After one of their home videos went viral in June, a number of television talk shows asked them to perform, and they chose Letterman’s program based on the number of banjo players they had seen on the show in the past.
They absolutely killed on TV, picking their way through Flint Hill Special without a smidgen of stage fright. Judging from the photos, it seems clear that the boys enjoyed their time in New York, playing around on the set, performing on television, and getting to meet Hollywood superstar Tom Hanks.
The whole bluegrass world is falling in love with Sleepy Man Banjo Boys, the brother trio of hot young pickers from Lebanon Township, New Jersey. We first mentioned them on Bluegrass Todaylast November, and it turns out that one of their new videos has recently gone viral, netting them over 1,500,000 plays on YouTube.
The video features 8 year old Jonny Mizzone tearing up the Earl Scruggs classic, Flint Hill Special, with his two older brothers Robbie (12) on fiddle and Tommy (13) on guitar. All three play quite well, but Jonny has to be seen to be believed.
Well, the video came to the attention of producers from The Late Show with David Letterman, and the boys will be treking to New York City on Tuesday (6/28) to make their nationwide, network television premier. In fact, proud papa Tom Mizzone told us that they had received offers to appear on several late night shows, but chose Letterman’s since they see it as banjo-friendly. He and the boys recall having seen Earl Scruggs, Steve Martin and other banjo pickers on the show.
Tom says the boys are taking the attention in stride, and enjoying their brush with fame.
“The boys are hoping to spark a bluegrass movement with a younger audience. They are getting a small following with an audience not typically exposed to bluegrass music. It’s been really cool.”
The Late Show airs at 11:35 p.m. (ET/PT) on CBS. Typically, musical performers appear during the show’s final segment, at roughly 12:25 a.m.
Who doesn’t love cute kids playing bluegrass? I know I do.
Presented for your musical enjoyment… the quick pickin’ Mizzone Brothers from Lebanon Township, NJ. Big brother Tommy (13) plays mandolin and guitar, with younger siblings Robbie (11) on fiddle and Jonny (8) on banjo.
They perform as the Sleepy Man Banjo Boys, a name taken from the youngest Master Mizzone’s habit of playing his banjo lying down, eyes closed. They have a debut CD set for release in December, with proceeds to be donated to the Wounded Warrior Foundation.
All three are talented young musicians, but it’s little Jonny who steals the show. Watch him practicing Clinch Mountain Backstep in his bedroom at home…
You can follow the Sleepy Man Banjo Boys on Facebook. Who knows… one day we may talk anbout the Mizzone Brothers like so many of those other great “Brothers of Bluegrass.”
