Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

The Dark Story Behind the Dueling Banjos Scene in “Deliverance”

The Iconic Dueling Banjos Scene from film “Deliverance”
by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

Ever heard music so mighty you couldn’t help but stomp your feet? This is what the “Dueling Banjos” scene in the movie Deliverance did for everyone that saw the movie. The energetic and really tense duel between a guitar player and a banjo player in the 1972 movie Deliverance gave birth to one of the most iconic music scenes in the film to this date. The dark past of this movie, however, almost didn’t give recognition to its original composer.

Eric Weissberg, the man behind the arrangement and playing the banjo himself in Deliverance died on March 22, 2020, but his legacy lives on. Weissberg passed away at the age of 80 due to Alzheimer’s disease complications, but his legacy lives on.

RELATED: The Iconic Dueling Banjos Scene from film “Deliverance” will Blow Ya’ll Away

Weissberg was born in New York City on August 16, 1939 as a very young bluegrass musician. Weissberg was a popular collaborator of Jody Collins and Tom Paxton and even worked as an esteemed session man for music legends Bob Dylan, Jim Croce, John Denver, Billy Joel, and the Talking Heads.

The true roots of Dueling Banjos is a bluegrass composition originally from Arthur “Guitar Boogie” Smith back in 1954. Smith composed the song as a banjo instrumental originally called “Feudin’ Banjos.”

The song’s use in the movie led to a lawsuit by Smith when it spread like wildfire through the film Deliverance. Apparently, Smith was never asked for his permission to use the song. The credits only went to Eric Weissberg as the song retained its position as #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 4 weeks straight in 1973.

The song was also nominated for the 30th Golden Globe Awards as well as the Best Original Song category. In the end, Smith sued the filmmakers for no acknowledgment being given as the original composer, and he eventually won. The case was considered a landmark copyright infringement suit.

Smith was able to receive not only songwriting credit but also royalties for the song but passed away on April 3, 2014 just two days before he turned 93. The scene is extremely well celebrated by banjo players and musicians alike to this day. 

Make sure to check out the scene as not only was it a high-profile copyright discussion, Dueling Banjos also showed remarkable roots of what a banjo is capable of doing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myhnAZFR1po

Latest Stories

Dolly Parton looks down emotionally while speaking into a rhinestone-covered microphone during a candid moment on stage.

Dolly Parton Was So Broke When She First Moved to Nashville She Ate Leftover Room Service to Survive

Some people chase dreams. Dolly Parton chased survival. Long before the wigs, the theme park, and the billion-dollar legacy, Dolly was just a teenage girl in cheap shoes with a ...

Kelly Clarkson closes her eyes while singing into a microphone during her raw performance of Cody Johnson’s “When It Comes To You.”

Kelly Clarkson’s Cody Johnson Cover Reminded Folks What Country’s Supposed to Feel Like

Kelly Clarkson’s voice could melt asphalt in the middle of a Texas summer, and when she turned her sights on Cody Johnson‘s “When It Comes To You,” it wasn’t just ...

Connie Francis smiles with hands clasped in front of a pink backdrop and orchids, remembered for her timeless hit “Pretty Little Baby.”

Connie Francis, the Original Pop Icon Behind “Pretty Little Baby,” Dies at 87

She ruled the airwaves before most of us were born, and somehow, against all odds, Connie Francis was going viral on TikTok at 87. The pop powerhouse behind hits like ...

Luke Bryan performs with high energy on stage in a plaid shirt and cap, dividing fans over whether he's saving or ruining country music.

Why Some Country Fans Can’t Stand Luke Bryan and Others Say He Saved the Genre

Country fans don’t just listen, they debate. And if there’s one name that’s kept the whiskey flowing and keyboards clacking over the last decade, it’s Luke Bryan. Depending on who ...

Luke Bryan looks emotional during a heartfelt interview as he reflects on the personal tragedies of losing his brother and sister years apart.

Luke Bryan’s Brother and Sister Died Years Apart and He’s Still Carrying That Pain Today

Country music’s known for telling stories, but Luke Bryan’s life reads more like a ballad you never want to live through. Before the chart-toppers, before the sold-out stadium tours, before ...

Chris Stapleton and Miranda Lambert perform together in cowboy hats as their new duet “A Song to Sing” sparks mixed reactions from critics and fans.

Chris Stapleton and Miranda Lambert’s New Duet Slammed by Critics but Loved by Listeners

You’d think pairing two of the biggest voices in country music would set the world on fire. Instead, some critics are out here pouring cold water on what was supposed ...

More than 50 country legends and stars join together onstage at the Grand Ole Opry’s 100th celebration for a surprise performance of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.”

Opry 100 Crowd Thought It Was Over Then 50 Country Legends Sang “Will the Circle Be Unbroken”

Thought the show was over? Not even close. The Grand Ole Opry’s 100th anniversary celebration already had fans floating on a high of nostalgia, surprise collaborations, and once-in-a-lifetime performances. But ...

Chris Stapleton performing onstage in a cowboy hat and black suit while playing guitar, tied to his big $1 million donation to help Texas families after devastating floods.

Chris Stapleton Steps Up to Help Texas Families After Devastating Floods With Big Donation

When the waters rise, real country shows up. Texas got hit with a storm over Fourth of July weekend that nobody saw coming, a wall of rain that turned the ...

Beyoncé performing in a white rhinestone outfit and cowboy hat during her Cowboy Carter Tour, amid news her unreleased music and setlists were stolen from a car in Atlanta.

Beyoncé’s Unreleased Music Stolen From Car in Atlanta Along With Cowboy Carter Tour Plans and Setlists

Well, here we go. Beyoncé might want to saddle up that golden horse of hers because this Cowboy Carter circus just keeps getting wilder, and not in a way that’ll ...

Darius Rucker passionately singing on stage before walking off after four songs and refunding fans when he lost his voice in Atlantic City.

Darius Rucker Walks Off Stage After 4 Songs Says “I Can’t Sing Anymore” and Refunds Fans

Sometimes the road just knocks the wind right out of you, or in Darius Rucker‘s case, it takes your voice and leaves you standing there, hat in hand, with nothing ...