Artists

• Deering Golden Era
• Deering Tenbrooks Saratoga Star
• Goodtime

Among the major-league talent emerging from the folk music boom of the late '50s were the Country Gentlemen, a D.C.-based quartet that introduced bluegrass to a generation of city folks and college students, people who had never heard of Flatt & Scruggs or Bill Monroe or the Stanley Brothers. The Gentlemen, in playing the old bluegrass standards but playing them "different," were in a sense the first newgrass group. Eddie Adcock was the band's banjo player and he was a player of distinction — his style was as innovative as Don Reno's. Adcock's considerable talent spread to other stringed instruments when he left The Gentlemen in 1970 and began exploring new musical genres. For the next three decades, Eddie Adcock remained one of the most popular musicians in bluegrass.

• Deering Black Diamond 5-String
• Deering Tenbrooks Legacy 5-String
• Vega Senator 5-String

Scott Avett. Player of the Deering Sierra, Black Diamond, Tenbrooks Legacy and Vega Senator banjos, is one of the lead singers and founding members of the folk-rock band, The Avett Brothers. Scott primarily plays the banjo but also plays harmonica, drums, piano, acoustic guitar and electric guitar for the band based out of Concord, North Carolina.

• Deering Dropkick Murphys 19-Fret Tenor
• Tenbrooks Jen Kruger Signature Model
• Vega #2

David is a Deering Banjo Company clinician and has taught workshops at Chicago's Old Town School of folk music.  He has played with Dr. John, Natalie Merchant, Donald Harrison, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Mike Seeger, and with band members of the Harry Connick Jr. Big Band, Fats Domino, The Allman Brothers, Merle Travis, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, the Rebirth Brass Band, Galactic, and many other well known and lesser known entertainers. He has also composed, produced, and placed music in many commercials, films, and television programs.

www.davidbandrowski.com

• Tree Of Life
• Deering John Hartford
• Eagle II
• Woodsongs Campfire Longneck
• Vega Senator 17-Fret Tenor Banjo

Rik is a folk festival veteran whose unique guitar and banjo styles have caught the attention of audience members and music critics alike. As a teenager he was named best instrumentalist by the Newfoundland Folk Artist Association, and his kid friendly tunes earned him three East Coast Music Awards.

www.rikbarron.com

• Terry Baucom Signature Model

The Duke of Drive, Terry Baucom, is well known to bluegrass fans. Terry's time with the award-winning Doyle Lawson and Quiksilver Band not only brought him critical acclaim but made his name a household word among the bluegrass community.
Music has been an important part of the Baucom family for generations; his father played guitar, his grandfather clawhammer banjo, and his great-grandfather playing fiddle. It would seem only natural the Terry would follow in their footsteps, starting with fiddle and gravitating to banjo as his main instrument by the 70's. Terry's first single album, "In the Groove" came out this year and he proves, yet again, what a master of hard-driving bluegrass music he is.

www.terrybaucom.com

• Maple Blossom Plectrum

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, a contemporary swing revival band from Ventura, California in 1989 by their band leader Scotty Morris, player of a Deering Maple Blossom Plectrum banjo. These hep cats in classic 40’s style threads produce good-humored, foot tapping swing revival!

• Tenbrooks Saratoga Star

The first banjo music that I ever heard was as a kid. That strange Philadelphia phenomenon called the String Band, as in MUMMERS. (See my essay, A Trip Back Home at josephsbonsall.com.) One hundred guys wearing feathers and strumming banjos is quite an assault and, although I got a kick out of the pomp and fun of these groups as a child, I never aspired to put on a pair of purple tights and a headdress and march down Market Street strumming my brains out.

www.josephsbonsall.com

• Deering Boston 6-String banjo

Detroit Brooks, famed session and touring guitarist of the New Orleans music scene, has the most recognizable face in the city. An evening of his musical prowess, music critics, affection ados, or novices are testiment of his smooth yet infectious stroke based in solid fundamentals. Often admired by guitarists world-wide, Brooks’ laid-back demeanor masks one of the most heralded and sought-after performer, songwriter, and session men of our time

www.detroitbrooks.com

• Boston 6-String

After an eventful year on the charts and on the road, GRAMMY-Award winning Zac Brown Band has proven that "overnight success" can be years in the making. New fans drawn by the irresistible hit singles, the awe-inspiring musicianship and dynamic live shows might have thought the Zac Brown Band emerged from nowhere. In fact, the band has paid its dues for years and put in its time for just this moment, it may have happened quickly, but it's definitely built to last.

www.zacbrownband.com

• Crossfire

Al Caldwell, a native of St. Louis, is a multi-instrumentalist whose vibrant style and energy bring his music to life. Producer, songwriter of over 1500 tunes, bass player for Vanessa Williams Band, and Deering Crossfire banjo player....Al brings his enthusiastic and innovative approach to all of these talents.
He joined the Vanessa Williams Band in 1997 and his first performance was for the Prince of Monaco. On returning to the US, they performed on the David Letterman Show and were seen on the top TV shows of the time. The band added Luther Vandross to the lineup and continued to play everywhere from the Hollywood Bowl to New York City's famed Madison Square Garden.
Like many in 2002, Al saw the movie "Oh Brother Where Art Thou?" and was inspired by the soundtrack to play banjo. His great-grandfather had played the instrument. Moved by the African origins of the banjo and the lack of African American artists playing the instrument, he formed The Travelin Black Hillbilly's Band to a new African American influence to banjo music.

www.tbhillbilly.com

• Deering Sierra, Vega Long Neck and custom Tenbrooks Saratoga Star

Ashley Campbell was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona but now calls Los Angeles home. She has been on several world tours with her father, Glen Campbell and her band Victoria Ghost has been the opening act of Glen's recent Goodbye Tour. See www.facebook.com/victoriaghost. You might also know Ashley as the banjo player from Rascal Flatt's music video of their hit single "Banjo".

• Deering Boston 6-String

Eric Church is an American country music singer-songwriter. At 13, he bought a guitar and began writing songs of his own. He has since signed to Capitol Records and had several songs on the Billboard country chart.

www.ericchurch.com

• G.D.L.

Billy Lee started playing the banjo at age 11. He would go with his family to country dances that his Uncle "Sock" would play the banjo for. He was hooked on the banjo. When Uncle "Sock" gave Billy his old banjo and said: "if you learn how to play this I'll give it to you". That was all it took. At age 13 Billy played his first show with Calvin Crane who invited him to be his Special guest. The banjo Billy plays is the one Calvin gave to Billy a few years ago. Billy considers his Uncle, Calvin, Eddy Hoover and his cousin Doc as major influences in his musical endeavors.

www.billyleecox.tripod.com

• Gabriella
• John Hartford

Banjoholic, Mary Z. Cox, a third generation Floridian, has played banjo since she was 12, and is a two time Florida champion. She has won old time music competitions on banjo, dulcimer, singing, and string band in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and Tennessee and was chosen by Banjo Newsletter readers in 2006 as the fourth favorite claw hammer banjo player in the world.

www.maryzcox.com/

• Classic Goodtime Two Plectrum

Los Angeles-based Dance Hall Pimps first performed publicly in January 2010 and by September of that year had offers from two record labels. Their genre-bending rootsy garage rock smeared with a haunting swampy vibe and powered by dramatic lead vocals is at once original and accessible. Rock, Country, and Americana audiences all seem to respond to the high-energy fun of the Dance Hall Pimps. Lead singer RJC plucks, picks, and saws his acoustic/electric Classic Goodtime Two Plectrum on rock songs as well as New Orleans-style rags and romps in the DHP repertoire. In addition to banjo, the band layers saxophone, organ, and occasionally piano, clarinet, flute, and trumpet over a basic rock trio of guitars and drums. The band includes notable musicians Jeff Jourard (The Motels) and Steve Carr (featured soloist on Buddy Collette's Grammy® Nominated “Big Band in Concert” album). Their debut LP Beast for Love is on Lakeshore Records (release date March 6, 2012)

www.dancehallpimps.com

• Vega #2

Beverly's talents have taken her across the United States and Canada several times as a featured performer at the premiere country, folk and bluegrass festivals, as well as a performance at Carnegie Hall. Her considerable abilities have led to appearances on numerous television programs. She was a frequent guest performer on the "Hee Haw" show over several seasons; a featured guest on Disney Channel's "Epcot's America", hosted by Lloyd Bridges; and two specials for The Family Channel: "Silver Dollar Jubilee Special" and "Silver Dollar City Christmas" with Pat Boone and Lee Greenwood.

www.thedillards.tv/

• Deering Crossfire
• Deering Tenbrooks Saratoga Star
• Deering 24-Fret John Hartford

Béla Fleck is often considered the premier banjo player in the world. A New York City native, he picked up the banjo at age 15 after being awed by the bluegrass music of Flatt & Scruggs. While still in high school he began experimenting with playing bebop jazz on his banjo, mentored by fellow banjo renegade Tony Trischka. In 1980, he released his first solo album, Crossing the Tracks, with material that ranged from straight ahead bluegrass to Chick Corea’s “Spain.” In 1982, Fleck joined the progressive bluegrass band New Grass Revival, making a name for himself on countless solo and ensemble projects ever since as a virtuoso instrumentalist. In 1989 he formed the genre-busting Flecktones, with members equally talented and adventurous as himself.

www.belafleck.com

• Sierra Plectrum

Dom Flemons is a multi-instrumentalist and a songster. Playing in a broad range of old-time blues, country, string band, rock and jazz, he has impressed audiences with his outrageous performance style. "I always try keep the audience guessing," Dom says, "it makes the performance more interesting." Dom currently in upper Manhattan in New York City. As a member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Dom has toured all over the world going as far as Ireland, England, Scotland, France, Holland and Belgium. He is up for most any type of gig having played from coffee houses to street corners to house parties to the big-time venues.

www.myspace.com/domflemonsmusic

• Dropkick Murphys Goodtime 19-Fret Tenor

Now in their 14th year the Dropkick Murphys have risen from their basic Irish-punk roots to become a rocking & rolling, raging, green-clover machine. Dropkick Murphys are now one of the best-known rock bands in the world, thanks in part to their ability to tap into the working-class and sports fan culture that permeates Boston and the New England area but even more so due to their reputation for phenomenal live shows. Each year the band breaks house records when their live shows celebrating St. Patrick¹s Day go on sale. These shows are the peak of the band¹s touring calendar and every year fans from all over the world travel to Boston just for a chance to become part of this unique experience. In 2003 the band released a live album that has so far sold over a quarter of a million copies worldwide.

www.dropkickmurphys.com

• Golden Classic 19-Fret Tenor

Hailing form the North Kerry town of Tarbert,Brian began playing Irish Traditiona Music at the age of 13 on the Irish Tenor banjo.Brian progressed quickly winning All-Ireland titles on the banjo and mandolin alike at Irelands biggest and most prestigious annual competition for musicians.Brian has toured extensively with his music and recently launched his new debut banjo Album called "Karusell" which is proving to be a huge success for the North Kerryman since he set out on his musical journey. Brian now lives in Sweden with his family, where he plays regular gigs,and is in high demand as a session musician.

www.brianfrielmusic.com

• Deering John Hartford 5-String

Chris Funk is a multi-instrumentalist and member of the Portland, Oregon Indie Rock band The Decemberists. He plays banjo, guitar, pedal steel, piano, violin, dobro, hurdy gurdy, mandolin, saxophone, the theremin and many other instruments. After the trailer with all their equipment and merchandise was stolen in 2005, Funk wrote "This Machine Kills Thieves" on his banjo, in reference to Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie. He is also a member of the string band Black Prairie who released their first album, Feast of the Hunter’s Moon, in 2010. He plays in the country rock group Blue Giant and has also produced records for The Builders and The Butchers, Langhorne Slim, and Red Fang.

• Goodtime

Dan Garrett started playing guitar at the age of nine. At age 13 he began to play the organ for his parents’ tent and church evangelistic ministry. His father and mother both played and sang, and traveled to preach and sing their gospel music. He and his eight siblings were included in the services. In the 70’s Dan started his own music ministry, playing guitar and writing and singing his own contemporary gospel material. As he gained a love of the banjo (his dad played a tenor banjo), at age 23 he learned the instrument and worked it into his ministry. In 1989 he formed the gospel family group “The Garrett Family”, which consisted of his mother (Geneva) his sister (Debra) and his brother (Mark). Their music was influence by such artists as Dallas Holm and The Marshall Family. They also created their own unique style and sound. In 1994 Dan founded the Bluegrass group “Limited Edition” which has been performing for over fifteen years. The music is a blend of progressive driving bluegrass and solid gospel, and includes much of Dan’s original material. After retiring from his job of 37 years, Dan is now able to go out on his own, focusing on Christian venues and performing contemporary, traditional, & bluegrass gospel music, as God has been prompting him to do.

www.limitededitionbluegrass.com/bio.html

• Deering Tenbrooks Legacy

I started with a banjo Dad bought from Sears. I think it said Kay on the headstock. After a couple of years he got me a Hondo which I thought was really nice until some pickers at the Crafstbury Vermont Banjo Contest told me I needed a better banjo.
I was so hurt because it had been a Christmas present, but they were right. Almost immediately, Dad and Mom ordered a banjo from Gruhn Guitars in Nashville. I couldn't believe it when I got home from school to find it in the music room.

www.gibsonbrothers.com

• John Hartford
• Goodtime

Rhiannon is a show-stopper -- not only for her glorious voice but also for her incredible versatility. She ranges across many styles and genres, and is equally at ease singing opera, blues, gospel and Gaelic or whatever the moment takes. A rare talent!

www.rhisong.com

• Banjosaurus

George Grove, 36-year veteran of The Kingston Trio (as of 2012), has been playing Deering banjos exclusively for over 25 years, both on-stage and in the recording studio. His custom Deering banjo known as "The Banjosaurus" was used for The Kingston Trio's CD Live At The Crazy Horse (released 1994). The "Tom Dooley Banjo" was used for the Trio's Christmas album, Glad Tidings (released December, 2009). And his "Vega Kingston Trio 'George Grove'" was used for their CD Born At The Right Time (released February, 2012). George says that his only problem with his Deering banjos is "which one shall I use? Each banjo has a distinctive voice and personality -- I wish I could tour with all three banjos!"

www.kingstontrio.com

• Deering Calico 19-Fret Tenor

Kieran Hanrahan is an Irish radio host and high profile musician, born in Ennis, Co. Clare. He began playing traditional Irish music on the tenor banjo at the age of fourteen, and had won the All-Ireland banjo championship by the time he was eighteen.  Over the years, Kieran has helped found a number of traditional bands, including Inchiquin, Stockton's Wing, and the Templehouse Ceili Band. Kieran has hosted radio programs for the Irish national broadcaster RTÉ since 1991. Currently he hosts Céilí House, the anchor radio program on traditional Irish music aired weekly in Ireland on RTÉ Radio1.

www.kieranhanrahanbanjo.com

• Deering John Hartford

John Hartford won Grammy awards in three different decades, recorded a catalog of more than 30 albums, and wrote one of the most popular songs of all time, Gentle On My Mind. He was a regular guest and contributor on the Glen Campbell Good Time Hour and the Smothers Brothers Show. He added music and narration to Ken Burns’ landmark Civil War series, and was an integral part of the hugely popular "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack and Down From The Mountain concert tour. But that hardly explains John Hartford.

www.johnhartford.com

• Calico

Ray Hesson was born in Washington, D.C.and has always lived in the Maryland suburbs of the Capital City. He attended schools in College Park and Silver Spring, Maryland, graduating from Montgomery Blair High School in 1959 and from the University of Maryland in 1964 with a degree in Business and Public Administration. After a time as manager of a Music and Arts Center store in Rockville, MD, Ray began what would become a 36 year career with the Federal Government.

www.eskimo.com/~rhesson/index.htm

• Deering John Hartford

Chandler Holt Bio

• David Holt
• Goodtime

Four-time Grammy Award winner David Holt is a musician, storyteller, historian, television host and entertainer, dedicated to performing and preserving traditional American music and stories. Holt plays ten acoustic instruments and has released numerous award winning recordings of traditional mountain music and southern folktales.

www.davidholt.com

• Deering Calico

In July of 2006, after hearing John Hartford’s Mark Twang album, singer-songwriter, Snap Jackson walked into a music store in Stockton, California and purchased his first banjo. He has been obsessing over it ever since. In addition to both Scruggs style and clawhammer banjo, Snap also plays the ukulele, mountain dulcimer, and the harmonica. In recognition of his efforts, Snap was nominated in 2010 for the Northern California Banjo Player of the Year award and in 2011 he received an endorsement deal with the Deering Banjo Company. When he is not on the road fronting his band, Snap Jackson & the Knock on Wood Players, he can be found at home playing the banjo and spending time with his family.

www.knockonwoodplayers.com

• Clawgrass
• G.D.L. Openback

So, who is Mark Johnson and how did he learn this unique style? A native of Yorktown Heights, N.Y., Mark now hangs his hat in Florida but learned his trade from Jay Unger while living in New York. Mark didn't know that Jay was a highly accomplished fiddler who also tinkered with the clawhammer style of banjo. It was in the early 1970s, that Mark learned from this consummate fiddler the basic technique of clawhammer banjo. He also learned the three-finger style of bluegrass picking as his familiarity with the instrument unfolded.

www.clawgrass.com

• Vega Woodsongs Campfire Long Neck

Michael J. Miles is a rare and engaging artist. He grew up in Chicago in an Irish family where music was served like dinner—everybody had some. His blue collar father played the player piano and filled the house with singing. Everybody sang. Everyone read. Everyone debated politics.

www.milesmusic.org

• Crossfire

Kerry Jones was born in Ft. Worth Texas and grew up in Pearland Tx. He began playing the banjo at the age of 8. When Kerry was 7 his father bought a Neil Diamond record that had a banjo on one song. Kerry asked if he could learn to play. His father said "Dont you want to play the Guitar?" After this went on for some time his father said "If want to learn to play the banjo then save up and buy one." Well, By the time Kerry was 8 he had enough money from odd jobs to buy his first banjo. That weekend they went to a flea market and found a banjo, so they bought it on saturday.

www.myspace.com/kerryjonesbanjo

• Jens Kruger Signature Model

At age six, when Jens (Yens) heard the banjo on one of his dad's American records, he yearned to play it. But having no access to one, Jens played their mother's accordion, accompanying Uwe, who played their father's guitar. When Jens turned ten he acquired a tenor banjo and started to play Dixieland jazz, hoping that one-day 'Foggy Mountain Breakdown' would somehow flow from the instrument. A year later, Jens and Uwe made their first public appearance, and two years later Uwe bought Jens his first five-string banjo.

www.krugerbrothers.com

• Deering Plectrum
• Classic Goodtime Two 19-Fret Tenor

www.madcaddies.com

• Deering Tenbrooks Saratoga Star
• Deering Crossfire

Ned Luberecki has been teaching and playing bluegrass banjo for over 25 years, having been part of Paul Adkins' Borderline Band, Radio Flyer, the Gary Ferguson Band, and the Rarely Herd (the latter won SPBGMA's Entertaining Band of the Year award several times). Ned has appeared on recordings with Chris Jones, Apocalyptic Cowboys, Garrett Grass, Paul Adkins' Borderline Band, The Rarely Herd, Jim Hurst, Bull Harman, and New Strings. Ned was also the banjo player for the soundtrack of the movie Chrystal starring Billy Bob Thornton. Bluegrass Unlimited magazine has declared, "Ned's banjo captures that killer tone and technique banjo players die for." Now residing in Nashville, he is the banjoist for Chris Jones and the Night Drivers, teaches private lessons at The East Nashville School of Music, and is a radio personality on Sirius XM Satellite Radio's Bluegrass channel. His uncomplicated teaching style and fresh, wacky sense of humor has made him a favorite at music camps and workshops, such as NashCamp, Camp Bluegrass, The Maryland Banjo Academy, Midwest Banjo Camp, American Banjo Camp and .. The British Columbia Bluegrass Camp.

www.nedski.com

• Maple Blossom 6-String Banjo

Composer, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Taj Mahal is one of the most prominent and influential figures in late 20th century blues and roots music. Though his career began more than four decades ago with American blues, he has broadened his artistic scope over the years to include music representing virtually every corner of the world – west Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, the Hawaiian islands and so much more. What ties it all together is his insatiable interest in musical discovery. Over the years, his passion and curiosity have led him around the world, and the resulting global perspective is reflected in his music.

www.tajblues.com

• John Hartford

One of the most prolific and respected children's artists, John McCutcheon has consistently produced quality children's albums (and folk albums) since the early '70s. McCutcheon is first and foremost an instrumentalist. Like thousands of others in the '60s, McCutcheon, a Wisconsin native, taught himself how to play a mail-order guitar and joined the local folk scene. His interest became more serious, however, when he sought to find the roots of this music. McCutcheon headed for Appalachia and learned from some of the legendary greats of traditional folk music. Along the way, he became adept at a multitude of instruments, including fiddle, banjo, guitar, autoharp, jaw harp, and especially the hammered dulcimer. McCutcheon is considered one of the undisputed masters on the hammered dulcimer and adapts much of his music around the instrument.

www.folkmusic.com

• Goodtime

A broad spectrum of music Americana, with a bit of "the old country" music thrown in for good measure, has made John McEuen known as America's instrumental poet. His musical impressions from over 30 years of worldwide travels are brought to the stage with performing expertise that sets him apart from others, and focuses on acoustic guitar, banjo, fiddle, and mandolin.

www.johnmceuen.com

• Deering Calico 5-string

Best known for their YouTube bedroom practice sessions, the Sleepy Man Banjo Boys are composed of 11 year old Jonny Mizzone on banjo, his 14 year old brother Robbie on fiddle, and 15 year old brother Tommy on guitar. With fingers flying and bountiful energy, these young men have captured the attention of over 15 million viewers on YouTube and been seen on TV shows such as The Late Show with David Letterman, NBC’s Today Show, repeat visits on Fox’s Mike Huckabee Show, Fox Good Day, and Hallmark’s Home & Family Show.

www.sleepymanbanjoboys.com

• Eagle II Acoustic/Electric

• Deering Boston 6-String

• Deering Sierra Acoustic/Electric

Willow is 12 years-old and resides in Pigeon Forge, TN. At the age of 4 she was already entertaining, picking up a Banjo for the first time. Her vocals and instrumental skills have already landed her with shows at Dollywood and now at the Country Tonite Theatre.

www.willowosborne.com

• Golden Era

Herb began his career in Berkeley, California in the early 60's playing 5 string banjo and acoustic guitar with people like David Grisman, Butch Waller, David Nelson, and Jerry Garcia. Herb has done well in adding his talents to the recordings of many folk and country music artists of today.

www.herbpedersen.com

• John Hartford

Noam Pikelny is an American banjoist. He is a member of the "Americana country-classical chamber music" group Punch Brothers and was previously in Leftover Salmon as well as the John Cowan Band.

www.noampikelny.com

• Saratoga Star

Andy Rau was born and raised in Southern California and has been performing professionally since 1975. He began his career as the in-house banjo player at Knott's Berry Farm amusement park in his home town of Buena Park. During that ten-year period he performed in a host of musical situations including bluegrass bands, country rock bands, and variety stage productions.

www.andyrauband.com

• Vega Old Tyme Wonder

Daniel plays the clawhammer style of banjo. He has always loved old-time music. He was first introduced to the clawhammer banjo and old time style when he was two years old. He saw Leroy Troy performing. He loved the banjo from that moment on. Daniel's grandfather Thomas Maupin took him to old time and bluegrass festivals at an early age. His main focus when they were at the festival was to find the banjo players. He was able to start playing the banjo at age 11 and with the exception of a few good pointers along the way from his friends he is self taught. Daniel has won many competitions across the South including the National Championship at Uncle Dave Macon Days. He has performed at Merlefest, The Ryman Auditiorum, IBMA's Kids on Bluegrass and Old Time Opry Variety Show and has made several guest appearances on Ernest Tubb Record Shop's Midnight Jamboree. This is just to mention a few.

www.banjodanielmusic.com

• Sierra Plectrum
• Goodtime Midnight Special

Marek Sapieyevski is a New York City based actor/singer/musician specializing in new theatre works, performance art and sketch comedy. His broad range of musical instruments (including piano, harmonica, guitar, percussion, and his Deering 5-string and plectrum banjos) are often incorporated into character work that has earned him critical acclaim in the press and awards in festivals such as San Francisco Fringe, Vignettes for the Apocalypse, and Planet Connections Festivity. As a musician, he has performed with various groups at festivals across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and on National Public Radio

www.marek-actor.com

• Deluxe 6-String

Since his guitar skills often sound like they come from another planet, its no wonder that Joe Satriani seems the ideal person to ponder Is There Love in Space? Joining such Satriani classics as Not of This Earth and Surfing With the Alien, his latest Epic Records endeavor further explores his extra-terrestrial mastery of the instrument - albeit while working in a more comfortably grounded environment.

www.satriani.com

• Vega #2

Mark Schatz (born April 23, 1955) is an American bassist, banjoist, mandolinist, and clogger who has recorded and toured with artists such as albums for artists such as Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Maura O'Connell, Tony Rice, John Hartford, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, and Tim O'Brien. He is a two time International Bluegrass Music Association Bass Player of the Year award winner. Schatz toured and recorded with acclaimed progressive acoustic trio Nickel Creek from 2003 until the start of the band's indefinite hiatus in late 2007. Schatz is also a renowned solo artist who has recorded two solo albums on Rounder Records, his debut produced by Bela Fleck. His band, "Mark Schatz & Friends", is composed of Schatz, Casey Driessen, Missy Raines, and Jim Hurst. Schatz has produced albums for various bluegrass artists including The Duhks.

www.myspace.com/markschatz

• Vega Long Neck

Tao Rodriguez Seeger is an American contemporary folk musician. He plays banjo, guitar, harmonica, and sings in Spanish and in English. He is known as a founder of The Mammals and is the grandson of folk musician Pete Seeger.

www.taorodriguezseeger.com

• Deering Boston 6-String

• Deluxe 6-String

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Grammy™ Living Legend Rod Stewart has been lauded as having one of the most distinctive voices in pop music. The success of the "Great American Songbook" albums, which began in 2001 with It Had to Be You..., is truly unprecedented; it is the biggest selling ongoing series of new music recordings in history, with over seventeen million copies sold worldwide.

www.rodstewart.com

• Boston 6-String

2011 CMA artist of the year, Taylor Swift, has had a very accomplished career. A native of Pennsylvania, Taylor's family relocated to Nashville in 2005, when she was 14. She has worked diligently to hone her craft and her career has received countless awards along the way. Just a few are listed below: 1. The music video for "Tim McGraw" won Swift an award for Breakthrough Video of the Year at the 2007 CMT Music Awards. 2. In October 2007, Swift was awarded Songwriter/Artist of the Year by the Nashville Songwriters Assn. Intl., making her the youngest artist ever to win the award. 3. Her third song off her debut album, "Our Song" spent six weeks at #1 on the Country charts. "Change", a song from the album, was selected as part of a soundtrack supporting Team USA's efforts in the 2008 Summer Olympics. The song was also featured as part of the soundtrack of NBC's broadcast package of the Olympics. 4. On November 11, 2009, Swift became the youngest artist ever to win the Country Music Association Award for Entertainer of the year, and is one of only six women to win the Country Music Association's highest honor. Taylor has written many songs, making them deliberately autobiographical. She said of her songs, "My goal is to never write songs that my fans can't relate to." The repeated success of her music is a strong affirmation of the decision she has chosen to take. Featured on a number of magazine covers and having been a featured artist on video and television, Taylor's career has branched into all aspects of the music industry and beyond.

www.taylorswift.com/

• Deering Tenbrooks Saratoga Star

Born in Syracuse, New York, famed banjoist and 2007 IBMA player of the year, Tony Trischka, was inspired to play banjo in 1963 when he heard a Kingston Trio recording of "Charlie and the MTA." He shares this common thread with Greg Deering who also fell in love with banjo when he heard a Kington Trio record played in his home as a young lad of 12.
Tony performs with our Hartford and Tenbrooks Saratoga Star banjos and he used them both on his award-winning CD "Double Banjo Spectacular." Tony is a well known banjo teacher and one of his best known students is the Grammy award-winning banjo player Bela Fleck. On October 4, 2007 Trischka won three International Bluegrass Music Awards, for Album of the Year, Recorded Event of the Year, and Banjo Player of the Year. Musical innovation is a constant thread in Tony's work and he has broadened the limits of that instrument which has inspired many banjo players in his 35 years of playing. His Tony Trischka School of Banjo is setting the gold standard for internet lesson sites and Deering is happy to be working with him on this project.

www.tonytrischka.com

• Texas

Anton Ullrich has devoted his life to teaching people to play the banjo, Bluegrass style! He fell in love with the banjo upon hearing the first Kingston Trio album in 1958, searched out an old Gretsch banjo at a Houston pawn shop, paid $35 for it, and never looked back. The next problem was how to learn to play. There was almost no instructional material available; when he found Pete Seeger's 5-string banjo instruction 10 inch record album with a booklet enclosed, he inhaled the lessons. It was Pete Seeger's booklet that taught Anton how to slow recordings down and extract the musical sequences note for note, and he has used that technique to learn to play the classic songs exactly as recorded - mistakes and all!

www.5stringbanjer.com

• Boston 6-String

Multi-instrumentalist, New Zealand born Keith Urban was raised in Australia. Though best known for his acoustic and electric guitar playing, he also plays 6-string banjo, bass guitar, mandolin, piano, sitar, bousouki and drums. In 1992 Keith moved to America, worked briefly as a session guitarist in Nashville before founding his first band called The Ranch. From 1999 forward, he has had a string of hit singles and albums, and in 2002 he won his first Grammy Award for "You'll Think of Me" from his "Golden Road" album under the Capitol Record label. In 2001 he won the Top New Male VocalistAward at the Academy of Country Music Awards and the Country Music Associations Horizon Award. For Keith Urban’s sixth studio album, Get Closer, the singer-songwriter dives even deeper into the explorations of love and relationships that have established him as one of the world's biggest country music stars—while also extending his rock & roll side, as his hard-charging guitar work reaches new heights. The album is the follow-up to 2009's Grammy-winning and platinum selling Defying Gravity, which entered Billboard's pop and country charts at Number One, and spun off five Top Ten hits, including the chart-toppers "Sweet Thing" and "Only You Can Love Me This Way."

www.keithurban.net

• Boston 6-String
• Vega Senator 6-String

Seva is active in the New Orleans music scene and can be found performing on banjo and/or guitar with Lionel Ferbos and the Louisiana Shakers, Treme Brass Band, Greg Stafford and the Jazz Hounds, Dr. Michael White, Tommy Sancton, Clive Wilson and Lars Edegran as well as leading his own band the Storyville Stringband. He has played in numerous festivals and concerts in New Orleans and abroad and toured in Europe. In addition to performing Seva also composes music and teaches music and music integration in the New Orleans public schools. Since Katrina he's had 100's of public school students many of whom have performed at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

www.sevavenet.com/

• Vega #2

He began playing blues guitar at age 10. Eventually he switched to the banjo. In 1971, began studying with Fleming Brown at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. By 1974, Wade had taken over Brownís class at the school. He also began an association with old-time radio singer Doc Hopkins. Under the tutelage of his two mentors, the young Wade immersed himself in studying the banjo, folk and traditional music, and American folklore. Later, he traveled to across the U.S. to research American humour and folk tales, and meet with folk musicians in the field.

• Golden Classic

Gary’s musical success is measured in many accomplishments. In 1990, Gary was nominated for a Grammy award for his recording of “Vintage Bluegrass” on Old Homestead Records. Gary is an exceptionally good crowd pleaser with his old time clawhammer style of banjo picking. For this talent, he was named “The Old Time Player of the Year” for two consecutive years. This honor was awarded in Nashville, TN by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America. The Alabama State Council on the Arts has deemed him Alabama’s youngest Master Musician. For the past eighteen years, Gary has traveled all over the United States and Canada entertaining crowds. Gary brings to the stage an array of vocal and instrumental talent that both promoters and fans recognize as first class entertainment. Other band members are Donna Townsel, Bill Everett and Mark Squires. “The Gary Waldrep Band” enjoys traveling because it allows them to bring Bluegrass Music to fans everywhere. This music is people oriented and is played for family enjoyment. While on tour, the band looks forward to seeing and visiting their friends and fans all across the country.

www.thegarywaldrepband.com

• Deering Deluxe 6-String

Doc has said that his earliest memories of music reach back to his days as a young child being held in his mother’s arms at the Mt. Paron Church and listening to the harmony and shape-note singing. The first songs he remembers hearing are "The Lone Pilgrim" and "There is a Fountain." Singing led to an interest in making music and Doc says that he began "playing with anything around the house that made a musical sound." At about the age of six, Doc began to learn to play the harmonica and from that time was given a new one every year in his Christmas stocking. Doc’s first stringed instrument, not to include a steel wire he had strung across the woodshed’s sliding door to provide bass accompaniment to his harmonica playing, was a banjo his father built for him when he was eleven years old. His father taught him the rudiments of playing a fretless banjo, the rest Doc learned by trial and error.

www.docsguitar.com

• Deering Golden Era
• Deering Crossfire

Ernie Welch started playing banjo late at the age of 21 taking lessons from Joe Oser, Rual Yarbrough and Bela Fleck. His early musical influences were the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin. His Bluegrass influences were the New Grass Revival, The Seldom Seen, The Country Gentleman, The Nashville Bluegrass Band, and Hot Rize. While continuing to play with the Smokehouse Band, Ernie released two singles: “Ramblin Man” and “Who Have You Got To Lose” both produced by Johnny Sandlin, the original producer of the Allman Brothers on his Duct Tape Label. These releases charted in Cashbox and Billboard magazines. With “Ramblin Man” Ernie reached the # 3 position in the country on Cashbox for an Independent Artist. On keeping a band together for 29 years, Ernie is quoted as saying “I’m not a manager but I have developed good negotiating skills”. Ernie handles some of the songwriting duties and wrote “Walking After Midnight Over You” for the “20 Years Of Feedback” CD. Endorsed by Deering Banjo’s, Ernie plays a Golden Era and Crossfire Banjo.

www.limitededitionbluegrass.com/bio.html

• Deluxe 6-String

Best known for his work with the "Weird Al" Yankovic Band, guitarist Jim West is also a composer of TV and film and has produced a number of CDs for independent artists. The Toronto, Canada, born West grew up in Tampa, FL, and started playing the guitar at age 12. He currently divides his time between Los Angeles and Hawaii and has released 4 slack-key guitar albums. Jim was first exposed to slack-key (also known in the islands as ki ho 'alu) in 1985 while on hiatus from a "Weird Al" tour. Jim "Kimo" West now brings his own musical heritage to his original slack key instrumentals. His style has been described as "nahenahe", meaning "soft, sweet or gentle voice", a fusion of old and new but still rooted deeply in tradition. A virtuosic player and prolific composer, his delicate, heartfelt playing technique and his generous output of new, exciting slack key guitar originals puts him solidly in a category of his own.

www.jimkimowest.com

• Black Diamond Openback

Robin and Linda Williams are like your next-door neighbors - assuming your neighbors are the salt-of-the-earth and top-flight performers to boot. One minute you picture borrowing a cup of sugar from these two; the next, you're completely stunned by their jaw-dropping talent. Bottom line: You feel right at home at a Robin and Linda concert, and their music stays with you like an old friend.

www.robinandlinda.com