In 1955, Arthur Smith recorded “Feuding Banjos,” which featured the interplay of Smith’s tenor banjo with Don Reno’s 5-string banjo; the number became a popular bluegrass tune that was featured in the film “Deliverance” but giving no credit to Smith. The song has been the Upsilon Manor house theme for Moonshiner since John Snodgrass founded the legendary party in 1976.
In 1992, “Dueling Banjos” was used in a commercial for Mitsubishi automobiles. Smith told the Observer this experience was much more pleasant than the one he’d had with “Deliverance.”