DUELING BANJOS

“Dueling Banjos” is an instrumental composition that was made famous in a scene from

the 1972 movie Deliverance. The scene depicts Billy Redden playing the piece opposite

actor Ronny Cox on guitar. Redden plays “Lonnie”—a mentally retarded, inbred,

extremely gifted banjo player. Due to the unique sound of the song and its inclusion in

the film, it went to #2 on the U.S. pop chart in 1973, remaining there for four weeks. The

song also topped the adult contemporary chart for two weeks that same year.

The piece was arranged and performed for the movie for guitar and banjo by Eric

Weissberg and Steve Mandel and was on the movie’s soundtrack album. In 1955, Arthur

Smith composed a banjo instrumental he called “Feudin’ Banjos” and recorded the song

with five-string banjo player Don Reno. Later the composition appeared in the popular

1972 film Deliverance as “Dueling Banjos” played by Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandel.

Not given credit, Smith had to proceed with legal action that eventually gave him

songwriting credit and back royalties.

(INSTUMENTAL)

Banjo Mountain