Mr. Engineer

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When I first started learning the banjo, I remember listening to a lot of bluegrass music. I went to jams, learned songs, and spent a lot of time listening to bluegrass recordings. Understandably, I was trying to find my voice, my rhythm, and persona within the banjo world. Although I don't play much bluegrass anymore (I consider myself mostly a folk musician and a singer/songwriter), there are some some songs in the bluegrass repertoire that are absolute gems in my book. One such song is Jimmy Martin's "Mr. Engineer." I don't remember where it was when I first heard it, or even who I heard singing it, but I know I was moved enough by the song to learn it, interpret it, and keep it in my catalogue. It is an honest song, one that I feel every word and lyric to on a deep level. The idea of catching a freight train to get out of town, hoping for an escape from bad times and looking toward better days, hearing that lonesome sound of the train whistle - it is a song that is both poetic and optimistic, yet heavy and realistic. When I was gigging regularly, I always kept it in my set, and oftentimes, folks would come up to me and tell me that they appreciated the song and the way I sang it. This high praise meant that I did right by both Jimmy Martin and the song itself, which is was every artist strives to achieve when covering a song. This song makes me explore my lower register, and as these banjo videos continue, I'm hoping to explore more of my voice and how it fits and sounds with the banjo.
Happy birthday to Jimmy Martin, the great bluegrass player who, along with Bill Monroe, created a "High Lonesome Sound." Martin would have been 94 today, and wherever he is, I hope he is enjoying some high lonesome sounds, and I especially hope he enjoys this rendition of his song.

xoxo

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