Probably 20 or so years ago I saw an ad in the back of Banjo Newsletter for a leather banjo strap that could be personalized with one’s name. It was offered by one “J.A. Shelton” of Weber City, VA. The strap I ordered was beautifully made, thick high-quality leather in a rich, dark brown shade with my name in a lighter tan. It was hand-tooled, looked great and was very comfortable.
The only down side was that with “George” emblazoned on the strap, everybody I met would say, “Hi, George,” and I would have to figure out if I had ever met this person/jammed with this person, could know his/her name, or should know his/her name.
Not being the shiniest string on the banjo, it took me some years to realize that “J.A. Shelton” was actually James Alan Shelton, Ralph Stanley’s lead guitar player. When that finally dawned on me I thought that strap was cooler than ever, and I started noticing that a lot of the pro pickers who came through Grass Valley, or whom I saw on TV, were wearing that same strap. It was like being in an exclusive club, except anyone with $50 and a banjo could join.
In the fall of 2013 Dr. Ralph and his band were making their “Farewell Tour,” and played at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley. Barbara and I felt it was imperative to catch the good doctor for the last time and went to the show. (During which, Ralph’s grandson, Nathan, announced that the old man was reconsidering the “farewell” thing and might be back again — but that’s another story.)
After the show I talked to Shelton in the lobby and asked if he still was in the leather business. “Oh, yes,” he said, and offered me a business card. I ordered three guitar straps the next day: one each for Pauline, my long-time singing partner, Kenny, my niece, and one for me. They came in a few weeks, beautifully done, and I salted them away for Christmas.
Those were among the last straps Shelton made; in April he was diagnosed with cancer. The cancer was far advanced and nothing could be done. He passed away a month later at the age of 53, leaving the bluegrass world in deep mourning.
James was by all reports a sweet guy, a great guitar player and family man. He was Dr. Ralph’s close associate, handling most of the band’s business and serving as road manager. In previous years he even did the booking.
After he was gone I began to wonder if anyone was going to continue the strap business. I didn’t know if it was a one-man operation, or if he had friends or kinfolk helping him. Jamesalanshelton.com remained up on the internet, with CDs available for purchase, but the straps vanished.
Then some weeks ago the e-mail I regularly get from Janet Davis Music arrived featuring the “Golden Gate Shelton Hand-Tooled Banjo Strap.” The photo looked just like my strap, said it was made of “Scandinavian leather,” and was priced at $39.95 plus shipping. I figured I could do without my name on it, and send off for one, to put on my other banjo. I also phoned Saga, to see if I could get any information on how the company took over the brand, and if the Shelton family was getting any royalties. But I never got a call back.
I wish I could tell you that James’ beautiful straps are still available, but this version is made in China of very thin leather. The deep embossing James used to do is now shallow and ill-defined. The Chicago screws that hold it on the banjo are tiny and difficult to manipulate, with very fine threads that are hard to start.
Sometimes in this world a wonderful product just disappears, and there is no way ever to get another one. In my lifetime, Bireley’s Orange, a lightly carbonated soda in a wide-mouth bottle (that tasted of real orange) went away, as did Sun Drop Citrus Cola (which I understand is still around in Kentucky, Tennessee and other parts of the South). Original Fosters English Muffins are only a memory. If, as the hints I am reading in the press are true and JC Penney is about to go broke, where will I get my heavyweight T-shirts and tighty whities?
I hope my original Shelton straps last a long time. No more will be forthcoming.
