The Most Authentic Bluegrass Salty Dog Blues I Ever Heard. Earl Scruggs & The Morris Brothers.

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

Here is the complete film with so many musical icons - kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZ3RlqR5ZdKJqc0

[@Tokinjester]

Hi David, thanks for posting all this awesome musical history 👍 I only found out about Flatt & Scruggs through Sierra Ferrel's cover of one of their songs, Before I Met You. If you haven't heard it, it's definitely worth catching on KZbin love from Scotland :)

[@marylyles-adair9539]

@@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker Thank you! You’ve done some fascinating films!

[@TheSuzette1]

I was born in a small coal mining town in southwestern VA. All of my uncles, my daddy, and my grandfather, worked in the coal mines. My daddy talked about all of the greats. They all went through the coal mining towns to sing and play. Ralf Stanley lived in Clintwood Va. I don't know if that helped bring those like Hank Williams, the Carter sisters, Loretta Lynn, Flat and Scruggs and so many more, but daddy lived it. On Sat. evenings, daddy's grandpa had a radio and they would sit and listen to the grand ole opry. They are all gone now. Everyone seeing this should ask their parents and grandparents to tell them about when they were growing up. When they are gone, it is too late. We need the power that comes from family history and I grew up listening to men and women talking just like in this video.

[@Commenting-answering]

My Dad was born in our hollow in 1936. He grew up all over as his parents were peripatetic. He always felt grounded to his grandparents home. My husband and I took our kids to see family and my great grandparents home where my father was born about 18 years ago. My daughter is going back to see cousins later this year. Ralph Stanley’s museum held the doors open for us because we were going to be a little late getting there. The people of this region, with their lovely accents, are wonderful people. I am glad mine and my children’s roots are there.

[@Gary-xu8xp]

Nice comment my blood is founding as in the revolutionary War type .from Russell. Tazewell. And Buchanan counties.been there since day 1.

[@commanderNSO]

My great grandpa worked in the mills of Cliffside NC with some of the pickers that influenced Earl Scruggs. I grew up 20 minutes from where this was filmed. Some of the old folks are still close to this, and blue grass is such a natural, organic thing around here. Heck, the people who influenced Scruggs were all local folks in Rutherford and Cleveland counties in NC and Cherokee County in SC, all along the Broad River. Many folks have begun calling the distinctive Earl Scruggs sound the Broad river sound or Broad River school of Bluegrass. The influencers of Scruggs frequently attended a once famous fiddlers convention at the old school house in the community of Hollis, NC. That tradition continues today with the Ellenboro Fiddler's convention, meant to be a continuation of the old convention, in the next town over. Right up the road in the northern end of the county near the Rutherford and Cleveland county lines near Golden Valley and Polkville, off of highway 226, there's a little country store where a good crowd of folks still gather together with some good picking and fellowship. In my youth I attended church near there and had buddies who lived there, a couple of my buddies played bluegrass along with their fathers and grandfathers. We often met up at the store for a soda (had to be a Cheerwine, RC cola, or Sundrop) and some picking. Good times.I'm just a 37 year old North Carolina boy with roots in this state going back 300 years, both aristocratic first families and simple farmers. This is part of our culture, a culture worth celebrating and sharing. David, you've done a wonderful job making that possible, this is one of my favorite documentaries, and we are very grateful. Earl Scruggs is much larger than just the legend himselg, larger than the music genre.

[@randymc61]

I started this video, then happened to glance up at the TV, and the Beverly Hillbillies is on. Perfect.

[@3fsw3]

David, I can’t figure out if you were a hippie filmmaker or just someone truly in search of Americana, but the insight you had to record so much of your material boggles my mind. You were(are) wise ahead of your years and had the sense and the wherewithal to reach out to people regardless of their status, walk of life, race, or most any other category... pick any one!!! Thank you for being our country’s true historian.

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

Frank. Hardly a hippie. The budget on this documentary which took 6 weeks to shoot, was nearly $200,000. 6 months in editing back then. 16mm film. David Hoffman-filmmaker

[@christopherskipp1525]

​@@DavidHoffmanFilmmakerHave you transferred any of your film films to other kinds of (more current) media?

[@stewartfenton7660]

A hippie? Have you seen the film of David in the shower with Joan Baez,wearing his suit?

[@apjbuilder]

Well said !!!

[@berkeleybernie]

@@christopherskipp1525 If the audio tapes have been preserved, I bet restored audio quality would be much better than the audio off the 16mm film transfer. That would be a worthy archival project, for sure!

[@goatboy150]

Watching those grease-covered fingers go up and down the fretboard was humbling. Thanks for the history.

[@ChurlishCurmudgeon]

Ol Earl tried to run off with it after the first verse and they wouldn’t let him. Perfect, you never get bigger than them you was raised with.

[@secondhandlyon2603]

I grew up listening to people sitting around playing this kind of music. When I was little I thought everyone's family played music. I didn't realize at the time how privileged I was to have that sort of upbringing. These videos bring back wonderful memories.

[@tamaramurphy5386]

me, too!!!

[@jimmccarley9609]

As a young man, I lived in a remote area and sat around a fire at night. We would pass the guitar around and take turns singing songs, (we only had 1 guitar, and no tv stations).

[@edrose8358]

I never had the pleasure of meeting Zeke Morris. I did meet his son John about 25 years ago and still know him. He lives in the same neighborhood that I do and I pass by his place often. My dad is also an automobile body repair and paint professional that retired a few years ago. John has painted my service van, a pickup truck and a Corvette for me. Not only is he a master of his trade, he's a lively and fun fellow like his dad was. Good banter is always available when he's around. I wanted to thank you for documenting these national treasures for everyone to enjoy. May God's richest blessings be yours!!!

[@47fireguy16]

I lived 2 blocks from the Scruggs and went to school with the boys. Walked by their house many a morning going to school and the "Martha White" bus would be parked on the street by the house and whole Flatt and Scruggs group would be loading up to head out to play that great music. I think back to all of the country music stars, musicians, and writers that lived within 2 miles of me and how many friends, that were their sons and daughters, were just that -good friends. Even with all of their parent or parents successes it was a hard life and very few followed in their footsteps. I remember one friend who got in the business , that I saw at the funeral for a big name in the music and we talked about how our lives were in the 50's and 60's. His son was with him and I asked if he had ever though getting in the business and his father answered for him. No Way. They did us a great service with all of the music that was put out but it all wasn't anything close to the big money that is out there now. It was definitely a different era.

[@TheStuport]

Wow...A very cool story to share...Thank You Fireguy...Cheers From Ohio

[@mrjakedog07]

Hello Shelby NC!

[@DJK-cq2uy]

Thanks for the details!!!

[@DJK-cq2uy]

Frank James and I read Shakespeare with Donsld Duck and Popeye

[@marylyles-adair9539]

Oh my daddy loved these old time Blue Grass songs. We had to listen to little else on the car radio. At the time I rolled my eyes. Now I love to hear this music! Thanks for sharing! Tomorrow is my dad’s birthday!

[@captainsouth4460]

My Dad was born in W Va. and played the fiddle, he would have me bang out bluegrass chords and jam on his fiddle when I was a teen in the 70’s. Sure miss the old man.

[@notsuretwo]

I love these guys. Hardworking, entertaining very well spoken. This is a glimpse of true Americana.

[@sunfish87]

I'm a Morris brother myself. Wonder how we're related. I dig that song and the stories. Thanks for sharing.

[@stevedouglas7375]

Wow, this really takes me back and in a very good way. If you look closely to the mandolin player, you can see years of grease encrusted in and around his fingernails. I grew up with not only seeing that with my uncles, but also with smelling the grease, gasoline, cigarettes and "Schlitz" beer. People will say that was uncouth, but for me it was "family" and they were "good" people!

[@softshoes]

Yep it looks like they drug him out from under the hood of a car and said let's play one for the fellas.

[@stevehahn4066]

My grandma used to tell me ALL work has DIGNITY!

[@goatboy150]

Some of my favourite smells 😊

[@jadefire1814]

Maybe it is uncouth. But a man with a hand that looks like that , to me, feels like peace and safety. My Dear Daddy's hands look just the same.

[@barry1705]

Love the real down home people. I was born in Asheville. All my relatives live there. Dad moved us to the triangle of N.C.,Beacon blanket factory closed. He got us out of there for a better life, and opportunities. Education and jobs are plentiful , in the triangle. But l miss the down home nice people that will give you the shirt of there back to help there neighbor. I’m retired now , l might just get me a Cabin on a hill. 5:37 Thank you David for the time capsule of great music 🎶.

[@nadanada5698]

How can anyone click a thumbs down for anything David Hoffman does ? ?

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

Thank you Nada. David Hoffman - filmmaker

[@nadanada5698]

David Hoffman - you are so welcome 🙏 you are as part of Americana as Apple Pie ! ! ! !

[@christopherlynch9006]

Love this - as an Irishman I feel a real affinity with these people . Reminds me of the near past in my country - relative poverty alleviated by love of music, stoicism and coarse good humour.

[@chuckbrewer4502]

From what I've read, Bluegrass has Irish roots. At least if you go back before it was know as Bluegrass. These tunes are sometimes refered to as Old Timey or Hillbilly music.

[@kaleidoscope8743]

​@@chuckbrewer4502As a descendent of Irish people who settled in East Tennessee ( the other side of the Appalachian mountains ) My grandfather was a farmer and worked at the factory where they made the Abomb. He played guitar and fiddle... they just didn't call it bluegrass then. According to local and family legend he could "play the hand out of the fiddle" ... (a southern expression where the word hand is substituted instead of saying 'hell'. He could play very good. My sister has his fiddle and bow. He was a slim 5' 8" tall. When my dad died, mother moved us from the city, back to the farm she grew up on.

[@katperson7332]

@@chuckbrewer4502not sure if it’s true but I read somewhere that the term hillbilly came from the abundance of boys and men called Billy, because their people had come over from Northern Ireland and many of them were supporters of King Billy (William of Orange).

[@retireorbust]

Appalachia was settled by mostly Scots and Irish and they love to drink and fight like their ancestors as well. Tough, hardy people.

[@brucecollins641]

@@chuckbrewer4502 bluegrass will have it's origins in scottish fiddle reel music. them being indigenous to scotland.the earlier scots settlers would have taken it over to amerikay.

[@TheStuport]

The INSTANT I read Earl Scruggs....Memories of "The Beverly Hillbillies" came a calling to my Heart....and then when I heard the song "Salty Dog" I immediately thought of Charlene Darling from The Andy Griffith Show singing that very song with her Pappy and brothers! I do love the laid back atmosphere of The Mountain People...and the outdoors is enough to make a person ask themselves.."Why do I want to go back and live in The City After All This?" Brilliant Video of Americana Mr. Hoffman....Cheers From Ohio

[@shaunw9270]

Wow just amazing players , all of them !

[@lindawoody8501]

What virtuoso musicians and singers! Wow. Thanks for including this clip and showing it here on KZbin. What a wonderful thing!

[@ikkenhisatsu7170]

Like it or not, these people represent the USA more than any group I can think of. And for the record, I'm on their side. Great music, absolutely American. Let's not let it die.

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

No worry. It is very much alive in the mountains and around the country. The music is extraordinarily popular and many young people are involved. David half and filmmaker

[@jimmccarley9609]

Take up an instrument, and go sing! there are groups all over. David's work is pretty cool, no?

[@efinkens]

Fabulous. Thank you.

[@livefreeordie3992]

3 YEARS , 3 DAYS ,3 MINUTES, 30 years, still relevant today

[@johnbuterbaughsr.933]

I ran lights for the Earl Scruggs Review with his son's at a petunia festival . He waited for me to find a poster , signed it and had his band sign it . A really great man not a snob who didn't have time for his fans . I was touring with Wedsels Edsels out of Lancing Michigan and we supplied sound and lights.

[@dayender]

too bad KZbin wasn’t around in 1972, a whole generation missed this till now. Welll what else you got with the brothers picking dave

[@reneeroth4045]

Indeed, what else ya got! lol. I love it! Thank You for bringing this to us.

[@BBRocker75]

But in there was TV, but these "things" were considered oudated, for rednecks, an old heritage to send into oblivion, things for olds folks. Mass media project was MODERNIZE USA. And the mass media almost destroyed all these cultural expressions. But some people were resilient, they keep their traditions in all ways from music to food, from handcrafting to plant knowlegde. But SO MUCH WAS LOST! Americana was almost destroyed to the ground. And many people is asking today, 2024, why USA is downfalling? My gosh, you cannot be a Great Nation if you erased your traditions.

[@MezzMcGillicuddy1]

What a treasure! Thank you David Hoffman!! ❤

[@CAROLUSPRIMA]

The Morris Brothers were bluegrass pioneers - of that first generation that includes Monroe, Flatt and Scruggs and the Stanleys. They never got the recognition they deserved and so I’m heartened to see this for the first time.

[@michaeldaltonsr8954]

Yay!Man! I was born in Galax, Va in early '50's. Before we moved away(for Dad's work) we lived on hill X from Felt's Park/ Old Time Fiddler's Convention every summer!! Yep, you playin my memories!! TY!

[@mistergrandpasbakery9941]

Thank you for preserving the legacy of Earl Scruggs as the cultural icon he will always be! 🎵

[@sidneyshusterman6076]

What a piece of music history! Thank you David Hoffman.

[@paulring4267]

My daddy was born in Ash County NC He played the fiddle. ❤ Thanks for sharing

[@railroadpicker4933]

Back me up Earl! What a treasure

[@tonywtyt]

What a great moment to capture!

[@powersv2]

Thanks for archiving American culture

[@pmscalisi]

This just popped up out of nowhere on my feed. That was really great. Reminds me of Sunday afternoon at my uncle’s house playing music with him and my cousins. Really good times

[@elliotportner8020]

Great to see you-- freilichn yor -- you are wonderful.

[@Synochra]

mind boggling, no other way to put it. thank you Mr. Hoffman!

[@uncleeko7212]

The algorithmic gods smiled on me today and put this masterpiece in my feed. My Lord I don't think I've spent a better five and a half minutes than this in a long time. Thank you! (Just noticed the link to the entire film. Yes!).

[@mdhbigdog]

Mr. Hoffman, thank you for your excellent documentary of Earl Scruggs and his life and music. And thank you for posting this segment. I love "Salty Dog Blues" and it's wonderful to know where it came from.

[@walterash9660]

A true example of how ordinary men are capable of extraordinary things...thank you David for capturing Americna.

[@sandreawhite7534]

That was soooooooo great!

[@KC2DZB]

Awesome, love it!

[@cb6866]

Thank you ...that was great !

[@freetomato]

What a lovely little gem that came across my feed!

[@ShortbusMooner]

Love me some pickin' 'n grinnin'!

[@steveallen2681]

Thank you zoo very much Mr. Hoffman

[@seanmuir9594]

What a treat. Thank you.

[@fdawei]

Absolutely fascinating.

[@pamarabenton9039]

Thank you for sharing that. So good.

[@mrkultra1655]

This kind of thing should be digitally archived for the rest of time. Far too many of these situations and one off occurrences have been lost to the ages, because most people, especially the people involved, think of it as no big deal, it’s just something we (they) do every day, and that it’s not anything special. Well, let me tell you. These things are VERY special and important. This kind of culture and these kinds of people are disappearing at an alarming rate, and just like a lot of other things, when they’re gone, they’re gone forever, and eventually be totally forgotten.

[@jimmccarley9609]

Gotta love me a little Salty Dog blues.

[@frankdisilvio9131]

Love it ! Mr. H , thanks for making the film ! What talent ! And ya got to Love how these men were real men. Not fancy pants entertainers who don't know how hard people work.

[@lindaleduke5016]

I remember this song from when I was a child. Radio was our link with the world. I can't keep my toes from tappin' when I hear this!!! Thanks for bringing back a great memory.

[@colingeorgeh]

I heard Salty Dog on Andy Griffith Show by the Darlins. What a great piece of music history. I love bluegrass and hillbilly music. Thanks for sharing this gem.

[@TheStuport]

Yep...I remembered that too the moment I heard David sing that song!!

[@marthak1618]

Yeah, but it was the Dillards. Darling was their fictional name.

[@colingeorgeh]

I am a fan of the Dillards. The Andy Griffith show episodes with the Dillards exposed me to bluegrass music. I am a fan of bluegrass and roots music.

[@HeardFromMeFirst]

Real and Raw...thanks David..another good one .🍷

[@toastoflondon3362]

I sat in a garden in Miami in 1980 listening to fiddle, guitar and banjo played by people who sounded just like this who came to live in Florida from places like S. Carolina, N. Alabama and even east Texas. I flew back to London UK the next day and back to the London Irish/Scots family were I heard this music for the first time (well, at least it's origin!) Best wishes from London

[@avagrego3195]

thank you very much, very enjoyable

[@edsyphan3425]

I don’t know how much performing they were doing at that time, but it didn’t look like they lost a single step in timing and harmony. And Earl along with Doc Watson were two of the top musicians as well as, just human treasures. Thank you so much for taking the time.

[@theroller5673]

What an extraordinary time capsule of happiness. Everyone of them absolute legends.

[@oldchickenlady]

Oh mercy!!! That was beautiful. I grew up in music and Mississippi. You made me happy and homesick.

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

Oldchickenlady: Thank you for your comment. If your resources allow, I would sure appreciate your using the THANKS button under any of my videos including the one you have commented on. It is something new that KZbin is beta testing and would mean a great deal for my continuing efforts. David Hoffman filmmaker

[@GotDangJosh]

I was raised on a Mississippi Delta homestead by depression era sharecroppers, “Salty Dog” feels like home. As a child, I loved to listen, not talk. My Mawmaw Ruby Belle loved quiet kids & kept a gun in her purse. She’d quiet the others & I’d quietly listen to my grandfather playing music like this. Thank you for the enjoyable sound David!

[@ulrichfriehe3459]

Ain't nothing better than the Morris Bros. in Earl's garden. Thank you, David.

[@bug______]

another amazing piece of history. wow!

[@larrygrant-hy8sk]

Hauled some good corn from NC i the 60s. Mountain people from East Tennessee are great folks as well. Its the mountains that build the culture. Turning rocky hills into food and shelter.

[@stump-bossBIll]

Thank you DH🙏🏼🙏🏼👍🏻👍🏻😇😇

[@drytool]

Thank you for this channel, David!!

[@kagreen2k]

Outstanding!

[@michaelluzius5704]

Hello David, I remember watching this from '72. I loved it then, and I love it now! Thank you!

[@shelliewerner5624]

Fantastic !!!

[@melissapietrok8050]

God Bless you and keep you 🙏

[@shongley]

Thank you for the video.

[@pwm9433]

Classic. Thank you

[@Commenting-answering]

Love the sly humor in the intro by one of the brothers. Great harmony. Earl wonderful as always. Thanks!

[@Jokester713]

That's something else!!! Fantastic!!!!

[@comments_from_me]

My parents were in a bluegrass band; we went to festivals every weekend. I heard this song more times than I can count. Love watching your content.

[@sambesisky5517]

Best things in life! Making music in good company. Money can’t buy.

[@blueridger28]

Love, love ,love this. Thank you David from the bottom of my heart. Born,raised and play doghouse bass here in western NC!

[@nigelbeaumont1109]

Absolutely Fabulous

[@itgetter9]

AMAZING!!!

[@jennifers6435]

I have to show this to my friends with a body shop❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@philipevans1897]

I am forever grateful to you, David! My folks were Southerners and I got to experience these harmonies as a child born in California. Coming back to San Diego from our yearly family reunions in Arkansas, it took a few days to shake the Southern accent! I can "pass" for a Southerner anytime I please just for giggles. To this day, at 73, I can still hear the singing and harmonies in the old country churches we would attend. There is nothing like that in the whole world - least of all in California!!

[@ParagonPFL]

Growing up in the swamps of Florida my Dad used to take us out to these bluegrass camping weekends, now some 30-35 years later I'm up in Canada where I been all this time since, and yet still I talk my country ways I suppose, get called out for it every now and again and just love that my son can understand me when I get real down in the muck with it =)

[@thomasfoss9963]

How did you end up in Canada coming from the swamps of Florida? It was either a job, or you grew tired of the heat, misquitos, and "critters" of Florida!!!!

[@EldenSmith]

A great share David. Thanks. Looks like a fun time.

[@Beth-s3n]

I'm sitting at the Ole commentary in Wisconsin where all my relatives are resting and I'm playing this video for them❤ the Stoner farm boyceviile Wisconsin ❤

[@justforever96]

I am jealous that you got to see this world that i never will. And upsets me that someday people may look back on these years the same way. I already saw the last years before the internet, cord phones, actual mail. Gas cars that you drive yourself. Someday these will be as archaic as big V8 rwd cars and men in feed store caps sitting outside the shop. And mountain folks tend to be the same wherever you go. Good folks. Special kind of people. I am proud to have grown up in the mountains.

[@MichaelCarolina]

Yes..North Carolina my State.... :)

[@ManScoutsofAmerica]

You got to have something to fall back on and I fell back a long time ago. I’m going to use that anytime anyone asks me why I’m doing something. Johnny Cash’s recorded version of this song was my first exposure to it, great song.

[@jamesgoines7663]

That first note was fascinatingly good. Great harmony among them. The picking was definitely top level for that written and wrotten song

[@bobgilbert3436]

Incredible! To see the guys that influenced Earl Scruggs! I grew up in rural WV and my dad watched every episode of the Flatt & Scruggs show. Meaning I did too bc back then there was 1 TV and we watched what dad said! Love your post here!❤️🎶👍

[@DJK-cq2uy]

Wow

[@denisestinnett4414]

Loved it when “Charlene Darling” sang this song! ❤️

[@pattitroy5706]

So glad I found your channel, a little slice of youtube heaven ❤️

[@skipgetelman3418]

You bring back wonderful memories of great salt of the earth people Thank You

[@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker]

Skip. Those brothers were unquestionably salt of the earth as you say and fabulous people. David Hoffman filmmaker

[@rcc2741]

I first saw this full show 15 years ago ! Was blown away! Someone loaned it to me ! I watched it over and over, my neighbours went mad.

[@seamusheaney123]

Truly delightful. Great musicians. Thanks.

[@Dan4052]

Wonderful, what a gift! Thank you. That's history.

[@Lvaladez114]

Thank you I Love it 💖

[@Hayseed1976]

Some good ol' boys right there.

[@pakababy3710]

My first time seeing Mr. Scruggs playing his banjo. The way he makes it look effortless, wow!

[@matthewbutler6420]

Thank you for your contribution to the Bluegrass archive.

[@GordiansKnotHere]

Great footage, This is very important stuff. Stepping out into the true country. Experiencing perspectives, going to places that will slowly die off due to "Modernism". Anything created will never last. Thank you for this.

[@Randy-v9x]

Awesome, beautiful MUSIC!!! Thank You David.