Eric Weissberg (born 18 August 1939) is an American banjo player, best known for the theme from Deliverance. Eric Weissberg went to the University of Wisconsin, then the Juilliard School of Music. He joined an early version of the Greenbriar Boys (1958-59), but left before they made any recordings. He then joined The Tarriers, replacing Eric Darling. ...show more

Eric Weissberg (born 18 August 1939) is an American banjo player, best known for the theme from Deliverance. Eric Weissberg went to the University of Wisconsin, then the Juilliard School of Music. He joined an early version of the Greenbriar Boys (1958-59), but left before they made any recordings. He then joined The Tarriers, replacing Eric Darling.

The Tarriers had recently had a hit with "Banana Boat Song", though Harry Belafonte had the bigger hit soon afterwards.The group soon made use of his multi-instrumental talents as banjo player, guitarist, mandolin player and singer. At that time he was still a student at Juilliard. His first album with The Tarriers, Tell The World About This (1960) has a much more rustic feel than the smoother produced sound of The Weavers or The Kingston Trio. In 1964 he had to do one year of duty with the National Guard, but on returning, the group re-formed.

In 1965 the group accompanied Judy Collins on a tour of Poland and Russia, but split up soon after. Judy Collins was impressed to use him as a session musician on Fifth Album (1965) and several later albums. Playing on albums by Doc Watson, Melanie, Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, Loudon Wainwright III, Talking Heads, Tom Paxton, Jim Croce, Art Garfunkel, John Denver and others. He is most famously known for the hit single "Dueling Banjos", the theme from the film Deliverance, produced by Joe Boyd and directed by John Boorman. ...show less