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Fast Ball |
Hello all! my name is Kirk and I live in North Central Florida. When I was a boy growing up in south Florida, I was facinated with country music and listened to it all the time. Then one day I heard a banjo in a Nitty Gritty Dirt Band song and was immediately awestruck! I just had to get a banjo and play these amazing sounds that were coming from my radio! After convincing my Mother to purchase me a banjo, she saw how serious I was in this endeavor the first day with my new banjo as I locked my self in my room and played it until my figers actually bled! I even remember putting bandaids on the ends of my fingers and trying to continue to play! Well, from there she found an instructor that gave me some formal lessons and I continued to get good. Then one day, with the pressures of adolescent youth and ideals, I realized that girls and boys my age didn't think it was too "cool" to play the banjo. Giving in to the peer pressures, I traded my banjo for an eletric guitar and tried to learn the "new" music at the time which was Heavy Metal. Through the years of lessons with this new instrument I slowly lost interest, as I felt my soul was just not fulfilled with this music. I gave up the electric guitar finally for an acoustic guitar, and continued through the many years having more fun with it. Then one day this November I attended the Florida Folk Fest for three days of Folk and Bluegrass music and camping under the giant oaks at the Swuanee River State Park! I can tell you that this was a life changing event for me as I listened to these beautiful sounds even into the night as we could hear the musicians jamming by their campsites all night long around the fires. Sweet harmonies with banjos, mandolins, guitars and bold base lines filled the night as the fires warmed our hands and the music warmed our hearts. I knew then that my long forgotten banjo was calling me once again to play. When I returned home after that weekend, I tried every music store in my town but with no luck in finding a quality banjo. Then I finally I turned to the internet and quickly ordered one that satisfied my search for a dependable instrument. Those were the longest four days of my life, but I finally feel like I have been reunited with the one instrument that feels like it really fits into my hands and heart! This music fills my soul and lifts me up like no other could. Although I continue to play my guitar, my banjo talks to me and is a reminder to not give into adversity and give up, but to conquer the battle within yourself. Thanks for reading about me! Peace to ALL!
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