Sun. Jun 15th, 2025

Farewell to the man whose licks launched a thousand imitators.

You know you’ve done your earthly work when you can accurately claim that you influenced multiple generations of followers.

In Arthur Smith’s case, he had no less an icon than Paul McCartney seeking to emulate him at one point.

That, and many more fascinating anecdotes in the link below.

Wonderful overview of his life in The Washington Post.

His initial claim to fame, “Guitar Boogie”:

And, of course, “Feudin’ Banjos” which later became “Duelin’ banjos”.

Which was immortalized in the movie Deliverance.

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By Sean Murphy

Subscribe to my Substack Award-winning author Sean Murphy in conversation with creative thinkers, spanning the literary, music, art, politics, and tech industries. As a cultural critic, professor, founder of a literary non-profit, Sean is always looking to explore and celebrate the ways Story is integral to how we define ourselves, as artists and human beings. This Substack newsletter and weekly podcast peels back the layers of how creativity works, why it matters, how our most brilliant minds achieve mastery. Join us to explore how our most successful and inspired storytellers engage by discussing craft, routines, brand, and mostly through authentic and honest expression. Subscribe at seanmurphy.live Connect with me Website: seanmurphy.net Twitter: @bullmurph Instagram: @bullmurph Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorSeanMurphy LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sean-murphy-4986b41