Ok... so I'm channel surfing tonight and ran across Deliverance (the greatest love story of all time - JK). I'm curious whatever happened to the famed, but little known, banjo player. I've met the guy several times and drank and shot pool with the local sheriff at his bar. I look him up on imdb.com and wikipedia. God have mercy. Do these that post this stuff that never know these people?
One site says he was very talkative young man.
Truth: Negatory. When I first met him I could barely pry a word out. I give him a pass on not talking to me. We'd just met. Maybe he thought I was some sort of weirdo groupie. Not.
One of the sites says they got him out of elementary school to do his part during the movie. The other say high school.
Truth: Negatory. Per his own words to me directly, they got him out of high school during his Jr. year to do his parts. It only lasted about 3 days for his part but they shaved his head every morning before shooting. They seem to leave this out - or just don't know.
My personal experience with Billy:
I suppose I could print out both stories and pick them both apart but I don't feel like it. I well tell my personal up close experiences though. He's one of the nicest guys I've known. He is VERY quiet and VERY private. He finally started remembering me after about my 3rd visit and didn't a damm about the movie. I just liked the guy in his crappy little bar with pool talbes on the side hwy 441 in Rabun county, GA. After a few trips there he started recognizing me and would talk without me starting it. He asked when I was going to out that damm city life and come here [to Rabun county]. That blew me away I will say that. My only response was that I was up there looking to buy and get out of freakin city "why do think I keep coming up here?". He said nothing but gave me that beedy-eyed grin you all remember from the movie. He's still got bigger than s.it. We just smiled and he set me to a Bud and a shot of JD on the house. Then he asked where's pertty girl you had here last time. "She'll be along directly" I say. And, he set her to a drink and shot after she got back from the ladies room. She asked me "how'd that get there?". He gave that famous dumbass look at her and she looked at me, then him at me, and me and him started laughing and he walked off to tend to other customers. I believe that's the last I ever saw of him. The next time I blew through there the bar was closed and no one in town knew anything or wouldnt' tell me. That's ok. I was passing through on my to Appalachians to get out of "that damm city" as he told - which I was already doing anyhow.
That's my story and I'll put my mark any day of the week anytime.
I guess what got me wound up that was that they all got it wrong.
Well at least that was my personal experience with guy.
If there are any kyakers (sp?) here you should recognize that river and the nasty rapids part. It is called Bull Sluce on Chattooga river right there Rabun County.
Enough rambling. I've down and out for near a week. I got some catching up do.
E.
Good story, Eric. Thanks
Don
I do love to tell on that. It was a pleasure to know the guy.
Wish I had a son or grandson to pass it on to.
The few times I've ever had first-hand knowledge of a story that ends up on TV or the newspaper, I've felt the same way. Reporters don't have that much time to really delve into a story so they basically come to whatever headline and conclusion they want and then do the story to fit their preconceived notions. There are exceptions, like PBS Newshour and New Yorker magazine where they at least try to portray some depth to a story. I know, they're both left-leaning but they're better than most.
I, also, am left leaning and better than most.:-)
Don
TMI, Don
Just to be fair, I'll add the Christian Science Monitor and Wall Street Journal as decent news sources. Like I'm some kind of media critic, but I can tell bias and laziness in journalism when I see it.
What the hell are you all turning this into?????
I'm telling my story of meeting the famed banjo player from the movie.
And, some of you all are now turning into politcal crap.
What the f... gives????
There's no call for that. Me and Billy never spoke politics but I will say I knew exactly where the gun stash was in case we got raided at that joint. He confided in me wherein it was in the bar should the s..t hit the fan.
Please WEndell, don't let them split my thread into political spew.
I was just relating my story.
Nothing more.
I got enough problems on my hands - literally - and no pun intended.
Calm down, Eric. It's not what you're thinking. No one 's spewing, we 're all just talking and now I 'm going to bed. Good night, my friend.
Don
sorry Don
Maybe I was being overly sensitive. My bad and apologies.
Nighty night.
I thought it was Obama on the banjo - go figure....
Within the past week I received an e-mail including a video of that scene from the movie. it claimed that it was purely an accidental thing. And that the banjo player was autistic. His parents were paid VERY WELL for allowing him to be in the movie. The e-mail said that some of the movie crew had stopped there and a guitar player started to pick a few notes. Suddenly, there was an answer from a banjo. He looked around and saw the fellow, much like shown in the movie, so he hit a few more notes. They were answered. That is what lead to adding that segment into the movie.
