The band in which Jim Scancarelli played banjo was called The Mole Hill Highlanders, and consisted of Clyde Williams and Mark Wengate, who played twin fiddlers, Chuck Dunlap on guitar, and Jim Whitley on bass.
The lead fiddler, and band founder, Clyde Williams, lived just outside of Charlotte, in an area called Mole Hill, the inspiration for the band’s name. The Mole Hill Highlanders were on the 1971 Union Grove album playing “Chinese Breakdown.” Scancarelli recalled that the Mole Hill Highlanders won second place in the 1972 Union Grove band competition.
There are two MHH recordings, both put out by Old Oblivion Records. In the 1970s, Scancarelli did the artwork, engineer and design work for seven LPs recorded on a label named “Old Oblivion,” “headquartered” at 1320 South Church Street in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Old Oblivion’s second release, “The Mole Hill Highlanders: Old Time String Band Music,” (Old Oblivion OO-2), came out in May 1970, recorded by Sam Rowe, and produced and designed by Scancarelli; the LP was digitally re-mastered at Audioworks in Charlotte, North Carolina, by Mike Robinson, and released as a CD in 1993. The recording features Clyde Williams on fiddle, Mark Wingate on harmony fiddle, Chuck Dunlop on guitar, Jim Whitley on bass – playing Jew’s harp on the cut of Molly Hare – and Scancarelli on banjo. Scancarelli wrote the liner notes that described the small Piedmont North Carolina community called Molehill, where Clyde Williams lived down an old plank road.
The third LP released on the Old Oblivion label was “The Mole Hill Highlanders: Old Time String Band Music, Volume 2” (Old Oblivion OO-3), with music by the same lineup. Scancarelli wrote the liner notes.
This from a draft of a book length project of mine on Jim’s music making years as a banjo and fiddle player of note.
A few months ago we had the opportunity to finally hear a Stradivarius with one of the visiting musicians playing with the Charlotte symphony. After 40 plus years of playing and listening to some of the world’s best fiddlers the tonal quality was like nothing I’ve ever heard before. If you get a chance to hear a master violinist play one it’s well worth it. Just superb.
ok this one was just stupid not even funny. We could have had a walt or skeezix strip instead we get a so-called college-educated person who talks like he has an uncle daddy . complete waste of time
Dirty Dragon over 4 years ago
Reminds me a bit of the spinning logo for a CBS Special Presentation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXRxHorYcOQ
Pipe Tobacco Premium Member over 4 years ago
Yeah, Joel!!! Good to see him. But, it looks like he dropped his pipe out of his mouth in the opening picture of the band! i hope he can find it.
JD'Huntsville'AL over 4 years ago
Is that guy in the starry hat suppose to be someone famous?
brooklynbanjoboy over 4 years ago
The band in which Jim Scancarelli played banjo was called The Mole Hill Highlanders, and consisted of Clyde Williams and Mark Wengate, who played twin fiddlers, Chuck Dunlap on guitar, and Jim Whitley on bass.
The lead fiddler, and band founder, Clyde Williams, lived just outside of Charlotte, in an area called Mole Hill, the inspiration for the band’s name. The Mole Hill Highlanders were on the 1971 Union Grove album playing “Chinese Breakdown.” Scancarelli recalled that the Mole Hill Highlanders won second place in the 1972 Union Grove band competition.
There are two MHH recordings, both put out by Old Oblivion Records. In the 1970s, Scancarelli did the artwork, engineer and design work for seven LPs recorded on a label named “Old Oblivion,” “headquartered” at 1320 South Church Street in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Old Oblivion’s second release, “The Mole Hill Highlanders: Old Time String Band Music,” (Old Oblivion OO-2), came out in May 1970, recorded by Sam Rowe, and produced and designed by Scancarelli; the LP was digitally re-mastered at Audioworks in Charlotte, North Carolina, by Mike Robinson, and released as a CD in 1993. The recording features Clyde Williams on fiddle, Mark Wingate on harmony fiddle, Chuck Dunlop on guitar, Jim Whitley on bass – playing Jew’s harp on the cut of Molly Hare – and Scancarelli on banjo. Scancarelli wrote the liner notes that described the small Piedmont North Carolina community called Molehill, where Clyde Williams lived down an old plank road.
The third LP released on the Old Oblivion label was “The Mole Hill Highlanders: Old Time String Band Music, Volume 2” (Old Oblivion OO-3), with music by the same lineup. Scancarelli wrote the liner notes.
This from a draft of a book length project of mine on Jim’s music making years as a banjo and fiddle player of note.
brooklynbanjoboy over 4 years ago
Ran out of space – the guy in the colorful hat, I believe, is a Clyde Williams replica, so to speak . .
A# 466 over 4 years ago
Grammar police. Last panel should read: "… they wouldn’t press charges if I give the Strad back … "
nlevine over 4 years ago
Subjunctive. “Gave” is fine.
Honorable Mention In The Banjo Toss Premium Member over 4 years ago
“Amati glad they didn’t press charges.”
MJ Premium Member over 4 years ago
At least it isn’t those %#*&@ mice today.
wireknot over 4 years ago
A few months ago we had the opportunity to finally hear a Stradivarius with one of the visiting musicians playing with the Charlotte symphony. After 40 plus years of playing and listening to some of the world’s best fiddlers the tonal quality was like nothing I’ve ever heard before. If you get a chance to hear a master violinist play one it’s well worth it. Just superb.
omegasupreme over 4 years ago
ok this one was just stupid not even funny. We could have had a walt or skeezix strip instead we get a so-called college-educated person who talks like he has an uncle daddy . complete waste of time
Gweedo -it's legal here- Murray over 4 years ago
Hill folk; be speakin’ they langwidge in they own terms. They don’t follow no Hoyles type rools fer tawkin.