David Letterman 2012-09-24 Steve Martin Banjo Session ft. Mark Johnson & Emory Lester

Segment from The Late Show (2012 09 24), Steve Martin honors Mark Johnson with his third annual banjo award, featuring Emory Lester on the six string.

[@johndashner1833]

So glad to see Steve finally giving music center stage in his life. his joy is contagious.

[@Juliet475]

Steve once remarked something like "I do comedy because when do you ever see a banjo player driving a Porsche?"

[@rugratz2222]

My dad loved bluegrass and old mountain music ... even to the latest age ... died 5 days before his 93rd birthday in 2014 ... I'm betting there is a special soundstage in Heaven for this kind of music and my dad is sitting front and center, having a big steak dinner and side-dancing with all the angels, until my mom makes it there. Miss you, Dad!

[@Dtrollmancan]

+Rug Ratz Well god bless my friend, we are all getting there its just that some get there before others

[@k0rriban]

That's not how heaven works.

[@Dtrollmancan]

Darth Nihilus and you knowwww? yea i bet you have never read the bible, only the parts your dady told you to read

[@k0rriban]

Dtrollmancan What's the Bible say about antagonizing, you hypocrite?

[@ilikezappa]

Rug Ratz didn`t invite you to give him a theology lecture . He was just missing his dad . Learn when it is appropriate to shoe horn in your beliefs son . RugRatz Sure there are banjos in heaven . No accordians tho ,guaranteed !

[@dlfleming3]

It's hard to feel bad while listening to bluegrass. Thanks Steve.

[@jane-wh5lr]

HOLY SHIT Steve Martin is amazing

[@zapkvr]

What a renaissance man. What a genius.

[@jewgirl952]

Steve Martin's King Tut is the funniest skit there is!!!

[@keystonebrotherb]

I was at a Christmas party and Mark played in Keystone Heights FL a few years before this and I was amazed at Mark’s talent. I had no idea who he was or his pedigree. I was blessed to realize the amazing talent of this unorthodox banjo player. How can someone be so innovative?! I was in awe then as I am now. This man should showcase his ability every time he can.

[@1nonconformist]

Congratulations Mark! Glad to see you are receiving the recognition you so rightfully deserve. Awesome pickin' by all! And thanks to Steve Martin for honoring gifted and talented muscians.

[@bijibadness]

Can you even imagine this man is 67 YEARS OLD?! He has not aged since 'the jerk'. Im serious, him and keanu reeves simply do not age.

[@paulmoran7394]

Like Steve said many moons ago, you can't play a sad song on the banjo, Bravo!

[@DavidSmith-kz8lr]

Mark Johnson....is a Fabulous Musician....1

[@donmajestic5258]

Steve is such a great talent and big star.

[@joadhenry]

smiling from my heart to my ears and back

[@DobermansRock]

We just saw Steve in his true body and self.

[@clowe73]

I'm not a big comment guy.......love the banjo work. Steve is awesome!

[@synthonaplinth5980]

Like Harpo with his harp, he looks so happy.☺

[@OldWhig1688]

Wow! Beautiful banjo music! I never imagined such a thing!

[@bri123one]

Wow Mark, congrats! Very very cool to see my childhood BF's dad on Letterman with Steve Martin! You sound amazing.

[@paganish78]

the sound is so sweet . plucking can be quite agressive but man that was sweet .

[@SAWSTUDIO]

Good for you, Mark. Recognition is long overdue.

[@lydialas8756]

@Hello George how are you doing

[@joshuanicholsjr5327]

almost never missed Johnny Carson and have always loved Steve Martin funny man and boy can he play that banjo god bless them both

[@JoeBanjo88]

As always great stuff Mark and Emory!

[@Iwantamansonguitar]

That music is so... alive!

[@kurikokaleidoscope]

Fabulous and entertaining ❤

[@BreadLightPray_EWFMgtr]

I think Steve and Mark are playing the same model of banjo. I only say this because I think Steve's banjo is beautifully decorated, and his banjo usually outshines others on stage; and I wish they could take time to talk a bit about their instruments. I'm into American made acoustic guitar pieces so I can spot some of the build differences on the instruments. They are gorgeous pieces❣❣ Steve Martin is a heck of a considerate gentleman!!

[@omarobre]

Steve Martin: a real artist...

[@1airsoftboy]

Steve's a great talent, all round entertainer

[@jootai]

see kids, this is what you call an INSTRUMENT!

[@micwell2247]

Was very good by all, Is very reminiscent to Irish folk music

[@kandiehill4693]

Music at its core! Amazing!!!!

[@aaron27111]

it is realy enjoyable

[@leespaner]

he is great

[@papabear5253]

Brilliant ! Loved it.

[@lydialas8756]

@Hello How are you doing dear

[@MikeBCNU]

experience this live....

[@thewalrus5198]

i wanna play banjo. i don't know why, it just looks interesting.

[@loushaw7607]

Try it

[@cmomofilm]

There's a bit from a guy called Dennis Pennis, he's playing an interviewer on a red carpet when he asks Steve "Steve, why did you stop being funny?" the look in Steve Martins eyes says "I'm still trying but its not working anymore", it's heartbreaking.

[@evanmcroberts5427]

holy crap!!! he has a deering clawgrass!!!!!!

[@siamterry]

So much more feeling in clawhammer, in my humble opinion. Long live Tom Paley ! Anyone know what make of banjos they were playing ?

[@traildust32]

They are Deering banjos and appear to be the Clawgrass models. Pause at 4:50 and you can read it at the bottom of Mark's banjo neck. Great sound but be sitting down when you price one.

[@siamterry]

Thanks, Traildust, and see what you mean about the price ! Think I,ll take an old Tubaphone :)

[@lydialas8756]

@Hello Siamterry how are you doing

[@thudable]

Great Performance !!!

[@1339LARS]

A beaut !

[@TheSaintberzerker]

No auto-tune necessary, kids.

[@mickplant5186]

Steve Martin plays as jf he has 2 brains

[@kubel83]

Damn i did not know he could play banjo. Nice job guys:)

[@OsmarCaco]

Steve is great!

[@YARROWS9]

That was brilliant.Billy Connolly is good also.

[@DiverPeg]

Delightful! :-)

[@Vesnicie]

Music begins @ 3:15

[@caponi14]

Also nice guitar strumming bro!

[@saumyanarayanmishra8626]

Nicely done 🦚💙💕

[@flautalee3090]

Going to check out the “3CD set” ~~ actually DVD’s ~~ ❤

[@DropkickNation]

Wow! Banjo and guitar sound so great together.

[@abwald]

lol

[@seansdady2]

That looks like a good old fashion pickin party

[@franciscocarvajal7858]

They should just do reruns of all the Letterman shows these days.

[@Papiprah]

My goodness, everytime I hear this I have goospimples. WOW!

[@TonyfromBham]

Steve Martin can do everything in the claw hammer realm that this guy can do, AND Martin can kill on three finger Scruggs style too. He should have paid himself the $50,000.00.

[@luthercase1665]

Tony Lombardo some of those claw hammer licks from mark were pretty damn hard man...

[@deladonics]

I watched another video where Mark said Steve flew him out to wherever he was to teach him to play clawhammer like that because it's a clawhammer style Mark created.

[@jonbhorton]

Don’t be a shithead. Mark taught Steve how to remotely be able to play like that.

[@nickfuller20]

I wonder if Steve knows Uncle Tom's Cabin, by Warrant!! Awesome song.

[@caponi14]

It's funny how Banjo players always look like the things they play, are fucking easy :D

[@DavidFobare]

Piece is reminiscent of The Tammenorrie.

[@joshuahomme1]

got it. Its called "Forked Deer."

[@SuperSebo1]

John Campea brought me here..!

[@oanhho8267]

+Sebo Mehmeti me too bro :D

[@nicolasjames1017]

+Sebo Mehmeti me three bro

[@jasonberezowski2869]

Okay but that acoustic player was low key fire.

[@chemdah]

There are some big ties on show in this ensemble LOL

[@ravelli942000]

Men wear big ties, boys wear slim ties.

[@Kha89478]

Damn funny 🤣

[@gionata72]

I have the same impression

[@davestambaugh7282]

I prefer the style of playing with a flat pick just like the guitar player here is doing. From the turn of the century to the stock market crash this style of playing was far more common than picking with the fingers in either up stroke or down stroke style.

[@nomoremrniceguy368]

I know it was a year at least since your comment, what style/kind of guitar is he playing? Also the style of his playing is very nice.

[@joshuahomme1]

What is the name of the song they are playing???

[@what342]

Music starts @ 3:18 everybody

[@adamstrong872]

Mark Johnson looks like Louis CK with more hair.

[@Stangil1]

And more talent.

[@matapopa]

He looks like jim cary on those pictures :D

[@oakbyte4580]

John Campea brought me here! :)

[@shade2O]

10/24/2012: He got the date wrong, I just watched this last night.

[@redjetsen1002]

Where is the Bass player? They would sound so much better with a bottom end.

[@jamescourtney4655]

That Jerk can sure rip!

[@stormyjensen8077]

who thumbs down this?! wow. lol

[@CCNutritionist]

Wow, imagine two great comedians playing clawhammer on the same stage! Who knew Louis CK and Steve Martin had it in them? (sorry, couldn't resist)

[@DoAllUCan2StanD]

Strange statue..listen to Steve's sarcasm about it right at the start ..

[@josdenis3684]

Steve is a multitalented artist. What I don’t appreciate is this narcissistic hosts sitting higher then there guests.

[@toddbeatty6759]

David letterman was not a narcissist...you're just a small little man

[@Queenmarie88]

Who thumbs down talent/great music like that?? Oh let me guess---the people who think rap is good music. Yeah. LOL

[@linchumphries]

Queenmarie88 u got 'em champ

[@Queenmarie88]

+owen Wier well Owen at least you have SOME good taste LOL

[@Weltenmaler]

It's possible to enjoy both. Let's just hope more people get into it and widen their musical horizons.

[@850iStyle]

someone who would laugh at this 'bit' and say they dislike 'banjo' music, which is probably actually the majority of people.

[@FANJG24]

Mark is playing a 5-string, not a 6-string.

[@joemartin3254]

Name of this tune??

[@taydrabrookshire347]

Darude - Sandstorm

[@joemartin3254]

***** Eh I doubt it

[@steveblanchard2712]

Forked Deer....

[@rachelayjay89]

Acoustic campaign maybe?

[@Isaias1507]

3:16

[@agentn8064]

Put the banjo down and tell a joke

[@Juliet475]

$#!+ KICKIN music, just get up and clog!

[@Jay_Tsunami_]

haha have you seen sean connery. guys looks the same as he did 30 years ago XD

[@talkcoolone]

Louis CK plays a mean banjo

[@hankmoody6636]

Will Smith?

[@Carlinisalive]

Last time I saw a banjo in person it was played by an older white gentlemen who had some very choice words about "colored folk"... Not a joke for likes I'm serious.

[@jakebergen7945]

+Antonio so all banjo players are racist

[@Carlinisalive]

Jake Bergen Did I say or insinuate that?

[@keithleverette631]

Last time I met someone named Antonio, they were trying to break into my truck

[@jakebergen7945]

+Keith Leverette hahaha 😅

[@Carlinisalive]

Keith Leverette Good thing Antonio is just my middle name. They might have thought I was a suspect

[@tilberry19]

ANYONE LIKE ME AND CAME HERE BECAUSE OF HOWARD? just wondering! lol i love hit but he takes out that banjo and i wanna get away from the guy!

[@dmsanchez7999]

yea me too

[@dmsanchez7999]

yea me too

[@KingdomUploader]

so does steve actually have an ear for what makes a great banjo-ist? i ask because, for me, the markings of a great banjo player is that the drool hits the floor; am i missing something? :)

[@poppycocksa]

=MUSE= are better

[@DavidSmith-kz8lr]

Mark is a great banjo picker.......Dave Smith............Yo!

[@wolverineiscool7161]

I'll be honest, he SUCKS with the banjo, his friends are doing the most work anyway, howard stern was right

[@wolverineiscool7161]

No. He sucks and you suck too....you dont know what the hell you're talking about so crawl back to wherever shithole you came from you pathetic piece of shit , bitch

[@sufenta67]

Clawhammer looks harder than 3 finger, Scruggs style.

[@absoluteelectricandmainten7432]

Emory Lester on the Guitar is no chump either! His usual gig is with a mandolin. His flat picking puts so many metal heads to shame.

[@lfgubrs]

The Jerk came in 79 and he hasnt age a day since then.. amazing

[@BanjoWoodshed]

Mark and Emory, congratulations! Forked Deer was the first thing I ever heard you guys play and it is the pinnacle performance of what you guys do!

[@allboutep]

Steve is such a talented man. Actor, writer and musician.. wow!!

[@benjaminfranklin4149]

Great magician too

[@williamdusty6595]

As well as instructor now that he's done a master class session for comedy and music performance

[@matthewmedina9905]

Nobody gave credit the the finger pickin banjo guy to the left making all the music. He was the REAL beast. Steve was just holding three different chords the whole song. Credit given where deserved

[@Aspiring-Hobo]

Back before all you heard on late night comedy was non stop Trump hating

[@CMFblue03]

Love Steve martin

[@nicholasclarkson2468]

Just plain old good music!