Playing Since: 1982
Experience Level: Novice

Interests:
[Socializing] [Helping]

Occupation: Capital Project Accountant/Financial Analyst TECO

Gender: Male
Age: 59

My Instruments:
A few old Musty smelling Gibson Banjos
A neat old 1967 Style B Baldwin banjo

Favorite Bands/Musicians:
I like the Traditional stuff with a splash of melodic thrown in to keep it interesting.
Walter Hensley influenced my picking early on. Of coarse Earl Scruggs was a huge influence. Mike Snider is also an old favorite.


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Profile Info:
Visible to: Public
Created 11/26/2003
Last Visit 3/12/2022

I have been playing Banjo for about 30 years...Have played with several Florida Bands and was the Banjo player for Southern Star Bluegrass for 19 years( I retired from the band in 2010)..I also play a little fiddle too. I have several Old Gibson banjos...My favorite banjo is a late 30's Gibson Style 11 conversion banjo that I got from Joe Spann. I have a few other old Gibson one piece flange banjos. I also sell vintage instruments with emphasis on old Violins. I have been working on and restoring old violins for about 25 years. My favorite part of bluegrass music is the fellowship I get from fellow bluegrass enthusiasts. My other passion is Fishing.....Sometimes picking is number one and sometimes fishing is...at least when the're biting good. I'm lucky I came from a musical family where we all grew up playing together and had lots of hoe downs at our house over the years. My sister Joy who is "banjochicky" plays the banjo and sings good. My sister Dana plays the guitar and sings good too. They used to have a duet where they would play all over town and got good reviews. My mother and father who are now both passed on loved the music and wouldn't let us go anywhere without bringing our instruments. My dad played the banjo some and my mother could play the fire out of the piano. She played in church and was hired around town to play in tea rooms and for private parties. I gave her the stagename of "Grannieboogiedown" and it stuck and was always a good laugh when I'd call her that around others. She was a sweet mother and when I lost her it really hit me hard. She was the Rock of our family and it really changed the dynamics after she passed on. I quit playing for awhile after she passed on as I really took it hard. This year I have regained my enthusiasm for picking again and I know my mother would be really glad about that. The rust is coming off slowly but surely. This year my daughter Ally who is 12 is coming along good on the piano as she is carrying on the family tradition and one that my mother would be proud of.