Playing Since: 1972
Experience Level: Purty Good

markbyrum has made 1 recent addition to Banjo Hangout 

Occupation: Attorney

Gender: Male
My Instruments:
Huber Shelor Custom (Sammy Shelor model, gold plated, engraved with Granada and Style 5 designs, old barn wood straight-grained maple neck) with HR-30 Tone Ring; Pre-war Kel Kroden conversion (w/HR-30 tone ring) and Style-4 neck by Steve Huber (like Bela's banjo); 1960's Kay mahogany 5-string (my first banjo); 1890's Dobson open back 5-string (my Grandma's banjo - my Granddaddy bought it for her during the depression for $5 plus a ham to boot)

Favorite Bands/Musicians:
After Earl: (in alphabetical order-so as not to offend or show too much favoritism) Tom Adams, Kristin Scott Benson, Ron Block, J.D., Charlie Cushman, Bill Emerson, Bill Evans, Steve Huber, Jens Kruger, John Lawless, Ned Luberecki, Jim Mills, Alan Munde, Sonny Osborne, Don Reno, Earl, Sammy Shelor, Craig Smith, Ron Stewart, Tony Trischka

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Profile Info:
Visible to: Public
Created 3/6/2007
Last Visit 5/21/2026

Started off around age 10 playing the guitar, so as to be able to accompany my Dad, who played the mandolin. Later moved to mandolin for a few years, until I was struck by the banjo bug when I heard the original FMB by Earl. I just had to learn to play that song. Purchased a used Kay K52 five string for $50 in the summer of 1972, before my senior year of high school. Spent high senior year eating and sleeping banjo - the Earl Scruggs book and 33 1/3 RPM albums slowed down to 16 RPM. Went off to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy toting my Kay banjo and a mahogany Epiphone guitar (FT-30 Caballero) along with my luggage. At Christmas, 1973 my Dad presented me with a pre-war Kel Kroyden Style 11 banjo which had been converted into a five-string (Gibson Wreath Pattern) and Mastertone flat-head tone ring telling me he was returning $1,000 of the money I had paid him for my high school car. At Christmas the next year, he presented me with a 1971 Martin D-35 telling me that represented the other $500 I had paid him. My younger brother got the car. I have still have the KK-Gibson Mastertone conversion and the Martin. The car has long since become razor blades.