Posted by Bob Lackey on July 27, 19102 at 11:14:43:
In Reply to: Re-send information on Snuffy Jenkins posted by Doc Warlick on July 26, 19102 at 11:29:15:
Do you know when Snuffy passed away?
On another note, in my home area of Roanoke, Va., there has been a big fuss by banjo fans for years over who actually came up with the three-finger role for the 5 string. Many believe it was Earl, but some strongly disagree and claim it was Don Reno. Don Reno played on Roanoke television every weekday morning for years back in the 60's with Red Smiley.
Ronnie Reno claims his father didn't learn anything from Earl and was already playing three-finger style when he heard about Earl and was actually offered the job in Bill Monroe's band BEFORE Earl but joined the military instead. When Don got out of the military, he found Bill Monroe and that is when he was told he played like Earl Scruggs and Don Reno claimed he had never heard of Earl before.
Ronnie Reno went on to say that his father, Don Reno, picked up the three finger role style from Snuffy Jenkins and finally bought a banjo from Snuffy that he traded to Earl Scruggs and it's the same banjo Earl uses today.
Don Wayne Reno said he, Ronnie and the family don't like all the fussing and competition that banjo fans have concerning Don Reno and Earl Scruggs. He went on to say that Don Reno, while never having Earl as an influence, always liked Earl and Earl's playing and they were good frineds who enjoyed each others company very much.
Earl has always been my favorite banjou picker and I feel Earl WAS the man who made the three-finger roll popular and that is why it is called "Scruggs style".
But I guess we shouldn't overlook the fact that Don Reno was a great player too with his own great style and was there at the beginning too. And that Snuffy Jenkins was probably the one who actually was the beginning point of the Scruggs style of bluegrass banjo picking.