Big Mon

[ethanopia]

I thought I read somewhere that Monroe did not in fact write the tune Big Mon, that it was a tribute to him penned by someone else? Does anyone have any insight in to this matter. Im cornfused...

thanks
Ethan http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[Tom C]

He wrote it in tribute to himself from what I understand. -That's Bill

[jjboone101]

And did I hear he played an F4 on one of the original recordings of this tune?

[Darryl Wolfe]

I do not know..but, Monroe generally took credit for anything a band member wrote while with him...just a guess, but I suspect Bobby Hicks wrote Big Mon

[Moose]

Ah!! - the 'ol "road warrior"... Bobby Hicks! - The story goes(?) that Monroe is quoted as saying "...Bobby Hicks is the best TWIN FIDDLER around.." - I understand he(Hicks) is now semi-retired. What wonderful music he created with Mssr. Monroe. Sorry to digress - just couldn't pass up an "honorable mention". http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[evanreilly]

Bill Monroe did record the original version of 'Big Mon' on December 1st, 1958, using an F-4 mandolin on both this tune and 'Monroe's Hornpipe'. #It is a reference to the name given Bill ("Big Mon") by both Charlie Cline and Bobby Hicks. #Monroe attributed the tune to one that "...was written in South Dakota. #We were playing a square dance out there and it was wrote on the stage." #Hicks and Cline were the fiddlers in the band at that show and their improvisations formed the basis of the tune.
As far as Bobby Hicks goes, he is playing quite a bit with Jesse McReynolds, as well as with a local Asheville-area band, Hazel Creek. #He also holds an occasional jam in the area and I have been truly graced to be able to play some of my favorite Monroe instrumentals with the Master fiddler!!! #And when the fiddles start getting 3 & four deep, it is really impressive to hear the Monroe multi-fiddle tunes done by masters. It just doesn't get any better!!!!!

[Darryl Wolfe]

Excellent Evan.......I knew I was in the "top of my head" ballpark..good story

[Flowerpot]

Bill did have quite the history of "borrowing" songs from band members, or hearing them elsewhere and then "writing" them sometime later. it's pretty well known that Byron Berline composed "Gold Rush", but he was gracious about letting Bill have the tune as his own. As well, "Kentucky Mandolin" was originally penned by Herschel Sizemore and was conscripted by the Mon. It's hilarious to hear Herschel tell the tale of how he had caught Monroe back stage, wanting Bill's opinion about a new tune he had come up with (can't remember the original title Herschel had given it). He played it for Bill, and his reply was "Oh, that's a powerful tune. Powerful tune. Could you play it for me again?" After three times through, not only did it get Bill's approval, it wound up on his next album with the name "Kentucky Mandolin" before Herschel got the chance to record it. In defense of BM, he probably forgot he ever heard it, then started playing it later thinking it just popped in his head; however, Herschel was none too happy about the whole thing!

[evanreilly]

Monroe picked up so many tunes that it is hard to separate out the multiple strands of music that went thru his head and came out the mandolin. One of my favorite tunes is 'Smoky Mountain Schottische', which is associated with Monroe. However, it was recorded by the Prairie Ramblers in 1936. The fiddler with the Ramblers, Tex Atchison, grew up on a farm right near Monroe's place. Obviously, both young'uns heard the tune in their youth from the same source(s) and played and recorded it much later.
Same with 'Goodbye Old Pal'; closely related to Monroe, but recorded in 1934, long before Monroe made it popular.

[Moose]

Evan: Thank you for that update. As you - I'm sure - know, several tunes were recorded by Monroe using TRIPLE fiddles!!- Every time - even after all these years - I still get "goosebumps" listening to THAT music. Last I heard Bobby "live" was at a Jimmy Martin concert in Bristol, Virginia. Bobby came out with the rest of the group and played through the show.. - 'till Jimmy announced him and spent 20+ minutes talking about his(Bobby's) musicial "contributions". Charlie Cline and Bobby Hicks... now THERE was a combination.. Thanks again. Regards, Moose. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[GVD]

Moose Posted on May 20 2004, 12:05
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Last I heard Bobby "live" was at a Jimmy Martin concert in Bristol, Virginia. Bobby came out with the rest of the group and played through the show.. - 'till Jimmy announced him and spent 20+ minutes talking about his(Bobby's) musicial "contributions".

Jimmy Martin talking for twenty minutes during a show? Wow who'd a thunk it? # http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

GVD

[Moose]

hee... hee.. Yeah! - Actually - for me - I perversly(!) enjoy Mssr. Martin's "antics" on-stage. i.e. hand waving's.., foot-stomping's.., gum chewing, "ramblings.., and the various other notorious Martinism's - while the crowd just "fumes"... But if he manages to get thru 2-3 songs.., Well, It's well-worth the price of admission for me. "Often imitated, never equaled" - He'll never have to prove his "contributions" to ME... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Peter Hackman]

played and recorded it much later.
Same with 'Goodbye Old Pal'; closely related to Monroe, but recorded in 1934, long before Monroe made it popular.
I watched Monroe at several festivals in 1969.
I remember at one of them he claimed he bought this song
for 10 or 15 dollars from Cliff Carlisle.

[ethanopia]

Cool thanks for the info everybody interesting stuff.

[archie]

Some people also credit Bill Monroe as the the writer of "Back Up and Push",(aka "Back It Up and Push"). To me, it doesn't sound much like a Monroe tune, and I've often seen it listed as
"traditional". Does anyone have the lowdown on that song's origin?
Thanks,
Archie

[AlanN]

Sorry, no credit info, but I did see Vernon Derrick play this one with Boys From Indiana one year. He introduced it as "Back Up And Push...Honey"

[Peter Hackman]

Some people also credit Bill Monroe as the the writer of "Back Up and Push",(aka "Back It Up and Push"). To me, it doesn't sound much like a Monroe tune, and I've often seen it listed as
"traditional". Does anyone have the lowdown on that song's origin?
Thanks,
Archie
a k a "Rubber Doll Rag", definitely in the P.D. when
Monroe recorded it on Victor. Gid Tanner may have been
the first to record it.

Nobody, or everybody, wrote that song.