Don Reno

One of the world’s greatest five-string banjo players, Don Reno was playing professionally with the Morris Brothers at the age of 14. In 1941, he worked with Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith, but between 1944 and 1946, his career was interrupted by military service. After replacing Earl Scruggs in Bill Monroe’s band, Reno joined forces with guitarist Red Smiley and, as Reno & Smiley, the two recorded and worked together at the Wheeling Jamboree and the Old Dominion Barn Dance. In the early '50s, Reno reunited with Smith to record the definitive version of "Feudin’ Banjos" (which was later featured, under the title "Deuling Banjos," in the film DELIVERANCE, and used without their permission). Reno also wrote numerous country hits.