Lois Short: Banjo Pickin' Girl (1983)

Lois Short, vocal and banjo, performs "Banjo Pickin' Girl" at her home in Closplint (also known as Klondike or Rutherford), Harlan County, Kentucky. Shot by Alan Lomax and crew, July 24, 1983. For more information about the American Patchwork filmwork, Alan Lomax, and his collections, visit culturalequity.org. [03.25.02]

[@amygreene9306]

This is my mother’s first cousin. My mom was the last of 17 children. Same parents, 10 boys, 7 girls. Papaw was a coal miner. Willie Flannary was this lady’s father which was my grandmother’s brother. So thankful for my Appalachian heritage. Thankful and proud. Better people can’t be found anywhere in this world.

[@meredithanthraxelrod]

oh, wow!! I seldom hear a distinctive voice that actually sounds authentic, you know, not phony or put-on. This really reminds me of voices I love from country records from the 20s and 30s.

[@willgingell5595]

Reminds me of Elizabeth Cotten

[@Xsyllman]

What a terrific example of frailing from the Appalachian region. Thank goodness Alan Lomax captured this, and what a loss to the genre that this lady is no longer among us.

[@hesyrett]

Harlan County also brought us Hazel Dickens, and through her (indirectly), Warren Hellman and his (Hardly) Strictly Bluegrass Festival. May they, and Lois Short, rest in peace, bathed in the light of our eternal gratitude. Yes, that is what the Dead were Grateful for--American roots music!

[@Vader99ify]

Gotta love that clawhammer style banjer pick'n!

[@RugbyDemon6789]

harlan county had some of the best musicians :)

[@rab1978uk]

I could listen to this every bedtime and fall asleep, feeling good and happy. :0)

[@meredithanthraxelrod]

This is utterly phenomenal!

[@shaunw9270]

Awesome playing & singing. The real deal. R.I.P Lois x

[@ArkRed1]

She picks the Harlan County frailing style where the index finger plays the lead and the thumb basically stays on the fifth string instead of dropping to other strings. Stringbean played the HC style whereas Grandpa Jones played the "drop thumb" frailing style he learned from Cousin Emmy. Some banjer pickers from Kentucky tuned their banjers to a low "A". String and Grandpa tuned their instruments to a high "A" tuning rather than the standard G bluegrass tuning.

[@chasestewart8619]

Thank you. I was just about to ask what the style was.

[@banjobones8075]

She is dropping the thumb

[@shopdogsam]

,,,, yes I sat on that store porch,, her playing the harp comes to mind,, a kind sweet voice,,,, shopdogsam

[@TheGuitologist]

Everyone where I grew up sounded like this.

[@hiroyasu4]

Great! As her age, she is very vigorous. Wonderful!

[@pompom7x728]

😳 She is incredible 🎼🌺🇨🇭🤗

[@deladonics]

I love it. Me and this old gal are the same.

[@michaelharvey5138]

Lovely old clip, beautiful playing and singing !..

[@danksmoka10]

this takes me back to the good ol days back in North Carolina!

[@IberianInteractive]

good ole banjoisms

[@Mojooverlord]

Just awesome!

[@OpakeArawra2]

the smile at the end says it all, that's what it's all about.

[@DigitalJeremy]

That was JUST what I needed!!

[@9lontoonieful1]

I love this!

[@aswtx75]

Real music

[@Myra1959]

Very nice. I get so inspired.

[@SpydaMann415]

This is so awesome, I keep replaying it!

[@StarlinerMVS]

Very nice!!!! It would be nice if my grandma could play this way hehehehe!!!!

[@HippyHappy70]

She plays beautifully

[@colinsalter3516]

Good job!

[@Rich3940]

Great I Wished i could get My Mom to play on a banjo :) but my mom plays piano I Love Music most of the time i'm in my studio Thanks I Enjoy it :)

[@CrowBanjo37]

This sounds great!

[@Snoopy1944]

Real nice clip! Real nice clawhammer playing too ... she's got the bump ditty rhythm going well!

[@marinacaracacoucou7253]

Heatbreaking lyrics

[@LeftLib]

The lyrics aren't even meant to be heartbreaking

[@9lontoonieful1]

WONDERFUL!

[@miaibanez1753]

A treasure ... RIP Lois

[@edsonrochak4997]

Show !!! parabens desde Brasil !!! lindo !

[@TrainCrazy.]

Great stuff here!!!!

[@bluesharp59]

Nice video and you got my thumbs up.

[@PLINKER]

Looks like she been claw-hammering for a while everything looks automatic. Great job Lois!

[@Thishis2]

awesome i love this :)))

[@LUMBERBUTCHER]

Great !

[@JazzQuasar]

I wish my mom played like this hahha!

[@johnlast7528]

Sweet!

[@MrJaakow]

great...

[@michaelra3111]

yyiihaaa super klasse...................

[@malaquiasalfaro81]

Makes me sad that country hasn’t bore a resemblance to this for a very very long time.

[@mynameisnobodyz]

fantastic!

[@mattharper2144]

wow shes pretty good! ;)

[@BeingRomans829ed]

Mighty fine, Moms!

[@danmurphy4724]

Now there's a nanna that knows her shit

[@TheDmbanjo]

all thos4 other words and "I love it"

[@johnrash1925]

how old is she she is wondful

[@eagorapois11]

essa violinha e muito comedia

[@TenacityMatt]

Beautiful playing and singing. Does anybody know what style of banjo playing this is? I am not familiar with it.

[@BenDuvallIrwin]

baby mine

[@RenoScruggs]

Does anybody know if this lady is still living?

[@mtsbercot]

She died in 1984.

[@RenoScruggs]

Oh ok

[@Ievolovel]

Matheus Berçot That sucks. One year after this recording.. she looks very healthy here. We just never know.

[@winterhymnal2]

It's called "Clawhammer".

[@LauraCooperbanjo]

clawhammer style banjo playing

[@PotterPossum1989]

#IStandWithDixie #AllAmericanVeterans #HistoryIsHistory #NoApologies

[@hatmakerhuntingandfishing2800]

She picks banjo cooks the man who married her is a lucky man

[@danegoodwin3057]

Sounds like Sandy Squirrel

[@neongreenelliptical1810]

Bruh

[@Driftwoodgeorge]

This is the Real banjo pickin girl, NOT Taylor Swift.

[@dwdorris3048]

Charley Crockett you better hit me up ole son. This shit getting ridiculous

[@HittokiriBattousai17]

Mmmmm Is it normal that this is CREEPING THE FUCK OF ME???????

[@neongreenelliptical1810]

Bruh, she was in the kkk Edit: Sike

[@IberianInteractive]

good ole banjoisms