William L. Ellis & Tony Ellis on banjos, fiddle and family

William L. Ellis and his father Tony Ellis talk about learning to play music, how a Scottish village inspired Tony’s fiddle tune “Plockton Aire,” parlor banjo history, and family influences, including how Tony’s grandmother played him lullabyes on the banjo. Tony plays “Plockton Aire” with Louise Adkins (pump organ). Tony Ellis’ “Windchimes and Nursery Rhymes” is played with Louise Adkins (pump organ) and William L . Ellis (guitar). Geoff Stelling on bass. Bonus video from the MUSIC episode. PBS premiere November 20, 2015.

Archival Courtesy of Tony Ellis, Wihstk, Getty Images/Epics, Duncan Macpherson Collection/Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre, H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock/Corbis, Johnston, Frances Benjamin/Library of Congress.