Hear the whole album on youtube -
Read Don's interview with Irish music magazine
DON “BANJO” SMITH CELEBRATES HIS LONG CAREER
https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:658b27b6-2917-42f2-93e7-270c492214a1
Don Banjo Smith & Friends Liner Notes
How the album came to be
DISC 1
1. Rare Old Mountain Dew/Hills of Connemara This song was recorded in Jan. 2000, in the Episcopal Chapel of St. Stephen's in Vernon, NJ, with the permission and good graces of the late Steven Steele, Pastor of the Church. It was done live, and recorded by Brent Decker, of Shire Sound Labs. On it was Jeannie Cassels, guitar and lead vocal on Rare Old Mtn. Dew, myself on Banjo, and lead vocal on Hills of Connemara, and Marty McKernan on guitar and backup vocals on both songs. Recorded live, this was a lot of fun to record! But in 2018, we put this back in the studio, and Kevin Behan added whistle and we added a few more voices and Voila!
2. The Ballad of St. Anne's Reel This very popular song was written by the Great David Mallett, of Maine, who graciously gave his permission for us to record/use this song. It was recorded in the recording studio of, and by, the Great Gary Oleyar! (Google him!) Not only did he record the song, he played the guitar, the first violin, the second violin, the bass, and the mandolin! All I had to do was sing, and all Marty had to do that night was sit back and relax!(well, he did have to help me get in and out, as my gout had flared up badly that week). Recorded March, 2017.
3. Big River (Johnny Cash) Mike Kobetitsch has been singing this one for a long time, and he does it great! Harmony by Mike and Marty, banjo by Me, Bass by Marty, and a totally amazing Harmonica solo by Marty, possibly the best part of the entire album!
4. Body of an American (Shane McGowan) This was with my friends Kevin Behan on whistle, and the late Mike Sanford on first and third verse lead vocals(second verse sung by me). Guitar by Marty, banjo by me, and I'm sorry I didn't get this out before Mike died. shame....Chorus voices were me, Mike, Ronan, Marty, and Kevin B.
5. Lonesome Boatman (Finbar Furey) Kevin Behan plays this great flute/whistle solo, with Marty on guitar, and me on banjo. Good job Kevin!
6. Colleen Rua This traditional Gaelic song is sung by my friend Terry Kane. Besides singing, she plays mandolin on this song, and guitar. Kevin Behan adds whistle, and I add banjo and concertina.
7. St. Brendan's Fair Isle (Jimmy Driftwood) This historical song tells the story of St. Brendan, (Brendan the Navigator) Bishop of Kerry, who was the first European to sail to the New World, in the early 6th Century. Sung by Mike Griffin, with a cast of characters in the background, including myself, Marty, Ronan, Rocking Randy, Kevin Keck, and, maybe one or two more! Guitar by Marty, Banjo by me, Concertina by Ronan.
8. Danny's Banjo (Martin J. McKernan)Song written about Marty's late Partner in the Moonshine Mountain Boys, Danny McKeown, who died on Thanksgiving Day, 1980 after a month long battle with pneumonia. A sad day for all of us who loved that band. Guitar, bass, and vocals by Marty, banjo by Greg Jowaisas, mandolin by Kevin Behan.
9. El Dorado (words: Edgar Allan Poe; Music, Randy Shenise) This famous poem by the renowned author of “The Raven” was brilliantly set to music by “Rockin” Randy Shenise, a great songwriter and singer from Northern NJ. Guitar and Lead vocals by Randy, banjo by me, bass and mandolin by Marty, the Comb by our Renowned producer Bob Both! A great all around production!
10. Sawmill Rd (Randy Shenise) Another great song by Rockin' Randy Shenise. This one is autobiographical about his growing up on Sawmill Rd in rural West Milford, NJ. Vocals and guitar by Randy, bass and harmonica by Marty.
11. Chronicle (Randy Shenise) And yet another great song by Randy, this one is about personal struggle. Vocals and guitar by Randy, bass and harmonica by Marty, banjo by me.
12. Whiskey Right Now (Martin J. McKernan) Marty wrote this song after a demand by a Christmas party attendee that he play “a good whiskey song”. A good response if there ever was one! Guitar and lead vocals by Marty, background vocals and noisemakers by Me and Marty, and banjo and whistle by me. (this sounds like a room full of people, but it was just the two of us, after raiding Bob Both’s noisemaker box!
DISC 2
1. One Big River (Greg Jowaisas) Greg is a great banjo and concertina player and repairman from Kentucky (born in NY state, raised in Florida, has lived in Kentucky for 50 plus years) who became a close friend of mine through the concertina world. After visiting me here in Sullivan County, NY several times, he became enamored of the area, and being an avid fly fisherman, became defensive of the natural resources and local waterways, including the great Delaware River. He wrote this song in response to the threat posed by fracking to the Delaware River. Guitar and Lead vocal by Greg, concertina by me.
2. Pete's Medley (traditional) This is Greg Jowaisas playing a medley of traditional tunes that Pete Seeger used to play on the banjo. Greg, among other banjo styles, is a fine player of the style invented by the late, great, Pete Seeger, and is a huge fan of the man! It is too bad that Pete was never able to hear this song...Cripple Creek, and Old Joe Clark. Banjo by Greg, Guitar by Marty.
3. Raglan Road (Patrick Kavanagh) A wonderful rendition by my longtime partner Jack Driscoll, banjo by me, concertina by Ronan Smith.
4. Ballad of Dan Murphy (Jean Cassels) A biographical song written and sung by the great singer, songwriter, and former band mate of mine Jeanie Cassels, about her Grandfather, Dan Murphy, from County Cork. Guitar and lead Vocals by Jeannie, whistle by Peggy Greene, banjo by me, uillean pipes by Larry Otway. Recorded by Brent Decker of Shire Sound Labs, Oak Ridge, NJ, Feb., 2000, at the Vernon Episcopal Chapel. Thanks to Steven Steele.
5. Banks of Sicily (Hamish Henderson) An eerie WWII song about a Scots Regiment of the British Army in Sicily. Poignantly sung by Jack Driscoll. Banjo by Me, Chorus by Jack, me, Ronan, Marty, and Mike
6. Feel So Near (Dougie MacLean) Played and sung by Mike Kobetitsch, this song is a real crowd pleaser! Lead Vocal, Guitar, and Mandolin, Mike. Banjo by me, bass by Marty. Chorus by Mike, Me, and Ronan
7. No Man's Land (Eric Bogle) Singing and whistle by Peggy McKenna Greene, guitar by Jeanie Cassels, this great anti-war song was also recorded back in 2000 at the Episcopal Chapel in Vernon, NJ. Pipes by Larry Otway, Bohdran by Mike K. Recorded by Brent Decker of Shire Sound Labs, Oak Ridge, NJ, Feb., 2000, at the Vernon Episcopal Chapel. Thanks to Steven Steele.
8. Hard Times (Stephen Foster) Another gem sung by Jack Driscoll, concertina by Ronan, banjo by me.
9. Mary Ellen Carter (Stan Rogers) Arguably Stan Rogers' most famous song, this is sung here by Ronan Smith, who also provides concertina on this piece. Guitar and mandolin by Mike Kobetitsch, banjo by yours truly! Chorus by the three of us!
10. Fogerty's Cove (Stan Rogers) This great song features Ronan's great lead vocal again, and, again he is playing concertina. Mike Kobetitsch on guitar, me on banjo, bones by Mike Griffin.
11. The Rattlin' Bog (traditional) Sung by Mike Griffin, it has become, over the years, his signature song. Guitar by Marty, Banjo by me, backup singers include Marty, me, Ronan, Kevin Keck, Rockin' Randy, and Mike Kobetitsch. I hope you like our “ooh, aahs”….Mike usually sings this live in the key of “G” Major, but he is famed for his ability to sing the Chorus without taking a breath, which he is rather proud of! However, how cool this is when done, and seen/heard live, Marty and I were both afraid of what it would sound like, and come across as, on a studio recording. So, we decided to have a rehearsal to have Mike sing it in the next lower key, and take at least one breath, so he wouldn’t be straining on his vocal, which always happens live. But, the evening of the rehearsal, I presented to Mike and Marty the song “When the Boys come Rolling Home”, by Tommy Sands. It was the perfect song for the three of us Old, Old Friends….So, we practiced that that evening, and on top of that, drank so much, that we were unable to go to the studio the following evening, due to our collective hangovers!! (true story!)…and, it doesn’t end here! In February, 1989, Mike G., Marty, his sister Terry(Tango!), Ronan’s mother (my wife at the time)Karen, and myself went to Long Island to the Westbury Music Fair to see “The Irish Rovers”. It was a really great show, and at one time during it, their Lead Singer, the Late, Great, Jimmy Ferguson, sang “The Rattlin Bog”. I thought he did a good job. When the show was over, we were in the aisles slowly shuffling out. I asked Mike, “hey Mike, how did you like Jimmy Ferguson’s version of the “Rattlin Bog”? To which Mike replied: “he took a breath”. Being rather taken aback by that, I said to Marty’s sister Terry “when we get outside, let’s kick his ass”!, to which an unknown woman in the same line said: “why wait until we get outside”! I have been waiting 36 years to tell that story, it was so funny!
12. New York Thruway (Guy Clarke) Guy Clarke originally entitled this L.A. Freeway (which was a hit for Jerry Jeff Walker in the early '70's), but I took the liberty of personalizing it for my own situation. Vocals and whistling by me, guitar by Randy, harmonica and bass by Marty.
13. When the Boy's Come Rolling Home (Tommy Sands) The great Tommy Sands from County Down, N. Ireland, gave us permission to use this song, and we are grateful, as it tells the story of three old friends through the years. The night we were to rehearse this song prior to going to the studio to record it is a story in and of itself, as the three old friends who sing this song here are Me, Marty, and Mike Griffin. It was perfect for the three of us, musically, and personally. Thank you Tommy! Guitar and bass by Marty, Banjo by me, mandolin by Kevin Behan.
About
Keepers of the Tradition
Don "Banjo" Smith has been playing locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally for nearly the past 40 years. Singing and accompanying himself of Banjo, mandolin, concertina, tin whistle, and tenor guitar, Don's collection of folk, Irish, Sea, and Novelty songs will have any audience singing along, clapping their hands, stomping
Don "Banjo" Smith has been playing locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally for nearly the past 40 years. Singing and accompanying himself of Banjo, mandolin, concertina, tin whistle, and tenor guitar, Don's collection of folk, Irish, Sea, and Novelty songs will have any audience singing along, clapping their hands, stomping their feet, and roaring with delight on every number! (sometimes he even does love songs, and sad songs, just to throw the audience a curve!)
Don is almost always accompanied by one of the tri-state area's best acoustic guitarists, such as Mike Kobetitsch, Marty "Moonshine" McKerman, or Gary Oleyar(usually on Fiddle), or his son Ronan, who besides playing guitar is one of the best concertina players on the east coast!
Where I Do What I Do
Pubs, Clubs, Fairs, Festivals, Wakes, Weddings, and Baptisms(Really, I've done all of those things on numerous occasions!
I've also played on Ferries, Tour Boats, Sail Boats, and River Boats, not to mention Trains, Libraries, and Lighthouses!
Photo Gallery
