Tolkien the virtuoso banjo player...

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

One of these was that JRR Tolkien was a keen banjo player and played at the Turf Tavern (I think - the sign was obscured) with the "Thames Valley Cottonpickers"

Actually, I had heard that it was at the infamous Spread Eagle Inn of the Oxfordshire town of Thame where the Professor let loose, although possibly that arose from confusion over the Eagle and Child in Oxford itself. I also seem to recall that a favourite rendition of his was one "Puff the Magic Dragon", which he sang with alternate puffs on his famous pipe.