June 2026 Challenge Resonse: Pap

[Pap]

Hello fellow AM’rs,

This is Jimmy Brown The Newsboy, a sad song but fitting for the times.. It was written by William S. Hays in 1875. It was made famous by the Carter Family and later Flatt and Scruggs. For a deeper dive on the history of this civil war era song go here: https://nativeground.com/jimmie-brown-the-newsboy/

I recorded this on 19 July 2026 for this two chord challenge. It’s in the key of F#. I came up with a few solos based on how I learned it and what I have heard from different recordings.

Hope you like it. I look forward to listening to everyones submissions over the next few days.

[Dieter]

I really like this old-fashioned bluegrass music. You play it wonderfully authentically—great performance.

Dieter

[AndréM]

Very nice playing and vocal Pap.
Well done man.

AndréM

AndréM

[sunjamr]

Way to go Pap, I love that song. I was just listening to Norman Blake’s version, which is maybe the gold standard for that song.

Sunjamr Steve

[Manfred M]

You’re slowly becoming our bluegrass specialist, Pap. And I listen with enthusiasm time and time again.
It all fits together so well, and you play it so well and so authentically.

Take the chance to meet your AM friends on Zoom
The next Meetup will be on July 25, 2026

For more information click here

I look forward to meet you.
Manfred

[Mark T]

Absolutely love the simplicity of the story in this song, Pap – just shows that you don’t need dramatics all the time 👏👏 A great performance – really well done – Mark 👍🎶😎

[Tremelow]

Keep that in your repertoire, Pap. I am sure that a lot of people know this song and relate to it.And before you know it, you have a crowd chiming in. Well done on your performance, too!

[John H]

Pap
This is wonderful. Great singin’ and I love your steady/smooth play. You pick that solo out without missing a beat. Your progress is on an upward trajectory. Keep playing those Carter Style pickin’ tunes. They are melodic and help develop your rhythm and lead chops all in one. Additionally, people like to hear them ‘cuz you are playing a whole song from start to finish and you sound more accomplished. Well done.

John

[Alan L]

Great work! Nice to hear you sing one. You really kept the energy and groove up during the solos, nicely done 👍

[Mike W]

This is what it it’s all about, Pap. Great song choice – I hadn’t realised this was a 2 chord song. You kept the timing going and the song suited your voice – we could do with more of this. Plus the setting made it look like you were auditioning for ‘O Brother Where Art Thou’.

[Michael Krailo]

That’s a happy pappy song for sure. Love the bluegrass.

Go slow and practice correct technique, and your abilities will dramatically improve.

[James B]

Great job all around, Pap. Your picking and singing and timing has really come around. This song flows along nicely. Well done, Pap.

James

[JoeD1]

Wow! Well done Pap! Awesome playing and while singing too! Nice!

Joe

The sight of a touch, or the scent of a sound,
Or the strength of an Oak with roots deep in the ground.
--Graeme Edge

[Michael L]

Hi Pap, now THAT is some porch-pickin’!! Nicely done. You could easily drop a hat in front of yourself and collect a few extra dollars with that performance. Really nice flat picking on the solos.

[JoLa]

Pap, this submission is simply iconic! I’m stunned how well you played the rhythm AND licks WHILE singing, I feel like you have found your calling in this style of music! And if your performance wasn’t fantastic enough, the scenery was straight out of a movie or a country folk documentary with you sitting on the porch, cowboy hat and all 🤠 So authentic and well done, bravo!

🎸JoLa

[Author]

Posts