Ted Gordon’s Site
A.k.a. Lost Cause Lair
Bluegrass
Having heard Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, particularly the latter, I was possessed by the desire to master this style of banjo playing. I purchased a 5 string banjo for the princely sum of £5 and got stuck in.
In the first instance I teamed up with Mike Franks and we ‘did’ all the local folk clubs. At that time bluegrass was a total mystery to the majority of people as it was seldom, if ever, heard on the radio and it was virtually impossible to obtain records. I once heard it described as “folk music in overdrive” but at the time I was chugging away on 3 cylinders.
It was far more difficult than I had imagined, but I persevered and in due course started playing with Geoff Bowers and Jack Fletcher in a band called The Barnstormers.
I later joined Dave Brailsford on fiddle, Pete Wade on Mandolin, Pete Turner on Guitar and Steve Reid on Bass. The band was known as Corncob. Eventually Pete Wade changed to Dobro and Geoff Bowers joined us on Mandolin. We traveled extensively around the country inflicting our pain on the unsuspecting masses who were prepared to pay for the privilege of hearing us. We couldn’t have been too bad however as we were frequently asked to go back for another spasm.
As ever, all good things come to an end and, ignoring the advice, given by my aged Mother, to avoid such people, I gravitated to a band to be known as Coal County. The line up consisting of Dave Allcock on Guitar, Nick Bunberry on Bass, Bob Newton on Mandolin and me on the Old English 5 string Teflon coated, bed warmer, at least that’s what they said it sounded like.
In the first instance I teamed up with Mike Franks and we ‘did’ all the local folk clubs. At that time bluegrass was a total mystery to the majority of people as it was seldom, if ever, heard on the radio and it was virtually impossible to obtain records. I once heard it described as “folk music in overdrive” but at the time I was chugging away on 3 cylinders.
It was far more difficult than I had imagined, but I persevered and in due course started playing with Geoff Bowers and Jack Fletcher in a band called The Barnstormers.
I later joined Dave Brailsford on fiddle, Pete Wade on Mandolin, Pete Turner on Guitar and Steve Reid on Bass. The band was known as Corncob. Eventually Pete Wade changed to Dobro and Geoff Bowers joined us on Mandolin. We traveled extensively around the country inflicting our pain on the unsuspecting masses who were prepared to pay for the privilege of hearing us. We couldn’t have been too bad however as we were frequently asked to go back for another spasm.
As ever, all good things come to an end and, ignoring the advice, given by my aged Mother, to avoid such people, I gravitated to a band to be known as Coal County. The line up consisting of Dave Allcock on Guitar, Nick Bunberry on Bass, Bob Newton on Mandolin and me on the Old English 5 string Teflon coated, bed warmer, at least that’s what they said it sounded like.
Bob, Dave and Nick with the cream of Coal County’s fans
A misty morning in Woodthorpe
Park with Corncob
Park with Corncob
Mike Franks and I at the Bodega in Nottingham
Circa 1964
Circa 1964
