Playing Since: 1965
Experience Level: Purty Good

Interests:
[Socializing] [Helping]

Occupation: Retired Banjo Builder

Gender: Male
Age: 69

My Instruments:
"Spear" all aluminum Steadfast 5 String Industrial work horse is still in tune and kickn’
Conventional Banjos include my 65’ Gibson long neck, 2002 Deering Black Diomond, Ome Monarch 1988 ,

Favorite Bands/Musicians:
Jens Kruger" Kruger Brothers", Don Wayne Reno " Hayseed Dixie" and The Florida Mountain Boys

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Profile Info:
Visible to: Public
Created 12/30/2008
Last Visit 9/19/2019

Recieved a Kay Long neck back in Kansas from Grandpa Amos for Christmas when I was 8 yrs old. Tuned it for 10 years and learned The Ballad of Jed Clampett off of the B&W TV set after school each day. Grandpa bought me a Liberty addition Epiphone in 1976, just before he died and I played it untill 1983 when it burned in my fire in Key West Fl. where I began my 25 years working on the water. I had a loner banjo for a year from Genie, an old gal living in Key West from Arkansas. I bought the Leo on a bike trip at The Bluegrass Festival in Windfield Kansas in 1985. Moved To Dutch Saint Martin as a Master Captain in 1989 and Purchased a Deering Crossfire to Play with a multi-national Electric Band on the Island. Sold the Crossfire and purchased my Black Diamond when I returned to Florida in 2000 to play more Traditional Bluegrass. I'm involved in the research and developement, Production testing and Sales of the All aluminum "SPEAR" Banjo for the last 15 years now. I’ve played only the Spear on stage since the CNC production models were finished. No more out of tune banjo jokes with my Spear in my hand. Old Time Music Hall of Famer "Billy Speer" started developing his aluminum Banjo concept in 1968. I Play the Spear banjo in the Tampa/Sarasota Fl. area in a band called “The Florida Mountain Boys"