Interview with Roger Sprung, December 2, 2006

Partial Transcript: Well, good day. I'm here--I'm Carl Pagter with the International Bluegrass Music Museum.

Segment Synopsis: Sprung discusses his childhood in New York City. He played piano as a child and mentions a time he played with a group of Dixieland players. He discusses how he became acquainted with the banjo and folk music. He mentions playing on Oscar Brand's radio show. He discusses the Folksay Trio and the performance of the song "Tom Dooley."

Keywords: Banjo players; Banjos; Bechet, Sidney (Artist); Bluegrass music; Bob Carey; Brand, Oscar (Artist); Brunis, George (Artist); Cumberland mountain bear chase (Song); Darling, Erik (Artist); Davison, Wild Bill (Artist); Faier, Billy (Artist); Guitar players; Guitars; Leadbelly (Artist); Mountain Music; Scruggs, Earl (Artist); Seeger, Pete (Artist); Spanier, Muggsy (Artist); Tom Dooley (Artist); Tom Dooley (Song)

Subjects: Banjo; Banjo music (Bluegrass); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Dixieland music.; Folk music.; Leadbelly (Artist); Music--Performance.; Musical performance; New York (N.Y.); Old-time music.; Piano

Partial Transcript: I wanna get back to the 1950s again.

Segment Synopsis: Sprung discusses his group the Shanty Boys with Lionel Kilberg and Mike Cohen. Sprung also mentions some albums that he collaborated on during the 1950s. Sprung recalls his involvement with the Washington Square folk music scene and his appearances on the Oscar Brand Show. He began teaching music around this time. Erik Darling's career and banjo playing styles are described.

Keywords: Banjos; Beatniks; Bluegrass music; Brand, Oscar (Artist); Darling, Erik (Artist); Fiddle players; Fiddlers; Fiddles; Glenn Yarbrough (Artist); Guitar players; Guitars; Lionel Kilberg (Artist); Mike Cohen (Artist); Milt Okun (Artist); Musical instruments; Pete Seeger (Artist); Ritchie, Jean (Artist); The Shanty Boys (Artist); Watson, Doc (Artist)

Subjects: Banjo music (Bluegrass); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Dulcimer; Folk music; Guitar music (Bluegrass); Kingston Trio; Music teachers; Music--Instruction and study; Music--Interpretation (Phrasing, dynamics, etc.); Music--Performance.; Musical performance; New York (N.Y.); Style, Musical; Violin and banjo music; Washington Square (New York, N.Y.); Washtub bass; Washtub bass music; Washtub bassists

Segment Synopsis: Sprung discusses the various types of banjos he has had over the years and the ways he has customized them.

Keywords: 1957; Banjo fraternities; Banjo necks; Building banjos; Clawhammer banjo style; Customization; Customized; D'Angelico banjos; Five-string banjos; Gibson All American banjos; Gibson Mastertone banjos; John D'Angelico; Kay banjos; Longneck banjos; Musical instruments; Pete Seeger (Artist); Repairs; The Shanty Boys (Artist); Vega banjos

Subjects: Banjo music (Bluegrass); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Music--Performance.; Musical instrument makers.; Musical performance

Partial Transcript: Uh--we're--we're getting at--we're about 1960 now--

Segment Synopsis: In the 1960s, Sprung joined the U.S. Naval Air Force Reserve. Sprung discusses his work after military service, including repairing televisions, working as an engineer for microwave generator stations, and finally deciding to teach music full time instead. During this time, Sprung recalls being influenced by folk music. Sprung recalls a story of meeting people in the mountains. He discusses interactions with Bascom Lunsford and Raymond Fairchild. Sprung also talks of bluegrass festivals.

Keywords: Banjo players; Banjos; Bluegrass music; Fairchild, Raymond (Artist); Gene Autry (Artist); Guitar players; Guitars; J. Howard Nash; Lunsford, Bascom (Artist); Panhandle Pete (Song)

Subjects: Banjo music (Bluegrass); Bluegrass festivals; Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Folk music; Folk musicians; Guitar music (Bluegrass); Marriage; Mountains; Music teachers; Music--Instruction and study; Music--Performance.; Musical performance; Musicians; Old-time music; People; Social interaction; Television--Repairing; United States. Naval Reserve; Washtub bass; Washtub bassists

Partial Transcript: So you went down there many times, you met a lot of interesting people.

Segment Synopsis: Sprung discusses interacting with Doc Watson as well as some of the albums that they collaborated on. Sprung performs a Jewish song on the banjo. He discusses the broadening boundaries of bluegrass music and playing classical music in bluegrass instrumentation.

Keywords: Banjo players; Banjos; Bluegrass music; Classical music; Folk music; Progressive bluegrass movement; Watson, Doc (Artist)

Subjects: Art music; Banjo music (Bluegrass); Bartók, Béla, 1881-1945; Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Cakewalk (Dance); Folk musicians; Hornpipes (Music); Jews--Music; Joplin, Scott, 1868-1917; Judaism; Maple leaf rag (Choreographic work : Graham); Marches (Band); Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, 1756-1791; Music by Jewish composers; Music--Interpretation (Phrasing, dynamics, etc.); Music--Performance.; Musical performance; Musicians; Old-time music; Orlando (Fla.); Ragtime music; Reels (Music); Sousa, John Philip, 1854-1932; Style, Musical

Partial Transcript: I came in first in banjo there one time.

Segment Synopsis: Sprung details playing at various competitions and festivals, including the Galax competition and the Lake Whippoorwill Festival. He talks about his involvement in banjo fraternities and other groups. He talks about supporting his family financially as a musician.

Keywords: Banjo players; Banjos; Bluegrass music; Calloway (Md.); Finances; Five-string banjos; Four-string banjos; Jam sessions; Lake Whippoorwill Festival; New River Ranch; Nylon Banjo Fraternity; Sunset Park

Subjects: American Banjo Fraternity; Banjo music (Bluegrass); Bluegrass festivals; Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Galax (Va.); Martin, Steve, 1945-; Music festivals.; Music--Performance.; Musical performance; Musicians; Old Fiddlers' Convention; Style, Musical

Partial Transcript: Let's go back to the sixties for a minute.

Segment Synopsis: Sprung describes his life and career during the 1960s, mainly participating in the Washington Square Park folk scene of the time.

Keywords: Agitators; Antagonizing; Banned; Beginning; Billy clubs; Bluegrass music; Book; Bowling Green (Album); Clogging (Dance); Clothes; Confronted; Contract; Cousin Emmy (Artist); Doc Watson (Artist); Film; Folk music; Fountain; I'll fly away (Song); Kossoy Sisters (Artist); Leaving; Mayor; Met; Moses Asch (Artist); No credit; Ola Belle Reed (Artist); Permit; Police van; Progressive bluegrass movement; Protesting; Quote; Riot; Show; Simple; Singer; Sunday (film); Television stores; Theatres; Uncle Dave Macon (Artist); Wife

Subjects: Albums; Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Carnegie Hall (New York, N.Y.); Elektra Records (Firm); Fancy; Folk musicians; Folk songs; Good; Grand ole opry (Radio program); Learning; Marriage; Music--Performance.; Musical performance; New York (N.Y.); O brother, where art thou? (Motion picture); People; Photographs; Police; Shanty Boys; Singers; Singing; Songs; Voice; Washington Square (New York, N.Y.); Washtub bass

Partial Transcript: So let's--uh--we're coming in now--you're--you're married.

Segment Synopsis: Sprung details his music career throughout the 1970s.

Keywords: Accompany; Airplane; Banjo players; Banjos; Big band; Bob Paisley (Artist); Bucky Pizzarelli (Artist); Camp Springs Festival; Child; Clawhammer banjo style; Commercial albums; Country music; Cousin; Drinking; Family; Famous; Fiddlers; Folk music; Gloryland Park (Del.); Guitar players; Guitars; Hat; Interesting; Jerry Lundy (Artist); Kay Starr (Artist); Long Island; Marvin Rainwater (Artist); Moving; Nice; Playing; Recommendation; Red Sovine (Artist); Replacement; Skit; Stage; Talent; Ted Lundy (Artist); Tommy Jackson (Artist); Tour; Viscount airplane; Watermelon Park (Berryville, Va.); Willie Nelson (Artist)

Subjects: Age; Albums; Applause; Berryville (Va.); Bluegrass festivals; Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Cost; Death; Delaware; Folk musicians; Gettysburg (Pa.); Hotels; Mardi Gras; Money; Music teachers; Music--Performance.; Musical performance; New Jersey; New Orleans (La.); New York (N.Y.); Newtown (Conn.); North Carolina; Oklahoma; Pennsylvania; Plaza Hotel (New York, N.Y.); Rooms; Singing; Songs; Sons; Teaching; Union Grove (N.C.)

Partial Transcript: Guy Lombardo. I put on a Guy Lombardo--.

Segment Synopsis: Sprung discusses some of the albums he has created over the years. Sprung also lists the different places that he has performed at throughout the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean.

Keywords: Accordion; Association; Balfa Brothers (Artist); Banjo players; Banjos; Bass players; Bill Monroe (Artist); Clawhammer banjo style; Clothing; Commercial recordings; Disliked; Dress; Famous; Fish; Folk music; Folkways Records; Guy Lombardo (Artist); Harry Belafonte (Artist); Hat; Kay Starr (Artist); Lawyer; Mandolins; Old Fiddler’s Convention, Galax, Virginia; Party; Purchased; Saxophones; Trademark; Tunes; Wonderful

Subjects: Albums; Bahamas; Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Canada; Church; Columbia Records, Inc.; Concerts; England; Eunice (La.); Father; Folk musicians; French; Galax (Va.); Gumbo; Louisiana; Materials; Money; Music; Music teachers; Music--Performance.; Musical performance; New York (N.Y.); Nova Scotia; Puerto Rico; Sound; Teaching; Television; Travel; Trinity School (New York, N.Y.); Woman

Partial Transcript: One of the big about things about playing with--uh--various people, especially four-string banjo...

Segment Synopsis: Sprung recalls some of the more memorable performances he has given throughout his career. Sprung also lists the two bluegrass music festivals he regularly attends.

Keywords: Arrangement; Audience; Backup; Banjo players; Banjos; Bluegrass music; Clifftop Music Festival; Club; Eddie Peabody (Artist); Fiddle players; Fiddles; Folk music; Fraternity; Generations; Group; Important; Instrument guild; Jam sessions; Leaving; Long; Memorize; Musical instruments; Old Fiddler’s Convention, Galax, Virginia; Outlook; Parking lot; Playing; Positive; Rare; Sleepy Hall (Artist); Style; Tent; Together; Tunes; Weekend

Subjects: Aging; Asheville (N.C.); August; Bluegrass festivals; Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Bridgeport (Conn.); Career; Folk musicians; Galax (Va.); Good; Harmony; Learning; Man; Maple leaf rag (Choreographic work : Graham); Music--Performance.; Musical performance; Noise; Old-time music; Opportunity; People; Singing; Smithsonian Institution; Songs; Summer; Time; Washtub bass

Partial Transcript: Yes you do. And we're coming now until the 1980s, let's cover--let's get the '80s and '90s.

Segment Synopsis: Sprung discusses playing music with Irish bluegrass musicians. Sprung considers his musical inspirations. Sprung explains how the usage of bluegrass music in commercials, movies, and television shows keeps bluegrass music alive and in the public consciousness.

Keywords: Baez, Joan (Artist); Bagpipes; Banjo players; Banjos; Bill Monroe (Artist); Bluegrass music; Fiddlers; Fiddles; Flatt and Scruggs (Artist); Fleck, Béla (Artist); Folk music; Johnny Cash (Artist); Mandolin players; Mandolins; Media; Movies

Subjects: Advertising--Music; Bagpipe music; Bagpipe reeds; Banjo; Banjoists; Bluegrass festivals; Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Concerts; Connecticut; Double bass; Folk music--Ireland; Hornpipes (Music); Ireland; Irish; Irish musical studies; Music festivals; Music--Performance; Music--Performance.; Musical performance; Old-time music; Radio commercials; Reels (Music); Songs, Irish; Television commercials; Tone

Partial Transcript: How about some of your shows in the past?

Segment Synopsis: Sprung discusses some of his most notable performances. Sprung recalls performing at the Newport Folk Festival and the Philadelphia Folk Festival and mentions interacting with Bill Monroe and Flatt and Scruggs.

Keywords: Accommodation; Appearance; Audience; Bass players; Bill Monroe (Artist); Birthday; Bluegrass music; Bob Dylan (Artist); Camp Springs; Clawhammer banjo style; Creepy; Crowds; Double banjo; Flatt and Scruggs (Artist); Folk music; Helicopter; Hillbilly ranch; Impactful; Johnny Cash (Artist); Lester Flatt (Artist); Mandolin players; Mandolins; Rain and snow (Song); Scruggs, Earl (Artist); Standing ovation; The Black Pearl (Newport, R.I.); Visit; Weekend

Subjects: Albums; Applause; Astor family; Bluegrass festivals; Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Cafes; Candles; Central Park (New York, N.Y.); Church; Confirmation; Cost; Death; Folk Musicians; Greenwich Village (New York, N.Y.); Heating; Mansions; Music--Performance.; Musical performance; New England; New York (N.Y.); Newport (R.I.); Newport Folk Festival; Nineteen sixties; North Carolina; Performances; Peter, Paul, and Mary (Musical group); Philadelphia (Pa.); Philadelphia Folk Festival; Singing; Songs; Television

Partial Transcript: What did people generally in New York think of Bill Monroe?

Segment Synopsis: Sprung considers the impact of Bill Monroe on bluegrass music as a whole. Sprung describes the work that he has done with Flatt and Scruggs.

Keywords: Audience; Back; Bailed out; Banjo contest; Banjo players; Banjos; Bill Monroe (Artist); Bluegrass music; Broadway show; Buck Trent (Artist); Call story; Decision; First album; Flatt and Scruggs (Artist); Folk music; Front; Hired; Impact; In charge; Influence; Jail; Junie Scruggs (Artist); List; Performing; Police car; Record shop; Records; Road; Solos; Unaware; WNOX; Win

Subjects: Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Chance; Hitchhiking; Indiana; Judges; Knoxville (Tenn.); Louisiana hayride (Radio program); Men; Music--Performance.; Musical performance; New York (N.Y.); Radio stations; Reputation; Young

Partial Transcript: Any other highlights that you'd like to--uh--uh--like--like to mention...

Segment Synopsis: Sprung tells the story of how he acquired a Gibson All-American banjo. Sprung offers a demonstration of the banjo, pointing out its unique characteristics. Sprung then plays a short selection of songs on the banjo.

Keywords: Banjo players; Banjos; Bluegrass music; Fiddle players; Fiddlers; Fiddles; Folk music; Gibson All-American banjo; Musical instruments

Subjects: Adopted children; Banjo; Banjo makers; Banjo music (Bluegrass); Banjoists; Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Carving (Decorative arts); Engraving; Folk musicians; Music teachers; Music--Instruction and study; Music--Interpretation (Phrasing, dynamics, etc.); Music--Performance; Music--Performance.; Musical instruments; Musical performance; Musicians; Old-time music; Playing by ear; Style, Musical; Tuning; Violin

Partial Transcript: What do you wanna be remembered for after you're gone in--in--in the world of music--

Segment Synopsis: Sprung considers what he wants his musical legacy to be. Sprung provides advice to young bluegrass musicians.

Keywords: Advantages; Ahead; At ease; Autoharps; Banjo players; Banjos; Bill Keith (Artist); Bluegrass music; CDs; Clifftop Music Festival; Comfortable; Confusing; Development; Different; Difficult; Earl Scruggs (Artist); Electronic tuner; Enjoy; Extra; Folk music; Fun; Happy; Hobby; Human nature; Methods; Natural; No role models; Paperwork; Practice; Reading music; Resources; Rhythm; Starting point; Strings; Style; Tuning; Videos

Subjects: Advice; Albums; Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Computers; Education; Enthusiasm; Folk musicians; Harp; Income; Independence; Internet; Learning; Life; Logistics; Love; Lyrics; Music teachers; Music--Performance.; Musical performance; Musicians; Songs; Sound; Teaching; Technology; Unique

Partial Transcript: So--um--I don't know if there are any more questions--uh--or things that you could say to the Bluegrass Museum...

Segment Synopsis: Sprung talks of some recent gigs and shares additional thoughts on his musical legacy.

Keywords: Accepted; Appreciative; Art gallery; Banjo players; Banjos; Bill Monroe (Artist); Bluegrass music; Bookings; Danny Holland (Artist); East coast; Fiddlers; Fiddles; Folk music; Fortunate; Fun; Guitar players; Guitars; Hal Wiley (Artist); Help; Impact; Influential; Job; Joined; New age church; Nice; Opportunities; Partner; Pay; Rewarding; Soul church; Spiritual organization; Talent; Therapeutic; Way of life

Subjects: Amphitheater; Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Change; Christianity; Cocktail parties; Florida; Folk musicians; Good; Health; Legacy; Miami (Fla.); Money; Music teachers; Music--Performance.; Musical performance; Musicians; North Carolina; Pennsylvania; People; Performances; Poverty; Radio; Religion; Students; Teaching; Thinking; Washington Square (New York, N.Y.); Westport (Conn.); Work; Young