David Letterman's Closing "Jam"

Did you catch David Letterman last night (thurs 11/15) with guest star, Steve Martin? If so, his show clsed with a country jam session. It is a banjo piece, primarily, performed by the Scruggs, I think? What piece is this?

I could swear it is an old banjo tune. I think the title is “Frieght Train”? Maybe a Roy Clark creation?

Please help with title and original artist,

  • Jinx

“Foggy Mountain Banjo”, written by Earl Scruggs himself, and brought to widespread popularity in the movie “Bonnie and Clyde”.

Make that “Foggy Mountain Breakdown”.

What I don’t get is the “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” is to banjos what “Lady of Spain” is to accordians, or “Stairway to Heaven” for electric guitars. Even Martin riffs on this cliche in one of his early albums.

So he peforms it more or less straight on Letterman???

…Or “Orange Blossom Special” to fiddles.

I believe that SM performs “Foggy” on Scrugg’s latest album.

So it’s all right, kids, it was a plug.