i got into blind lemon jefferson and steve james and hank williams, jr., kenny rogers, and all that.as playing the stock as i went along. -- i was playing the stuff as i went along. i started playing the banjo. >> it also is fascinating to read -- fascinating to me that people do not know the venture was a creation. >> and it came from west africa. it is one of those things where we do not know which is which. it came over from africa with slaves, and it was developed into the banjo when it hit american soil. >> the amazing thing is we consider it as a white instrument, and for the first long time it was in the country, it was considered a black instrument. it is interesting there has been such a shift. >> what do your audiences look like? >> they are mostly white. that is because folk music was not formed by black people. a black audience does not naturally turn to folk music unless you are naturally in -- unless you are interested in it. it is either that or the performers are black. tavis: are you ok with that, or would you like to see that change? >> we always strive for that. we

i was talking the other day about the song "gambler" that kenny rogers did.do that? >> honestly, because i knew it was a hit and it was so long, had so many verses that i would have to do it every night. >> larry: gotta know when to hold them, know when to fold them. you turned that down? >> yeah. >> larry: a lot of pop that day. >> it had a bunch of verses in it i didn't want another long -- >> larry: your good friend kris kristofferson said anybody that doesn't like willie nelson is dead or may as well be dead. why does everybody like you so much? everybody likes willie nelson. >> i like everybody, too, you know? >> larry: you like people? >> yeah. >> larry: what about the plans for the july fourth backwards summer picnic this year. >> we're having it. leon russell, ray wily hover, billy joe shaffer. i tell everybody you got to have three names to get on there. >> larry: in austin, right? >> in austin. >> larry: you're touring all summer? >> all summer. in june we go to europe and come back just in time to do the picnic. >> larry: you got a joke? >> i got s