Berline, Crary & Hickman- Ultimate Bluegrass Trio

Are you familiar with Berline-Crary & Hickman?

If not, you are in for a real treat here.

This video appears to be made right around the time that they first got together, I’m gonna say late 70’s, perhaps early 80’s. I was fortunate enough to do a twin bill gig with this group.

Dan Crary in my opinion is the best to ever flatpick a fiddle tune. He’s got a very unique way of holding a pick- to this day, I don’t know how he does it???

Byron who is the ultimate fiddler, has what I call a no nonsense “compact” style of playing.. Never a bad note, never out of tune and as sweet sounding as a fiddle can sound.

John Hickman simply can make a banjo talk.. his rhythmical phrasings are dynamic, yet understated. I can listen to his banjo all day long.

If these three were on the Olympic team, they would have more gold medals than Michael Phelps

This particular version of Forked Deer is unique in that Dan Crary on his second break shifts it into the relative minor. Byron and John both than follow up with their interpretation in the minor as well.

The video and sound? Well, not that hot but, you get the idea.

Share this with your friends who may or may not have heard of Berline, Crary and Hickman.