"Cripple Creek" with Tracy Newman on the 5-string banjo

have you noticed this instrument over here that looks like a frying pan on a big stick well that's a banjo of course and it's a five string banjo that means it's got five strings and notice where the fifth string starts way up here so if i form the chords up here then this string isn't included see this instrument can be so loud that i put a towel in the back to soften it the strings on the banjo are made of steel and this part is made of parchment which is the paper that many of our first books were written on a lot of people use finger picks when they play the banjo but i don't because i do a lot of strumming now i'm going to play a song called creek because it's a very good banjo tune if i can get through it i got a gallon she find my girl find my girl you

Channel: Tracy Newman

Views: 5,395,976

Keywords: banjo, Cripple Creek (City/Town/Village), tracy newman, bluegrass, Folk Music (Musical Genre), Gibson banjo, frailing, five-string banjo, what's new, PBS, WNET, banjo cover, sleepy man banjo boys, Appalachian, Early Country Songs, Bill Monroe, Public Television, What's New

Id: Ew6DS2bXYmk

Length: 2min 23sec (143 seconds)

Published: Tue Aug 11 2015

Reddit Comments

[u/Mr_A]

Oh, more, more! What was that from? I want to watch the whole series. Where can I watch the full series?

Also, I just noticed the video was uploaded by Tracy Newman.

Her video description:

In 1965, I did 6 episodes of a public TV series called "What's New." I presented folk songs from all over the world, and many instruments, to the best of my ability at the time. We shot these episodes at Brooklyn College and Joan Sheppard was the director.

A comment in the comments section:

Sean Kayll: "if I can get through it." Proceeds to nail it.

Jaye Kaye: Yea I think she set that one up

Tracy Newman: Hi Jaye! This made me laugh. I did six episodes of "What's New." There were about 10 songs on each show. I had to perform each half hour without editing, which means I had to memorize the script and the blocking and do the whole episode without mistakes. If I made a mistake 25 minutes into the taping, I had to start over. (That only happened once.) The director, Joan Sheppard, was adamant - she refused to do any editing. (This was Brooklyn College's TV department, and she was a teacher. Everything technical was done by her students.) I had fun doing these shows, but there was a huge amount of pressure on me. By the time I did Cripple Creek, I had no idea whether I would "nail it" or not. This was the only song I knew how to play on the banjo. My teacher was banjo virtuoso, Doug Dillard. I only learned the song to audition for The Andy Griffith Show, (which I didn't get.) Brooklyn College submitted this series to PBS and they used it on the "What's New" series for children. The whole experience taught me so much about how "the show must go on." Sorry to go on and on about this, but this is all bringing back memories!

bolark60: This is just great. Loved it. Glad to have you go "on and on". What a hoot that you nailed that frailing for the one song. I was doing similar stuff in 1962. Learned the 5 string totally from the red Pete Seeger soft cover book. It only lasted a few years until I got a real job, married, had babies. Wonderful memories, however, and you brought them back.

Tracy Newman: I'm so glad I could do that for you. I'm trying to pick up the banjo a bit again. It's hard!!!

Michael Nagle: The playing of technical perfectionists often lacks emotion, and the expression of emotion is what makes music move people. That was beautiful. I just want to know how you got through those lyrics without blushing.

Tracy Newman: first of all, thank you and thanks for watching. Frankly, I never really thought about the lyrics much back then. I had no idea, in fact, that it was a man's POV. I didn't think about the meaning at all. I loved the song and just sang it. I'm blushing now.

[u/Tristan_Booth]

I had never heard of her, but I was impressed to find that she was taught the banjo by Doug Dillard! (And she's Laraine Newman's sister.)

[u/aikoaiko]

Cripple Creek

I got a girl and she loves me

She’s as sweet as sweet can be

She’s got eyes of baby blue

Makes my gun shoot straight and true.

Goin’ up Cripple Creek goin’ in a run

Goin’ up Cripple Creek to have some fun.

Cripple Creek’s wide and Cripple Creek’s deep

I’ll wade old Cripple Creek before I sleep

Roll my breeches to my knees

I’ll wade ol’ Cripple Creek when I please

I went down to Cripple Creek

To see what them girls had to eat

I got drunk and fell against the wall

Old corn likker was the cause of it all

[u/DesignerGreens]

Cripple Creek, Colorado? My girl and I go up there occasionally to gamble! I guess we’re definitely goin up to have a little fun

[u/castigamat]

r/liveisbetter

[u/laurenbanjo]

I approve!

[u/dystopika]

More recent video of Tracy Newman performing, September 2014

[u/rememberingthe70s]

This is so wonderful!

[u/ReallyLongLake]

Was The Band inspired/riffing off this old tune?