Banjo

Harry Bickel has been passionate about the folk songs and bluegrass music of Kentucky since he was a kid. While in college, he took banjo lessons from J.D. Crowe and learned how to repair banjos from Tom Haile, at Shackleton’s music store. When he purchased his home (The Bluegrass Hotel) in 1975, he and his friend, Harry Sparks, quickly combined their instrument shops in the basement. Surrounded by incredible musicians, they built and repaired instruments for years and formed their own band, the Buzzard Rock String Band.

Kim Breedlove began building banjos in the 1960s, during the Folk Music movement and the popularity of such performers as Pete Seeger. After working with his brother for a few months he moved to the east coast while his brother moved to Oregon to form Breedlove Guitars. As Kim moved to Oregon, his brother returned to work with his old friend Bob Taylor in San Diego, while Kim changed his focus from the banjo to the guitar. Today, the Breedlove Guitar Company is known for their range of professional products.  

David Brock is a gifted violin and banjo teacher who provides private lessons at the Folk Music Center in Claremont, California. His long association with the musical instrument store goes back to the days when its co-founder, Dorothy Chase, provided instruction to David’s mother. David caught the music bug at an early age and played in local bands before touring professionally after high school and throughout his college years. He earned a PhD in musicology and sought the opportunity to teach music. Over the years he has created his own unique approach to teaching students (of al

Susan Carson opened her first music store, Taylor Guitar Shop, at just 18 years old in Johnson, Tennessee. Taylor Guitar Shop became the local hangout spot for bluegrass pickers and those looking to jam every Saturday. Susan sold the store when she married her husband, Bill Carson, and he took a job in California with Fender. In 1985, Susan became a district sales manager with Fender and then was instrumental during the process of working with Fender to develop the Leo Banjo. Susan currently chairs a council on Bluegrass and Country at East Tennessee State University in her hometo

Mark Casstevens has always had a deep passion for music. He sang in church choirs and began piano lessons at age six, eventually teaching himself guitar. In high school in Ft. Worth, TX, Casstevens played the five-string banjo in his bluegrass/comedy trio, the Mildew Brothers.

Roy Clark, the Country Music Hall of Fame guitar player, was always proud of his connection with the music products industry. In addition to the products he endorsed over his long career, Roy helped design his signature model for Heritage Guitars. Roy also was close to many in the music publishing industry ever since he wrote the first of many successful method books for both guitar and banjo. The popularity of these books' were boosted with the creation of the TV program, Hee-Haw, which Roy co-hosted for over 20 years.

Stu Cohen grew up playing the clarinet, and took lessons for close to eight years. In the early 1950s, Stu listened mostly to country music on the radio, just because it was the only station that his radio would pick up. When he was in college, Stu got into country music even more, and started playing his father’s guitar and 5-string banjo. This passion followed Stu through the rest of his life, pushing him to open up his own music store - The Music Emporium in Lexington, Massachusetts - which specializes in new and vintage acoustic instruments.

Steve Cooley was just a kid when he heard Earl Scrugg playing banjo on the TV show “The Beverly Hillbillies.” The performance lit a spark in Steve who began playing guitar and banjo with older string players around Louisville, Kentucky. He learned all he could from them and went on to play in bars and nightclubs while still in high school. On one such gig he was paid $35.00 plus pizza for a performance, which he later jokes was the moment he knew he wanted to be a professional musician! Steve toured with The Dillards for over 24 years and occasionally performed with Bill Monroe wh

Ronny Cox is the actor who played the guitar in the famous Dueling Banjo scene during the 1972 movie Deliverance. That movie moment led to a big boom in banjo and acoustic guitar (and canoe) sales around the world. It was also Ronny's first film role. Throughout his acting career he almost always found time to still perform 100 gigs a year. Even during the years he acted in Beverly Hills Cop and RoboCop, Ronny recorded many of the songs he wrote, several of which were inspired by his wife, Mary, who passed in 2006. Ronny just released his seventh album at the time of his NAMM Oral

JD Crowe recalled seeing Earl Scruggs perform in Lexington with Lester Flatt when he was a kid.  The sound was so unique and different that all young JD could think about was getting a banjo!  He did and, well, the rest is history.  Jimmy Martin hired DJ when he was just 16 and they recorded and performed together for over four years before JD formed his own band, New South, which he led from 1971 until his passing. JD became a well-regarded and popular banjo player in the bluegrass style.  During his 60 year career, he recorded and performed among his heroes as well as a string o

Greg Deering worked for a short time with Bob Taylor in San Diego as both men sought their dreams to create their own unique fretted instruments. While Taylor Guitars was being established, Greg and his wife Janet worked long and hard to build up the Deering Banjo Company. As the company reached success within the industry Greg became a well-respected expert on the history of the banjo and the development of the instrument over the years. 

Janet Deering has become the darling of the banjo industry as co-founder of the Deering Banjo Company. Along with her husband Greg, she has brought the banjo back to its popular roots with the pride of an American-made instrument. Although the instrument was not originated in the United States it certainly gained its greatest fame as a required instrument in country and bluegrass music. Along with the success of the company, Janet has been involved with many programs which encourage music makers. 

Gerhard Dotzauer has made a living selling musical instrument parts to companies worldwide. He provides bridges, exotic woods, machine heads, and specializes in necks for banjos with mother of pearl and abalone inlays for such companies as Baldwin and Gibson, among many others. He sources these high-quality parts from companies in the Bubenreuth region of Germany known for its production of stringed instruments after 1945. Originally from Schönbach, in the Czech Republic, Gerhard Dotzauer is a descendent from a family of luthiers.

Michael Doucet has become an important link to the roots of Cajun music, not only because he has written and performed the musical style since he was 6 years old, but because of the months he spent conducting a geological survey in and around his hometown of Scott, Louisiana. He discovered how the style of music was played differently in various areas and how a popular song, such as "Jolie Blonde" was not only performed in a variety of ways, but even had different words and titles. Michael began playing on his uncle's banjo before discovering the violin and has since learned the m

Jim Foldvary was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, and was exposed to music at young age since his father was a violinist. Jim took up the guitar with some of his friends and remembers playing shows and school dances when he was younger. His first job was on the floor of the Stock Exchange at 17 years old, which was followed by an addressograph job, and then ended up working for the Gretsch company. While at Gretsch, Jim worked in about every position he could, starting with making ukuleles and then banjos. After Gretsch was purchased by Baldwin, Jim relocated to Arkansas to open u

Graeham Goble is a founding member, main songwriter and the architect of Little River Band’s sound. Graeham always had a deep and passionate love for songwriting! When he bought his first Banjo and was taking lessons, instead of practicing, he prepared songs he wrote to share with his teacher. He played in several bands growing up in Australia and in 1974 moved to London with Beeb Birtles and met Glenn Shorrock. When the three sang together, blending their voices, Graeham knew they had something very special.

George Gruhn is without question one of the top experts of vintage guitars on the planet! George collected guitars before opening the world renowned Gruhn Guitar Shop in Nashville, TN in the early 1970s. Since that time he has authored several historical reference guides and thousands of articles on his vast collection and knowledge including “Acoustic Guitars & Other Fretted Instruments: A Photographic History” published in 1993.

Renee Karnes recalls meeting her future mentor when she was just eight years old.  Over the years she developed both a love of banjos and a friendship with Henry Lea, who taught her the craft of banjo making.  With his skills as a builder and her artistic flare, she soon began creating her own banjos with elaborate scenes of animals, waterfalls and beautiful flowers.  She also repaired and researched the banjos of the past and applied her knowledge and history she learned to pay tribute to those luthiers before her and to raise the level of craftsmanship within the process of buil

Richard Keldsen is the president of Saga Music in San Francisco, California.  His first musical inspiration was hearing Earl Scruggs playing Bluegrass banjo for the first time.  After two years in the Peace Corps, Richard had the opportunity to open a music store called the Fifth String in San Francisco in 1973.  He opened two more stores in Northern California before concentrating on a wholesale business he started on the side.  He called the wholesale company Saga Music and he soon began supplying retail stores around the country.  His love of music and his passion for the music

Michael Kropp loved folk music for as far back as he could remember. As he grew up and played in various bands in the 1960s and 70s he also became involved with the music industry. After owning his own music store for several years in New England, Mike became friends with Stewart Spector, Hap Kuffner and Ned Steinberger. Early on in their careers in the industry, they teamed up to become a force of introducing, marketing and selling innovative musical products around the world.  

Jens Kruger is one of the world’s most technically accomplished 5-string banjo players who have worked with the Deering Banjo Company to create a more sophisticated instrument; one that could holds its own in a classical music concert. Jens has played the banjo is many settings and finds the challenge to be creating an instrument that can showcase overtones and sustain, which the folks at Deering have been working on for several years. The results have been amazing and Jens is very proud of his role in creating new instruments for future players to use.

Marty Lanham first moved to Nashville in the early 1970s from San Francisco and soon set up his first workshop. He worked for Gruhn Guitars as a repairman for eight years while fine-turning his skills as a luthier. Country stars John Anderson and Marty Stuart are among those Marty has built and repaired instruments. In addition to being a sought-after guitar builder, Marty is a well-respected banjo player and an instructor at the Guitar Craft Academy, which is a division of the Musicians Institute.

Dan Levenson wrote the book on banjo playing, in fact six books. His love of old time music and his great talents as a musician have made him a well known and respected player, teacher and historian. For decades he has traveled the country with banjo and fiddle in hand to present the rich history of Appalachian music to audiences old and young. Dan’s Mel Bay publications include “Buzzard Banjo,” “Clawhammer Banjo From Scratch” and “Old-Time Festival Tunes for Clawhammer Banjo.”  

David Lindley grew up close to the Folk Music Center in Claremont, California, where he was exposed to stringed instruments from around the world. He also worked for Berry Grassmuek Music in Pasadena, CA, which had a large selection of world music recordings that he would take into their listening booths and play during his free time. These early experiences helped shape the foundation for one of the most noted studio musicians and multi-instrumentalists in recording history. David can be heard on thousands of records including those with Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt,

John Logan became hooked on the Folk music craze and picked up the banjo as a result of the inspiration he felt from the genre. While attending the University of Tennessee, he formed a folk trio that became rather popular on campus. That group went on to tour and perform with Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians for two years and that led to them purchasing sound equipment from Waring’s sound engineer for the trio’s use post the Waring years. Soon thereafter, they were asked to rent their sound equipment for use at the Johnny Cash TV show.

John McEuen is a founding member of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, considered to be one of the most successful folk-rock groups in history. He played with the band from 1966 to 1986 and took part in their reunion in 2001. John pioneered a unique style on the 5-string banjo that can be heard on many of the Dirt Band’s recordings as well as those of countless other artists including Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Steve Vai, Jimmy Buffett and The Doors. John’s passion for music and music making keeps him very active in the studio and on the road. 

Gary Morse points out that playing a pedal steel guitar can be complicated.  The pedal steel guitar has a series of levers and pulleys that when used often, such as in country music, require maintenance and tuning.  Gary ought to know as he is one of the top studio musicians in Nashville, often being asked to play pedal steel, banjo, dobro and lap steel.  Brooks & Dunn, Dwight Yoakam and Carrie Underwood are among those he has recorded and toured with over the years.

Frank Murphy opened Frailers Guitar & Banjo Shop, which is situated in Runcorn, Cheshire on the banks of the River Mersey - just southeast of Liverpool England. The store was established as a retail outlet of quality new and used vintage stringed instruments from Dobros to Martin guitars. Frank sold instruments to many famous musicians including Fairport Convention, Joe Bonamassa, Rory Gallagher, Catfish Keith, Whitesnake, acclaimed banjo players Tony Ellis, Jack Hatfield, and many more. Frank started playing guitar while living in London and later became accomplished on the b

Chuck Neitzel joined Deering Banjo in January 1979 having previously been a woodworker with antique furniture. Chuck also brought with him a deep respect and passion for bluegrass music, which he had followed and played since he was a young man. Working closely with Greg Deering in the early days of the banjo company provided Chuck the opportunity to add his own artistic ideas to the growing product line. In 2019, just after celebrating his 40th anniversary with the company, Chuck sat down for his NAMM Oral History interview to recap his background and provide his perspective on t

Tracy Newman Tracy Newman jumped into the Folk music scene in the early 1960s just as the genre was making its sweep across the country. She was among the early members of the New Christy Minstrels and had a long-standing gig as a performer and MC at the Bitter End in New York. There she met such notables as Woody Allen, Bud & Travis, The Limeliters and Phil Ochs who would become a friend. Tracy also began her long pursuit of songwriting, in particular writing children’s songs. In 1965 she recorded six episodes of a kids' PBS program on New York’s WNET entitled What’s New.

Tanya Ogsbury was often brought to her father's banjo workshop as a small child. She later spent summers in the Colorado mountains with her father as he designed new and innovative banjos for his line, first Ode Banjos and later Ome Banjos. After earning a degree in Chinese, Tanya realized that she really wanted to do was to represent her father’s instruments. Embracing the philosophy of quality materials and attention to detail, Tanya helped build the company’s dealer base and looks after the business side of the shop, including their dedicated and artistic staff.

Sonny Osborne and his brother Bobby created one of the most powerful bluegrass sounds of their generation. The Osborne Brothers were powerful in popularity because of their influence as well as their technique, which was not necessarily hard driving, but creative and flowing. They began recording together on a Kitty Wells song back in 1948 and over the years began releasing their own albums. In recent years Sonny introduced his own line of banjos called The Chief. He had often said, “I'm not in the banjo building business, nor am I trying to make a living selling banjos. The idea