Josh Graves Dobro Workshop - Waldo Florida 1990

[@hunterandrus3320]

this is awesome! So cool.. That rhythm player holding his own!

[@jenniferhowell7593]

Josh Graves is my grandfather and I can't thank you enough for posting this. I hope you post more. I miss him always. Feel free to post to his Facebook page. I am admin. and will approve it.

[@renoman]

That's awesome! Josh is one of my biggest heroes. I run the Uncle Josh Graves Fan Club on Facebook! facebook.com/groups/thejoshgravesfanclub/

[@generallee450]

Jennifer, The last time I talked to Josh in Person, He had already had both Legs Removed. But He never lost His sense of Humor and had Me laughing before He left. God only made One of Him.

[@gordoncunningham555]

Hey Jennifer! Josh and Bobby Smith stayed overnight at my house in I think 1977 after the great Northern Bluegrass festival. We should talk. It's quite the story.

[@woolybooger4368]

Hey Jennifer, Josh Graves is supposedly (by family accounts) a distant cousin of mine. My name is Gavin Graves, and i live about an hour or so outta tellico plains in Murphy NC. I'm a musician, and my grandpa jimmy (his dad was hubert) also was, and told me this recently.

[@Johnnyfan1982]

Your grandfather was a huge part of my childhood and I am very grateful for the videos that have surfaced of the old Flatt and Scruggs tv shows and this workshop is a special treat as well. I was only 8 when this was recorded, but the miracle of video makes it possible to watch him in action all these years later!

[@timgraves5498]

I have been Playing Dobro for 46 years, I am the Nephew of this man and i am here to tell you from someone that knows, No one has ever had more control of the dobro then Uncle Josh, also never have i seen anyone that has the Left hand and the right hand become excately in sinc like Uncle Josh's. What a Dobro Player and what a great man. I miss him so much. You are seeing experience at work right here, You can't cross him up, That is when you should know that Uncle Josh is the best there ever was.

[@chuckyufarley2999]

Couldn't agree with you more, Tim. Btw...you're not too shabby either.

[@Three_Eyed_Willy]

Tim, you are absolutely right. I met Josh at several events, including an appearance in Houston with Flatt and Scruggs during the Johnny Cash Hollywood Bowl tour. A few years later, I had the opportunity to jam with him at his place in Madison. I was playing banjo then. His advice and observations were very important to me.

[@woolybooger4368]

Hey Tim, I'm Gavin Graves from Murphy and Josh was supposedly a distant cousin of mine. My grandpa was Jimmy, and his dad was Hubert. I play music as a profession, and my grandpa did briefly as well. Just wanted to see if i could strike any common ground with closer relatives, i think he would be my 5th or 6th cousin? (Hubert was his age, and i think a 2nd or 3rd cousin. Cheers man, would love to play with you someday

[@GeorgeCampbell1964]

Tim, I don't think you could have described that any better. From what I understand about Josh is he could be somewhat of a "Dare Devil", and yet reason I say this is the influences in his style were so complex. I heard a story once that he and Lightnin Hopkins were pickin buddies (along with a few others ) and he developed a sort of a rockey, mean and nasty, bluesy sound that is today his trademark. Clean,precise and as you said, both hands in perfect sinc with one another. Yes indeed! What we're seeing is experience and like no other!

[@dmilstone5709]

Tim Graves you are absolutely right. Uncle Josh was amazing in so many ways...his choice of phrasing was top notch, his ability to "shine" when it came his turn was incredible...but when he finished his solo...he always laid back and played beautiful, tasteful music that supported & enhanced the other musicians (and the song) without "stepping on their toes". I feel that Josh's STYLE of pickin is what set him above the rest. His style was very unique...always smooth & pleasing, understated one second then flashy the next, mellow yet aggressive...but NEVER overly aggressive. His stage presence was a thing of beauty...very professional at all times, witty, charming, entertaining and never overwhelmed. He learned from the best and was always quick to call attention to his fellow pickers talent and achievements while taking care to downplay his own. Uncle Josh was so much more than a guy that played dobro...he was a true ENTERTAINER in every way. He had a wonderful singing voice and knew how to use it, he could spot impending "dead air" time on stage and cover it by launching into a quick entertaining story without missing a beat, he was so "at ease" on stage which made the audience relax and want to come along for the ride...and as you know Tim it takes MANY YEARS to learn how to do that well. But what many folks don't realize is what a truly great person your uncle was. I first met Josh in 1973 and I was just a 7 year old kid. Your mom dad and my parents had became friends and when Uncle Josh would come off the road, occasionally they would all get together and "socialize". Josh TRULY LOVED entertaining folks for a living but also appreciated his downtime and loved just getting away from the "business" for a while and spending time with friends and family. That's how I got to know Josh...as a friend and a part of my extended family. He always insisted that I call him "Uncle Josh" and he treated me with love, kindness & respect. I didn't see him too often as he was on the road alot, but through the years whenever he got a chance to stop by for a few hours Uncle Josh loved to come over, kick back, have a few drinks, laugh & cut up and not worry about entertaining for a while. In that setting you could see just what a wonderful, down to earth, kindhearted man he really was. He never wanted to talk much about his "job"...but occasionally it would come up...and by this time my brother Tim & I had began to play guitar, so naturally we would quiz him about music...and eventually we would break out the guitars and pry a few songs out of him. He said several times "I'd rather just listen to you guys play ya'll are sounding pretty good...and he'd start making requests...lol. Uncle Josh gave us good, sound musical advice yet was EXTREMELY humble and complementary toward our music. Even though Josh Graves was a living legend at the time, he always took time to show his generosity and kindness, NEVER bragged about any of his accomplishments or obvious talents, he was always a very gentle and endearing person and wanted to be treated not as any kind of "star"... but just a good-hearted ole country boy. Uncle Josh was one of the finest human beings that ever walked down the road...he just happened to be extremely talented in the process. I miss you so much my friend... and you'll always be loved in this family. Darryl M.

[@sokolowmus]

This is amazing...so much to learn from here. Josh has always been my role model for Dobro playing. More soul than any of the modern hotshots.

[@sokolowmus]

Plus some amazing hot licks here....

[@chuckyufarley2999]

Today they're more concerned with fitting as many hammer-ons they can into each measure. Nobody can touch Josh's blues licks, not even Jerry Douglas.

[@susandoyle6551]

Great tunes by Josh!!❤

[@arliehumphrey1988]

He is the best that I have ever heard

[@jimmymalone3494]

He's a great Dobro player!!!! Thank you for sharing with us.

[@Three_Eyed_Willy]

The advice Josh gives here about backup is absolutely spot on. Don't take this as boasting, but back in 1965, I had an appointment to visit with Earl Scruggs at his home in Madison. He lived fairly close to Josh. I had a delivery to make to Josh, who invited me to come back to his place after my meeting with Earl. So I did. Josh asked me if I was a picker. I said that I picked some. So he told me to bring my banjo into the house. I did. I got out my banjo, Josh picked up his dobro, and asked what I wanted to play. I said, "Bugle Call Rag," because I knew that he had a really great break on that one. I took a couple of choruses then nodded to Josh to take the lead. I went into backup mode. Josh played about 8 bars, then stopped. I asked him if I'd done something wrong. His answer surprised me. He said, "No. You did something RIGHT!!! I've heard hundreds of guys who could play Bugle Call Rag just like Earl, but you are the first one I've heard who plays backup like Earl." I was absolutely gobsmacked, as they say in the UK. I thanked Josh, then explained -- "I figure that if you are playing in a 4 piece band with a lead singer, you are only going to be playing lead about 20% of the time, so you'd better learn that other 80%!" So I got a good lesson in ensemble playing from the master of the dobro, himself.

[@joluttringer4450]

I waite also 50 years for discover/see Josh Graces "himself" during playing. Thank you also for this wonderful video. Friendly wishes from France. Jo Luttringer

[@generallee450]

Jason, A little tidbit just came to mind, And We had a good Laugh. Josh and Kenny were doing a Show for Me at Waldo, And at the end Josh walked up to the Mike and said: Folks if You liked the Show We just did, We are Josh Graves and Kenny Baker. If You didn't like it, We are Chubby Wise and Raymond Fairchild. He just cracked the Audience Up.

[@jenniferhowell7593]

Ben There I love it. Isn't that just like him. He loved comedy and making people smile!

[@generallee450]

Jennifer, So did I, That's probably one of the Reasons Josh and I had a lot of Fun together. I will always consider Josh a Musical Treasure and a great Friend. He and Kenny were a real Match up and They enjoyed what They did Together. Josh and Kenny and Myself did a commercial together, And if I can run across it in My monstrous collection, I''l get it to Jason and maybe post it.

[@renoman]

I'd be glad to post it! Hope you find it!

[@Steve-cs8nd]

🤣

[@TronconesAmigo]

Jason ,This is an Absolute Treasure ,Thank You for Sharing !

[@Steve-cs8nd]

It’s great isn’t it. I wish old Buck was better represented as he’s priceless; at least we have all the Martha White years that helped polish the diamond.

[@stevetatler2307]

Thanks for posting this. It is a gift to the world of dobro playing.

[@hollisjordan828]

Josh was my idle when I was learning the dobro, what a great dobro player. What a great video here.

[@PhantomEngineer]

What a treasure! Going to post a few times as indexes here, tho I may not have all the titles right: 2:22 Wabash Cannonball 3:58 Wabash Cannonball 5:42 Let Those Brown Eyes Smile At Me 8:39 Goodbye Joe 10:47 The Rolls 12:34 Willie Dale 15:19 John Hardy 16:30 Foggy Mountain Rock 17:55 Reuben's Train 19:56 Mexican Lady 20:58 I'll Be All Smiles Tonight 22:59 Wildwood Flower 24:44 Wildwood Flower 26:38 Flatt Lonesome 29:26 Rosewood Casket 31:16 California Blues (Blue Yodel #4) 32:30 Mavis' Friend (title?) 34:34 Slewfoot 36:16 Maggie Blues 38:30 Railway To Heaven 40:55 End Of The World 41:30 Canadian Sandal (title?) 42:42 Steel Guitar Chimes 44:26 Band 62 (title?) 46:03 (title?) 47:20 False-Hearted Lover If anyone can correct my titles please reply and I will be happy to edit my post

[@chriszink5930]

32:30 is Maiden’s Prayer. Thanks for doing this!

[@scotty2tone]

You're a saint! Thank you

[@tomwarner2790]

Priceless! Thanks Jason and Robert for sharing

[@judybaackebrewer61]

Thank you so much 4 making this channel cause Josh was my mom's 1st cousin

[@Arrayarr]

Holy cow, this is pure gold! Thank you SO much, Jason!!

[@matthewzuckerman3129]

Wow! Thanks for uploading this!

[@gordoncunningham555]

Thanks! This is priceless and stirring up some old memories.

[@jenniferhowell7593]

I had no idea that was going on. That is awesome that you are running a fan club! I'd love to work together with you. Contact me anytime!

[@scotty2tone]

Thank you for posting this. Incredible for aspiring Dobro players

[@jamesmiller2220]

👌👌👌👌👌👌

[@huliniswhoiam]

Can someone answer me a question. I'm a musician but what's with the question at the first? About strings. Does that matter that much when playing Dobro what your third string is? I think the fellow was saying third string.

[@renoman]

Josh used a plain third string instead of wound third string. Gives it a different sound. String brand, type of winding used, and string gauge etc etc can all make a difference in overall sound of any instrument. Especially the string gauge.

[@huliniswhoiam]

@@renoman interesting. I guess I haven't fully realized that!

[@Steve-cs8nd]

Yes it does actually. Some wound thirds are shockers lol. Because Dobro isn’t fretted and the action high they use much greater gauges for volume.