Me and My Banjo

Just a little about myself.

 When I was around 5 or 6. I remember going down my Grandpa and Grandmas on Sundays for a big family meal. They were just plain country folk  living in the city. I would walk in and my Grandpa would be sitting in his rocking chair and Grandma in the kitchen. They had an old coal stove sitting in the so called kitchen dining room. it kept the room nice in warm on the cold winter days. After all the hugs and welcoming was over with I would go to my Grandpa get up on his lap and just sit there and listen to the old black Crosley radio sitting on the small table.

Yes they had TV but as I think back I can't recall them ever watching it . But what caught my attention was the songs coming out of the radio. It was the Grand old Opera sometimes and other times it was Midwestern Hay Ride from WLW in  Cincinnati OH. It always seemed to be some kind of folk or bluegrass music this was in the late 50's. Sitting there listing to the songs coming out of it and my Grandpa just sitting there with that certain smile was all I needed and a grown up boy of 5

I guess I can sit back and say that is were I first got my real love for music. As the years progressed I acquired the taste of all kinds of music , from the 60's,70's hard rock to the folk to the old type country music.

Span  head to 1982 I got married and someone gave me a  Banjo as a wedding present. I also had a small farm I called my homestead. I farmed the land using draft horses grew most my own food  lived off the land plus had a full time job and raised a family. Not much time for the banjo I played it for a while or tired to learn to play it .There was not a lot out there for the banjo in those days.

Jump a head to 2007 I put my last child in collage and kept my promise  to my self to travel the world .I  put the farm on hold .But how to with out a lot of money stashed away.  Contract work, which I am dong now. .

I started the Banjo again when I was doing a year contract at the South Pole, They had an open back Deering there so I picked it up and started over again and never looked back.

I love Grandpa Jones music just the way he played the banjo is so cool So that is kind of the way I strive for to play but in my own form also. Every were I go I make room for my banjo it goes were I go.

Life is good. BUT don't take it too serious. Have fun and enjoy it while it last. And buy all means live your dreams.

Jack...