

    In 2010 produced Steve Martin’s Rare Bird Alert (March 2011-Rounder) which features performances by Paul McCartney and the Dixie Chicks.

    In 2011 Tony acted as the musical director of the documentary "Give Me the Banjo", which first aired on PBS in the fall of 2011.

    Trischka resides in Fair Lawn, New Jersey.

    Television appearances[link]

    • David Letterman show, with Steve Martin, Bela Fleck, Brittany Haas, and Michael Daves, April 2007
    • Ellen Degeneres show, with Steve Martin, Brittany Haas, and Michael Daves, April 2007
    • Live at the Quick, with Bela Fleck, 2004–2006
    • ABC “Views”, with Béla Fleck, Summer 1997
    • “ABC World News Tonight” with Peter Jennings, Summer, 1996
    • “CBS Sunday Morning” with Charles Osgood - feature story (including Béla Fleck), 1995
    • “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” (PBS), 1992
    • British television production of “Echoes of America: History of the Five String Banjo”, 1989
    • CBS “Hallmark Hall of Fame” production of “Foxfire” with Jessica Tandy, Hume Cronyn and John Denver, 1987
    • Ralph Emory’s “Frets” Awards Show, The Nashville Network, 1987
    • Nashville Network’s “Fire on the Mountain,” 1984, 1986
    • Merv Griffin Show, 1976

    References[link]

    External links[link]

    http://wn.com/Tony_Trischka



    Lauris Reiniks
    Background information
    Birth name Lauris Reiniks
    Born (1979-07-11) July 11, 1979 (age 32)
    Dobele, Latvia
    Origin Riga, Latvia
    Genres Pop, pop-rock
    Occupations Singer, songwriter, actor, TV Host
    Years active 1998–present
    Labels MicRec (2008–present)
    MicRec PM(2005–2008)
    Platforma Records (2002–2005)
    Website laurisreiniks.com

    Lauris Reiniks (born on July 11, 1979 in Dobele, Latvia) is a Latvian pop music singer, songwriter, television host and actor. Lauris was educated at the Jelgava Music college in Latvia and the University of Latvia, but acting skills have been honed in Los Angeles, California. He has released 7 solo albums. As a composer and recording artist Lauris Reiniks has received more than 20 National awards and has gained international recognition. The remarkable number of views of his music videos on YouTube has unofficially made him a "King of YouTube" in Latvia.[citation needed] Lately Lauris Reiniks is considered as the Baltic artist.[citation needed]

    Contents

    Early years[link]

    Lauris was born in the Latvian town of Dobele, grew up in a musical family in Tērvete. Lauris' first appearance on television was at the age of five, singing in a show called Neighbors Meet. As a kid and teenager, Lauris was a soloist in a pop-rock group called “AURI” formed by his father. Together with this band Lauris gained his first stage experience; participating in different children music festivals, contests and other musical activities.

    The Reiniks family (mother Dace, father Arturs, sister Ruta) used to be one of the most active singing families in the country. They regularly appeared on a broadcast called "Spiets" (The Swarm) and toured around Latvia with concerts.

    In 1998 Latvian Television noticed the young and attractive Lauris and offered him to host a new musical TV show called "Nošu Spēles" (Games of Music Notes).

    The show brought Lauris together with the popular Latvian composer Raimonds Pauls who invited Lauris to participate in several his music projects and record songs. This collaboration lasted for one year when Lauris realized he can write his own music and be an independent artist.

    The management company Aktiv Music approached Lauris Reiniks in 2000 and offered him a record deal with Platforma Records company. That was a moment when Lauris stepped into the big scene of Latvian pop music and started his way to success and fame.

    Music career highlights[link]

    Lauris Reiniks' most popular and renowned songs are "Sirds Sadeg Neparasti", "Es Neesmu Neprātīgs", "Tik Balti", "Es Tev Apmulsis", "Tev Šodien Vienalga", "Es Esmu Tev Dzīslās" in a duet with his sister Rūta, "Pasakā" in a duet with Aisha and his 2010 Baltic smash hit "Es skrienu" (I'm running). Most of his Latvian songs are written in collaboration with Mārtiņš Freimanis who wrote lyrics to Lauris's music.

    • Twice Lauris Reiniks has been a winner of the annual Universality Prize, which is offered by AKKA/LAA the Latvian copyright agency for those songs that have been played most often on the radio and television in Latvia. "Tell Me" (2004) in a duet with Marija Naumova and "Sirds Sadeg Neparasti" (2007) song that had received all major music awards in Latvia already in 2003.
    • He has been a voice of Coca-Cola commercial in Latvia.
    • The 2003 album Lidot savādāk (To Fly Differently) certified Gold.
    • In 2005 the Latvian edition of BBC popmusic magazine Top Of The Pops awarded Lauris with a title of "Latvian National Megastar 2004".
    • In 2005 Lauris Reiniks releases a song "And You Came" in a duet with Estonian singer Maarja which becomes a hit both in Latvia and Estonia.
    • In 2009 marketing and public relations specialists from 7guru.lv who presented a list of Latvia’s seven most successful pop musicians ranked Lauris second, right after the band Brainstorm.
    • His latest 2010 studio album Es skrienu was awarded the "Best Pop Album" at Latvian Music Awards 2010. The title song "Es skrienu" from the same album was officially the best selling song of 2010 on doremi.lv – the biggest mp3 shop in Latvia.
    • In 2010 Lauris Reiniks's song, video "Es skrienu" very fast becomes a national blockbuster. "Es skrienu" song has been recorded and released also in 6 more languages – Estonian ("Ma jooksen"), Lithuanian ("Aš bėgu"), Russian ("Я бегу"), Italian ("Correrò da te"), German ("Ich Renne") and English ("I Will Run"), hitting the radio charts and dance clubs in all three Baltic States – Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. The German version "Ich renne" has been included in several compilations in Germany, released by EMI Germany.
    • With a music video for "Es skrienu" song Lauris has set the Baltic record as the first Baltic artist who has reached over 1 million views on YouTube in a very short period of time. That happened with a Lithuanian version called "Aš bėgu".
    • In 2011 Lauris Reiniks' song "Aš bėgu" wins "Song Of The Year" award in Lithuania on TV3 Lithuania show "Vaikų Balsas 2011".
    • On June 1, 2011 Lauris Reiniks releases his first album in Lithuania called "Aš bėgu". The album is Lithuanian adaptation of Lauris's award winning Latvian album "Es skrienu", featuring tracks in Lithuanian from the original Latvian album as well as previously unpublished English versions of Lauris's most popular Latvian songs.
    • In July, 2011 Lauris Reiniks releases his first album in Estonia called "Ma jooksen". The album is Estonian adaptation of Lauris's award winning Latvian album "Es skrienu", featuring tracks in Estonian from the original Latvian album as well as previously unpublished English versions of Lauris's most popular Latvian songs.
    • September 2011, Lauris Reiniks "Es skrienu" album certifies Gold in Latvia.
    • February 2012, Lauris Reiniks wins " Radio Hit Of The Year" award with a song "Es skrienu" at Latvian Music Awards 2011.

    Television[link]

    Ever since 1998 Lauris Reiniks has been hosting several TV shows for Latvian Television LTV, TV3 Latvia (Viasat) and LNT Television. Lauris has done several National TV commercials and print ads. In 2010 Lauris gets his first National TV award "Zelta Vilnis 2009" (Golden Wave) in a nomination "TV Personality Of The Year".

    Lauris Reiniks has be a host of following TV shows and projects:

    Dancing With The Stars[link]

    On April 8, 2007 live on TV3 Latvia Lauris Reiniks becomes the first season winner of Latvian "Dancing with the Stars" (Dejo ar Zvaigzni). He was partnered by a professional ballroom dancer and many time Latin dance champion – Aleksandra Kurusova. In the spring of 2008, an ABC Television affiliate in California, USA presented a story about Lauris as a successful pop musician and winner of the Latvian version of "Dancing with the Stars".

    4 years later (2011) Lauris Reiniks is invited to participate in the same kind of show in Lithuania -"Šok su manimi" (Dance with me) on TV3 Lithuania. After 3 episodes, Lauris and his partner Aleksandra gave their place to the eliminated couple and withdrew from the show.

    Acting[link]

    Lauris Reiniks's acting credits include a role of Rolf in a musical The Sound Of Music in 2004/2005 and Olympus in a musical "Autoplanet" in 2005. In May, 2007 Lauris Reiniks starts working on a motion picture "Dancis pa trim" (Three to Dance) produced by "Kaupo" film studio. He is playing Edvards, a Latvian soldier during the latter stages of World War II. The movie comes out on big screens in 2011. In 2010 Lauris Reiniks is playing one of the leading roles in the world famous play "Ladies Night" (Kailie Brieži) produced by Domino Teatras and staged at National Theater in Riga. The show is still on-going.

    Eurovision Song Contest / Eirodziesma[link]

    • 2001 – Lauris Reiniks in a duet with Linda Leen finishes 2nd at Latvian National selection with a song "I Wish I Knew".
    • 2002 – Lauris Reiniks finishes 5th at Latvian National selection Eirodziesma 2002 with a song "My Memory Tape".
    • 2003 – along with Mārtiņš Freimanis and Yana Kay a trio F.L.Y. has been created specially for Eurovision Song Contest Latvian selection. With a song "Hello From Mars" they won the National preliminaries and represented Latvia at Eurovision Song Contest 2003 taking place in Riga. The song finished 24th.[1]
    • 2009 – Lauris Reiniks's song "I wish I could pretend" performed by Kristina Zaharova finishes 2nd in Irish Eurovision Finals "Eurosong 2009".
    • 2010 – Lauris Reiniks' song "Your Morning Lullaby" gets into the finals of Latvian Eurovision National preliminaries "Eirodziesma 2010" finishing 4th.
    • 2011 – Lauris Reiniks finishes 2nd at Latvian Eurovision National preliminaries "Eirodziesma 2011" with his song "Banjo Laura". The Spanish version "La chica del Banjo" of the song is being released a month later.

    Discography[link]

    • Planet 42 (2002)
    • Lidot savādāk (2003)
    • Tik balti (2003)
    • Never Look Back (with F.L.Y.) (2003)
    • Debesskrāpju spīts (2005)
    • Nakts veikalā (2007)
    • Es skrienu (2010)
    • Aš bėgu (2011)
    • Ma jooksen (2011)

    References[link]

    External links[link]

    http://wn.com/Lauris_Reiniks



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    Lau­ris Reiniks - Banjo Laura - Of­fi­cial Music Video- Eu­ro­vi­sion LATVIA 2011 (#2)
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