Deliverance's inbred banjo boy

boing
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I have always wondered why this is called Dueling Banjos, when it features only one banjo?

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That’s bugged me for years, but I’ve never been able to think of a better alternative. “Dueling Six-strings” won’t work, since most banjos only have five strings. “Dueling Axes” seems a bit too Robert E. Howardish. And “A Banjo Duels A Guitar And Ultimately (Spoiler) Triumphs,” while perfectly accurate, is missing a certain je ne sais quois.

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Arthur Smith, who composed it during the 50s, wrote it for two banjos. It was originally called “Feudin’ Banjos” and he recorded it playing a four-string banjo along with the late, great bluegrass musician Don Reno (who played a five-string banjo).

Just out of interest, Smith was not credited as the composer of “Duelling Banjos” in Deliverance. He successfully sued the filmmakers over this.

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I like it! Pity it’s not mine to rename. Just wait til I ascend to the Imperial Throne.

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