Article: 1966 Red Rector Field Recording Discovered

[Mandolin Cafe]

You can view the page at https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/c...ing-Discovered

[Russ Jordan]

Thanks to all involved!!

[Bob Buckingham]

This is great!

[Andy B]

Thanks for finding and making available this undiscovered gem. You don’t hear much about Red these days but this recording amply demonstrates that he was among the greats on mandolin. Wow!

[Russ Jordan]

Those first 3 songs don’t sound like Red to me

[Mandolin Cafe]

Those first 3 songs don’t sound like Red to me

The guy that sat on the recording side of the tape recorder that day just emailed me and respectfully disagrees.

[Russ Jordan]

He should know! Thanks, Scott.

[Skip Kelley]

Thanks for sharing.

[jnikora]

I found about about Red from Jethro back in the mid 70s. Jethro had the utmost respect for Red as a player and they were close friends. At the time I was star struck by Jethro and didn't fully appreciate Red's artistry. He was technically brilliant and his takes were uniquely his own. His music was very more accessible. I wish I had had a chance to meet him and hear him in person - maybe with Jethro.

[rnjl]

Hi all, so glad that Red's getting some love on the Cafe. One of the most memorable musical experiences I ever had was hosting Red at the University of Chicago Folk Festival in the late 80's. We put on the last show Red and Jethro ever played together, and I got to hear them jamming backstage and just hang out with them as a college student folk fest organizer. I remember Red playing his F-5 with "Red Rector" across the fretboard in the kitchen of a big house where I rented a room, and the little child of the house manager was just star struck by Red and his playing. So of course Red played all kinds of funny tunes to keep this toddler entertained and smiling and I don't know who had the better time.

Red invited me to come visit him in Knoxville after college but just a year or so after he played in Chicago, he passed away suddenly, and I regret that I didn't take him up on it earlier. I do have a cassette tape of the Red and Jethro show somewhere, plus another show Red played at the U of C, and a mandolin workshop featuring Red, Jethro, Yank Rachell, and the mando player from a band called Patent Pending- forget his name. Maybe those shows should be posted somewhere but I am not sure how to do it.

Last story for tonight: Red got me good by talking about his family, then saying, want to see a picture of my pride and joy? Of course it was a picture of Pride furniture wax next to a bottle of Joy dish soap. I'm guessing he pulled that one thousands of time. He was a funny, joyful man and I feel privileged to have met him.

[Jim Rohrer]

This is fantastic… Red has been one of my favorites for a long time. Thank you!