Posted by gospelbluesman on Thursday, February 23, 2012
As a youngster I always wanted to learn drums. I think a lot of kids, especially boys love all the noise they can make. That never went too far although I had a snare drum for awhile.
My main start in music was in my High School music program and concert band. I started grade 9 on the Clarinet (like :Woody Herman), but I switched to the Saxophone (alto and baritone).
Through that I developed quite the interest in Jazz music (Sonny Rollins, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, etc.) . After high school I briefly tried to keep going on sax, but then I quit that and took up
the guitar because of the easy of getting music. That resulted in me developing a passion for the blues (Son House, Robert Johnson, BB King, Mississippi John Hurt, John Lee Hooker, etc.)
I don't remember exactly when I got serious with the harmonica (blues harp) which I first played just blues on. I don't play it so much solo style, but more to accompany others or just myself on
guitar. The harmonica is my main instrument in the praise and worship band where I play more of a modern Christian music, but also some blues influence.
I have always took an interest in a wide variety of music. I like guys like Doc Watson for a long time. After a 9 month stay in The Gambia, West Africa when I was about 20 some years old, I was
open to a lot of different World Music. This quite interesting as the precursor to our modern day banjo comes from West Africa.
My Mother was wanting me to learn the Mandolin or the Banjo and I decided to go with the Banjo. After a long search I found a used Epiphone Banjo made in Japan.
I find the history of the Epiphone company to of quite an interested to me, maybe because I can't afford a Gibson. Well my Mom paid for the Banjo. Thanks Mom!
Now I have to learn it so I can play her some tunes by Easter weekend. I like the tune Old Dan Tucker which I am working on.
Bye for Now Mike t Willis
1 comment on “My First Banjo and some of my interest and background in music”
iSteve Says:
Thursday, February 23, 2012 @9:57:51 AM
Welcome to the BHO, Mike. Glad you took the plunge. I, too, got involved in music first by playing in the band. I started on the clarinet, then moved on to the tenor sax and baritone sax. I loved playing all three. I am now in the process of taking up the clarinet and tenor sax again. I'm also a newbie with the banjo.
Good luck to you.
Steve
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