Gary is a long time Deering player and good friend.
He was born in Alabama, a state that has given birth to some of the most original acts in music history. It is no wonder that at a young age, he found himself surrounded by traditional music being played by his family, and the folks in the community up on Sand Mountain. He quickly fell in love with the sound of the banjo, especially the clawhammer, or rappin' style and he's never looked back. The secret to that style was handed down to him by an old master musician on Sand Mountain, Arthur Kirkendall.
His dedication to preserving and performing the traditional sounds of the clawhammer banjo brought him the "The Old Time Player of the Year' award by the Society of Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America two years in a row. He was also featured in the documentary, "Music in their Bones", which aired on the Emmy award winning PBS TV series "Independent Lens".
After 26 years in the business, Gary is most often introduced to crowds as "Mr. Entertainer" as he and his band take to the stage. He's in his element whether he's on stage, teaching banjo workshops at festivals, or enjoying the friendship and fellowship with everyone he meets at shows.
Find out more about The Gary Waldrep band and connect with Gary at www.garywaldrepband.com/ .
Banjo Gary Plays:
