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Jan 10, 2023 · 1. Earl Scruggs. Earl Scruggs by Rivers Langley ( CC BY-SA 3.0) One of the most famous banjo players has to be Early Scruggs who was born in North Carolina in 1924 and was a modern pioneer of the instrument.
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Jim Mills. Jim mills is a bluegrass banjo player heavily influenced by Earl Scruggs. Mills plays in Scruggs’ “3 Finger Style” of banjo playing. Jim is also an expert on banjos historically speaking, and is particularly knowledgeable about pre-war Gibson banjos. Jim was the main banjo player for Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder for 14 years.
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- Earl Scruggs: 1924-2012. Earl is the undisputed father of bluegrass banjo. Scruggs almost single-handedly devised his own brand new three-fingered approach to the five-string banjo, not only drawing on his own first-hand musical experiences from in and around his native North Carolina, but also integrating musical vocabulary from further afield, most notably the New Orleans jazz that was so popular at the time.
- George Formby: 1904-1961. Players of full-sized banjos will often get all hot under the collar when asked if they play any George Formby. “He played the ukulele,” they shout.
- Bill Keith: 1939-present day. By the time Bill Keith came onto the scene, bluegrass five-string banjo players were becoming musically restless, wondering if there could be more to the instrument.
- Wade Ward: 1892-1971. Ward was an important figure in the world of old-time music, and especially the banjo. His contributions to the clawhammer style of playing the five-string banjo have helped shape the way many, if not all, old-time banjo players play today.
- Earl Scruggs. 1,216 votes. Earl Scruggs revolutionized bluegrass banjo with his signature three-finger picking style, a technique that revolutionized the genre and made him one of the greatest players ever to pick up the instrument.
- Béla Fleck. 888 votes. Béla Fleck stands out as one of the most stylistically diverse banjo players in history, with an impressive catalog that spans genres from bluegrass to classical, jazz, and beyond.
- J. D. Crowe. 376 votes. J. D. Crowe's innovative take on the bluegrass banjo style, dubbed "New South," elevated him to prominence among banjoists and earned him a lasting place in music history.
- Don Reno. 245 votes. Don Reno's infectious blend of precision, speed, and ingenuity contributed to his reputation as one of the most innovative and influential banjo players in bluegrass history.
- Bela Fleck (1958 – Present) Bela Fleck is perhaps one of the most versatile and talented banjo players to ever walk the earth. If you are already familiar with the bluegrass scene, you have probably already heard the name as he has broken down the boundaries of traditional bluegrass with hints of jazz, blues, classical, bebop, and other styles in his banjo playing.
- Earl Scruggs (1924 – 2012) Earl Scruggs created the iconic “Scruggs style” banjo playing which is the standard for traditional and modern bluegrass music.
- Sonny Osborne (1937 – 2021) Sonny Osborne is another iconic American bluegrass picker from Kentucky that is famous for his cutting-edge banjo playing on famous traditional songs like “Cripple Creek” and “Rocky Top”.
- Tony Trischka (1949 – Present) While we have so far uncovered two of the traditional fathers of bluegrass, it is time to give praise to one known to many as the father of modern bluegrass – Tony Trischka.
Feb 6, 2024 · List of the Best Banjo Players of All Time. 1. Earl Scruggs. 2. Béla Fleck. 3. Noam Pikelny. 4. Tony Trischka. 5. Don Reno. 6. Alison Brown. 7. Bill Keith. 8. Ralph Stanley. 9. Steve Martin. 10. Jens Krüger. 11. J. D. Crowe. 12. Abigail Washburn. 13. Pete Seeger.
Jan 16, 2021 · Quick Look: Best Banjo Players of All Time ★ #1 Best Banjo Player Overall: Earl Scruggs ★ Best Bluegrass Banjo Player: Earl Scruggs; Best Clawhammer Banjo Player: Rhiannon Giddens; Best Progressive Banjo Player: Bela Fleck; Best Late Banjo Player: Earl Scruggs; Best Current Banjo Player: Noam Pikelny; SEE THE FULL LIST
