Continuing the celebration of the first 10 years of this blog, I thought I'd share the posts that you have liked most since 2011. I did something similar at the end of 2019 for the end of the decade. I almost copied and pasted that post here, but there has been a surprising amount of movement within and additions to the Top 10 since then.
10. Sustainable Banjos: An Interview with Pisgah Banjos Founder Patrick Sawyer (2020)
Our first post is the newest one to make the all-time list. I suspect it'll be climbing the ranks as time goes on and as Pisgah continues to produce excellent and affordable banjos. This post came out right as the pandemic was forcing shutdowns across the United States. It's hard to believe that was only a year ago.
9. The Milliner-Koken Collection of American Fiddle Tunes (2011)
Clare Milliner and Walt Koken's massive tome of fiddle tune transcriptions is also celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. I bought the book with the intent of eventually learning to read music. Although I have used the book to learn some tunes, I still can't read music. Maybe that should be a goal this year. You can buy your own copy at Mudthumper Music.
8. Highwoods Documentary Not a Lost Cause After All (2016)
The saga of the documentary about the Highwoods Stringband has been well documented on this blog. After writing about a crowdsourcing campaign in 2013, the project seemed to stagnate. Three years later, an email from Mudthumper Music explained the project was finally moving forward. Two years later, the film finally arrived. It was worth the wait.
7. Master and Apprentice: Banjo Builder Workshop in Peninsula, Ohio (2015)
Master banjo craftsman Doug Unger and his accomplished apprentice Mark Ward presented a brilliant workshop in September 2015 at the historic Bronson Church, in Peninsula, Ohio, a small village located about 10 miles north of Akron. It's always a pleasure to see Unger's banjos up close. One day I will own one.
6. Mark Olitsky: The Banjo Wizard of Cleveland (2011)
My first interview and among my first 10 posts on this blog. Olitsky has appeared in a lot of my posts, whether in this interview, reviews of his albums, concert recaps or reports on local festivals where he has appeared. He remains one of my favorite banjo players. What more do I need to say?
5. Getting to Know Bob Smakula (2011)
Bob Smakula has finally overtaken Mark Olitsky to slide into our Top 5. The last time I saw the proprietor of Smakula Fretted Instruments was a few years ago at a jam in Cleveland, and he was indignant at ranking below his fellow Cleveland native. Thanks to you, he has some bragging rights!
4. The Looks and Sounds of Deep Creek Strings (2011)
My March 2011 interview with Jeff Delfield is holding steady in the fourth spot. Deep Creek strings continues to produce some of the most interesting banjo designs available today. I love checking in on his creations, which mix older banjo designs with unique ornamentations.
3. A Biologists Eye: A Look at the Artistry of Buckeye Banjos (2013)
My March 2013 interview with Greg Galbreath held the top spot of our all-time list for a long time, but has taken a tumble since December 2019. Last year, I did a follow-up interview about the new line of Buckeye Banjo models.
2. Getting Blitzed with Tom Collins (2018)
Staying steady in the second spot is my March 2018 interview with Tom Collins. His YouTube videos continue to offer some excellent instruction for banjo newbies and adepts alike. If you haven't checked in with his offerings, Collins has also released some cool merch, including a "Jack of Diamonds" themed T-shirt.
1. Clawhammer Picks and You: A Review (2018)
This post has skyrocketed up the list since it was posted in January 2018. When I compiled the list in 2018, my review of popular picks for clawhammer banjo ranked No. 3. It now has 1,200 more views than the post above. I've thought of doing a follow-up post of some of the newer options out there, but I almost never use a pick and don't feel like buying them.
Let me know in the comments which post was your favorite. Or tell me what topics you'd like me to cover in the coming months. Thanks again to all of you who make this blog possible.
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