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Eddie Adcock
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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.
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Terry Baucom
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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
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Bela Fleck
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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
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Dan Garrett
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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
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Eric Gibson
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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
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John Hartford
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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
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Ray Hesson
Plays:
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
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Snap Jackson
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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
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Kerry Jones
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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
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Jens Kruger
Plays:
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
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Billy Lee
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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
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Ned Luberecki
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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
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John McEuen
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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
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Jonny Mizzone - Sleepy Man Banjo Boys
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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
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Willow Osborne
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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
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Herb Pedersen
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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
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Noam Pikelny
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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
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Andy Rau
Plays:
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
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Tony Trischka
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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
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Tony Ullrich
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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
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Gary Waldrep
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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
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Doc Watson
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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
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Erinie Welch
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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