Eric Weissberg, half of the duo that recorded “Dueling Banjos” for the film “Deliverance” in 1973, resulting in an unlikely smash hit single and album, has died at 80. Family members and friends said Weissberg had been suffering from Alzheimer’s for years.
Weissberg was a fixture on the New York folk scene before being enlisted to bring his banjo cover the traditional but largely unfamiliar instrumental with Steve Mandell for John Boorman’s adventure-thriller in 1972. When it was released as a single, it rose to No. 2 on the Billboard pop chart and stayed there for four weeks in 1973, blocked from the top spot only by Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly With His Song.” An album of Weissberg’s roots music that was rush-released as a soundtrack to “Deliverance” ran into no such hindrance — it topped the album sales chart for three weeks.
In a 2011 conversation with Chris Willman for the Los Angeles Times,...
Weissberg was a fixture on the New York folk scene before being enlisted to bring his banjo cover the traditional but largely unfamiliar instrumental with Steve Mandell for John Boorman’s adventure-thriller in 1972. When it was released as a single, it rose to No. 2 on the Billboard pop chart and stayed there for four weeks in 1973, blocked from the top spot only by Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly With His Song.” An album of Weissberg’s roots music that was rush-released as a soundtrack to “Deliverance” ran into no such hindrance — it topped the album sales chart for three weeks.
In a 2011 conversation with Chris Willman for the Los Angeles Times,...
- 3/24/2020
- by Chris Willman
- Variety Film + TV
Eric Weissberg, who arranged, played banjo on and won a Grammy for “Dueling Banjos,” from the 1972 movie Deliverance, died Sunday of Alzheimer’s disease complications. He was 80.
His son, Will Weissberg, confirmed the news to our sister publication Rolling Stone.
More from DeadlineNotable Hollywood & Entertainment Industry Deaths In 2020: Photo GalleryLifetime Casts Trio In Pilot 'The Lottery', Duo In 'Deliverance Creek'Pilots 'Eye Candy' & 'Deliverance Creek' Cast Regulars
Born on August 16, 1939, in New York City, Weissberg was a bluegrass musician from an early age, having seen Pete Seeger play at his school in Greenwich Village, and went on to attend the Juilliard School of Music in the 1950s. He also played guitar, mandolin, fiddle, pedal steel, and string bass.
He also became a frequent collaborator of Tom Paxton and Judy Collins and worked as a session man for such acts as Bob Dylan, Talking Heads,...
His son, Will Weissberg, confirmed the news to our sister publication Rolling Stone.
More from DeadlineNotable Hollywood & Entertainment Industry Deaths In 2020: Photo GalleryLifetime Casts Trio In Pilot 'The Lottery', Duo In 'Deliverance Creek'Pilots 'Eye Candy' & 'Deliverance Creek' Cast Regulars
Born on August 16, 1939, in New York City, Weissberg was a bluegrass musician from an early age, having seen Pete Seeger play at his school in Greenwich Village, and went on to attend the Juilliard School of Music in the 1950s. He also played guitar, mandolin, fiddle, pedal steel, and string bass.
He also became a frequent collaborator of Tom Paxton and Judy Collins and worked as a session man for such acts as Bob Dylan, Talking Heads,...
- 3/24/2020
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Bluegrass musician Eric Weissberg, whose cover of the Arthur “Guitar Boogie” Smith instrumental “Dueling Banjos” became an unlikely pop hit when it appeared on the soundtrack to the 1972 film Deliverance, died Sunday at the age of 80 after a five-year struggle with dementia. His son, Will Weissberg, confirmed the musician’s death to Rolling Stone.
“Eric Weissberg was a consummate musician, a solid and seemingly effortless player of stringed instruments of all kinds — banjo, guitar, mandolin, fiddle, pedal steel, and string bass,” his lifelong friend and frequent collaborator Happy Traum wrote on Facebook.
“Eric Weissberg was a consummate musician, a solid and seemingly effortless player of stringed instruments of all kinds — banjo, guitar, mandolin, fiddle, pedal steel, and string bass,” his lifelong friend and frequent collaborator Happy Traum wrote on Facebook.
- 3/23/2020
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
Update: Us Weekly can confirm that Maroulis was arrested on Sunday, Aug. 16. He has since been released on bail. -- Constantine Maroulis is in hot water. According to Steve Mandel, the attorney of Maroulis’ girlfriend, Angelina Reed, the American Idol alum, 39, allegedly violated an order of protection placed against him after an incident at the couple’s home on Aug. 11, and is scheduled to be arrested. Reed, who is the mother of Maroulis’ 4-year-old daughter, Malena, claims Maroulis sent her inappropriate emails after the alleged Aug. 11 altercation. Maroulis’ [...]...
- 8/17/2015
- Us Weekly
Randy gets delivered.
In the South, drinking is the national sport. That’s why they named their beer “Dixie.” Of course, they also name their cars, hunting dogs and little girls “Dixie,” but those are for other columns. This one is about wine and movies, and it says here the best movie about the southern United States is “Deliverance.”
It’s not a feel-good movie. It’s a writhing, retching record of the worst that humanity has to offer, and I don’t mean litterbugs. Those goons are scary stupid, and those city boys are way out of their element. They should have turned around and gone back home at the first sign of trouble, but you know what a bad influence that Burt Reynolds can be.
When Burt told the local yokel that fifty dollars was too much for the ride, maybe he should have used a little more tact.
In the South, drinking is the national sport. That’s why they named their beer “Dixie.” Of course, they also name their cars, hunting dogs and little girls “Dixie,” but those are for other columns. This one is about wine and movies, and it says here the best movie about the southern United States is “Deliverance.”
It’s not a feel-good movie. It’s a writhing, retching record of the worst that humanity has to offer, and I don’t mean litterbugs. Those goons are scary stupid, and those city boys are way out of their element. They should have turned around and gone back home at the first sign of trouble, but you know what a bad influence that Burt Reynolds can be.
When Burt told the local yokel that fifty dollars was too much for the ride, maybe he should have used a little more tact.
- 5/25/2012
- by Danny
- Trailers from Hell
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.