DAN X. PADGETT AND TOMMY HAMMETT

In this interview, Dan X. Padgett shares stories and information from his lifetime as a bluegrass performer, historian and teacher.

His life has always revolved around bluegrass and he was well-acquainted with and performed with local and Nashville bluegrass musicians, including Snuffy Jenkins, Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs – and numerous others.

He has put together a book of stories and interviews about the early days of bluegrass which features the stories of those he refers to as the “old timers.” He played with Earl Scruggs locally and traveled with Scruggs in his early Nashville years. Back home, Padgett has taught 10 bluegrass instruments to over 3500 students and has created tab books with playing instructions for these instruments.

Of particular interest in this interview are his comments regarding Smith Hammett, who lived in the area and was reported to have used the three-finger banjo-playing technique in the early 20th century.

The other interviewee, Merrill “Tommy” Hammett is the great-grandson of Smith Hammett and is collecting and sharing stories of his great-grandfather’s contribution to this picking style.

Both interviewees believe that while Smith Hammett, Snuffy Jenkins and others may have used the three-finger picking style, it was Earl Scruggs who perfected and popularized it and introduced the methodology to the world, changing bluegrass history.