‘Dueling Banjos’ was a powerhouse instrumental duo

Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell

In the early months of 1973, Top 10 recording artists included such hipsters as Carly Simon, Elton John, War, Steely Dan and Roberta Flack.

In their midst, though, appeared the unlikely duo of Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell, a powerhouse instrumental duo behind the million-seller “Dueling Banjos,” which for four straight weeks locked in the No. 2 position on the Billboard singles chart.

Weissberg and Mandell supported themselves as session musicians, working with such leading lights as Bob Dylan, Judy Collins and John Denver — until a request arrived one day for the pair to record a track for the upcoming Burt Reynolds movie “Deliverance,” a horrific tale of four Atlanta businessmen who canoe down an isolated Georgia river (that’s about to become dammed and made into a lake), with dangerous, churning rapids and mayhem and murder awaiting downstream.

Five minutes into the film, at a dilapidated backwoods gas station, we experience a spontaneous jam session between city slicker Drew (former stage actor Ronny Cox) and a provincial lad — apparently mute — named Lonnie (local high-schooler Billy Redden).

“Dueling Banjos” unfolds between the pair as a musical conversation. Lonnie, initially reticent, slowly picks up the tune, tosses in a bit of “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” then, much to Drew’s delight, shifts into high gear. The musical pace builds to a high-octane finish as a grinning local man dances an ad libbed jig.

Cox was a good guitarist but Redden couldn’t play a note. During the filming, Billy had to wear a customized shirt that allowed a local musician named Mike Addis to play the banjo while hiding his own arms in Redden’s sleeves.

Weissberg and Mandell didn’t write “Dueling Banjos.” That honor went to ace instrumentalist Arthur Smith in 1954 when he composed “Feudin’ Banjos,” which he recorded later with fellow banjoist Don Reno. Smith’s original work — a forerunner of the rapidfire rock ‘n’ roll instrumental — was appropriately named because the track seemed to be just that: an argument of sorts between two banjos. The 1973 hit single, though, featured not two banjos but a banjo and a guitar.

“Dueling Banjos” on Warner Records rose next to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and reached No. 5 on the country charts. Its placement in the latter might have been the impetus that helped Weissberg and Mandell garner a Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance the following year.

But not everybody appreciated the success of “Dueling Banjos.” Arthur Smith had not given permission for the usage of his creation nor did he receive the credit for writing the hit. Eric Weissberg was listed as the sole creator. Smith filed a lawsuit, which was settled two years later in his favor when he received the abundant royalties that were due him. Just how abundant? The first thing Arthur purchased was a 42foot yacht.

Smith’s creation was parodied when comedian Martin Mull released his own instrumental argument called “Dueling Tubas.” The silly single sold enough copies to send it soaring to No. 92 on the Hot 100 chart.

• Science Central’s newest temporary exhibition, “Leonardo da Vinci: Artist and Engineer,” is being displayed during regular public hours through Sunday, May 28, at Science Central, 1950 N. Clinton St., Fort Wayne. Admission to the exhibit is included with general admission. For more information, contact Science Central at (260) 424-2400 or sciencecentral.org.

• The Fort Wayne Area Community Band will present a concert 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, in the John & Ruth Rhinehart Music Center at the Purdue Fort Wayne Campus. A variety of music such as “Fort Wayne Bicentennial March,” “Emperata Overture,” “From Glen to Glen,” “March Slave,” “Twentiana,” an Argentine tango called “El Chocolo” and more will be performed. Parking is free in the garage across from the music center. Admission is $9 for adults, $8 for seniors, children and youth under 18 are free, Purdue Fort Wayne students/faculty are free with valid ID and non-purdue students are $5. Contact Rod King at (574) 493-3318 or coknoll75@yahoo.com for more information.

• Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church at Friedheim will be hosting a church dinner and craft sale Sunday, Feb. 26, at the Family Life Center, 10653 N. 500W, Decatur. Meals will be served 10 a.m. through 1 p.m. with dine-in and carry-out service. Freewill donations will be accepted.

Fort Wayne History Center

Unless otherwise noted, all events will occur at the History Center, 302 E. Berry St., Fort Wayne. For more information, call (260) 424-4419, email administration@fwhistorycenter.org or visit fwhistorycenter. org.

• The Persistent Movement of the Urban League, 2-3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5. Woodlands Senior Activity Center

The center is located at 710 N. Opportunity Drive, Columbia City. For more information or to make reservations, call (260) 248-8944.

Euchre — 9-10 a.m. every Tuesday and Friday.

Dominoes — Noon to 1 p.m. every Tuesday.

Pixie Bingo 9:30-10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1, 15.

Exercise w/ Carrie — 10-

11 a.m. every Friday.

Bible Study w/ Cheryl — 9-10 a.m. every Tuesday.

Botanical Conservatory

Unless otherwise noted, all events will occur at the Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S. Calhoun St., Fort Wayne.

$5/adult, $3/children 3-17.

Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday; closed Mon- day. (260) 427-6550, botanicalconservatory.org.

• Bee the Change, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2.

• Orchid Show, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4. Live potting demonstrations at noon and 12:30 p.m. Entry is permitted with general admission.

• Modern Living Hoop Wreath, 10-11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18. Registration deadline is Feb. 11. Session fee: $42.

• Kerstin Glaess: Seascapes, on display during regular public hours through Saturday, April 15. Public reception 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19.

• California Dreamin’ Showcase Exhibit, on display during regular public hours through Sunday, April 16.

• Sweetheart Orchid Display, on display during regular public hours Tuesday, Jan. 31, through Sunday, Feb. 26.

Fort Wayne Embassy Theatre

Unless otherwise noted, all events will occur at Fort Wayne Embassy Theatre, 125 W. Jefferson Blvd. For information or tickets, call (260) 424-6287 or visit fwembassytheatre.org.

• Pops 3: Ann Hampton Callaway Sings The Streisand Songbook, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4. Tickets are $27 to $86.

• Joe Gatto’s Night of Comedy, 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5. Tickets are $32 to $180.

• William Shatner with screening of “Star Trek II: The

Wrath of Khan,” 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9. Tickets are $29 to $80.

• Masterworks 4 Conductor’s Choice: Elgar and Beethoven, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18. Tickets are $23 to $81.

• Buddy Guy — Damn Right Farewell Tour, 7:30 p.m. Thurs- day, Feb. 23. Tickets are $49 to $69.

• Down The Line 17 Celebrates Woodstock ‘69, 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25. Tickets are $20.

NOTE: Ticket prices are subject to fluctuation based on demand.

Making a will won’t kill you

If you want to get the last laugh on your family, don’t make a will. Let them squirm while they squabble about who should get what when you’re gone. It’s a fine way to get even.

But whether you like them or not, you’d be smarter to make out a will delineating the disposition of your belongings so the government won’t get them.

Writing out a simple will — “I leave my watch to my oldest son and my baseball card collection to my youngest son and my wedding ring to my daughter” — at your kitchen table and having a couple of neighbors witness it is still a simple and basic step toward shielding your assets from the coffers of the Capitol.

Stationery stores have handy write-your-own-will forms that require signatures of two witnesses after your wishes are written.

A will is an easy estate plan- ning tool to ensure your goods go where you want them to go instead of leaving the decision in the hands of the courts.

It also eliminates much of the legal costs that can arise out of disputed estate claims.

A written will avoids leaving the disposal of your assets and heirlooms open to legal maneuvering. It also can lessen the burden of death, estate, property and all sorts of other taxes local, state and federal taxes politicians keep piling up on their side of the ledger. You also should name an executor to process and administer the terms of your final testament.

You should talk about this and other estate plans with an attorney who specializes in such matters. But there’s plenty of assistance available on the shelves at your local library or on the internet if you don’t want to take on the expense of an attorney or proceed to more detailed estate planning processes.

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