Steve Martin's Banjo Album a Plucky Move
He's got guts, that Steve Martin. Yes, that Steve Martin. He is almost ready to release a banjo album. But just so you know, Martin isn't just another Hollywood celeb trying to go country. He went country a long, long time ago when he got hooked on banjo as a teen in the early ‘60s. I remember watching him on Saturday Night Live in the ‘70s and being surprised at how good he really was. And seeing him on The Late Show With David Letterman a few years ago, I was again pretty blown away watching him keep up with Earl Scruggs on "Foggy Mountain Breakdown." And now he's teamed up with Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's John McEuen, another phenom, to make a banjo record due out in spring of 2009. Martin wrote all 15 songs and spent time recording in Nashville with Vince Gill, Dolly Parton and Earl Scruggs. He even does some singing on the album. Sign me up for this one right on release day.
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RedMaZ says:
Yes Martin is a great banjo player, and takes his music very seriously. Did you know he released an album in 1981 called “The Steve Martin Brothers” that featured not only comedy, but banjo music too? Martin was also on the 2001 Earl Scruggs CD “Earl Scruggs and Friends”. He is also in the “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” video. I will be interested in hearing his latest music endeavor.
Leeann says:
Yeah, I love that Scruggs CD and was pleasantly surprised to see his name in the credits. I’ll be grabbing his album on release day too.
Sue says:
Heard that Tony Trischka & John McCuen were involved too and they recorded in Englewood, NJ. Is that true? Saw Steve Martin with Tony & Bela Fleck on Letterman because he wrote a song for one of Tony’s CDs. Steve can play! Can’t wait for his album!
RedMaZ says:
I was wondering Alison, who are these Hollywood celebs trying to go country?
Leeann says:
Billy Bob Thornton and that guy from Sex In The City are the people that I can think of right now.
RedMaZ says:
Well Billy Bob Thornton has 4 solo CD’s out in 7 years, and then add in The Boxmasters material. I wouldn’t consider him suddenly trying to go country. A lot of the material if far from country anyway. I’d say he’s doing it for the love of music, just as Martin.
Leeann says:
Oh, how could I have forgotten Kevin Costner? Ugh.
Chris says:
I cant wait to hear the song Dolly & Vince do together… wow. Two angelic voices.
RedMaZ says:
Kevin Costner? He desribes his music as Rock/Roots Music/Americana, not Country. So that can’t be it either. So who are these “Hollywood celebs” trying to go “country”?
luvncountry says:
Costner was doing a radio spot when his CD came out and I never heard him say a thing about Roots/Americana- this was on a Top 40 mainstream country pop radio. ?????
RedMaZ says:
Hey? Good for him! That’s probably because most Mainstream Pop Country fans have no idea what Roots Rock or Americana is. Sounds like the Mainstream Pop radio station was trying to cash in on his celebrity status, and not his music. Are they playing his music on this station?
RedMaZ says:
…I’ll take that as a “no”.
Michelle says:
I always knew he played the banjo. He doesn’t seem the least bit Southern or country. He looks and acts like a city slicker and a Yankee. I never heard a trace of an accent. It makes me go crazy wondering why he learned banjo. Was it the folk craze of the sixties? Is he just descended from mountain people? Whatever. I worship the ground he walks on. He makes banjo playing COOL.
brista says:
Well, he just played a song on SNL and while the banjo-playing part may have been good, the song itself…yick. I kept waiting for it to either get funny or get good and neither happened. Something about being late for school.
teddybreastmilk says:
Steve martin is a good banjoist don’t get me wrong. But he should never sing another note as long as he lives.
Chris says:
LOVE this CD!
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