Playing Since: 2011
Experience Level: Novice

carlwells2535 has made 3 recent additions to Banjo Hangout 

Interests:
[Jamming] [Socializing]

Occupation: retired military

Gender: Male
Age: 61

My Instruments:
Custom Huber Roanoke w/radius speed neck and head stock engraves. The Recording King Elite 75 gave it to play it forward association.

Favorite Bands/Musicians:
Catahoula Drive, Tin Top Road, J.D. Crowe, Rhonda Vincent, IIIrd Tyme Out, Ralph, Flatt and Scruggs, Bill Monroe, Del McCoury, Blake Brothers, Churchhill Bluegrass, Greer Family, Cedar Creek, Cedar Hill, Grascals. and the list keeps growing.

Classified Rating: not rated
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Profile Info:
Visible to: Public
Created 9/11/2010
Last Visit 6/10/2026

Carl Wells was born in Pineland Texas in 1964. Born/raised in Sabine county TX. Upon graduating from West Sabine High School in 1982 joined the United States Air Force and traveled the world as an aircraft mechanic working on various airframes to include F-4s, A10s, OA10s, C-130s. Raised in a church family and has always enjoyed Southern Gospel music. While stationed in Arkansas attended my first bluegrass festival in Mountain View, Arkansas where the banjo fever hit me. Through the next few years I was tasked with taking care of my wife who had a heart problem and was constantly by her side till she passed away July 2010. We had always enjoyed life to the fullest making the best of things and being very active in their local church. After the passing of my wife I found that I could not do the things that I really wanted to and to the extent that I used to (had to have major back surgery in Sept. 2011). I knew that my wife would want me to enjoy life to the fullest. I started dating and God put another Christian lady in my life who likes to travel and bluegrass music. And then that high lonesome feeling crept back into my heart that was put there some years ago by the twang of a single banjo in the stillness of a cool night at the Ozark Folk Center in Arkansas. I began my search and after many months of researching, asking questions, seeking out the right answers I decided on which banjo would be my first purchase. I also spent many wakening hours listening to cds, watching videos, and studying books even before I purchased my first banjo. I knew that I wanted to get one that would not require an update later on and knew that I didn't want just a cheap banjo to see if this adventure was real. I also knew that I could not afford a very expensive one. I knew that feeling deep down was real and would stick with it to the end. With encouraging words from family members, church family and an understanding girlfriend, ( we got married August 22, 2011) I purchased a brand new Recording King Elite 75. I received my banjo on January 24, 2011. It is now May 28, 2026 and I'm updating my profile. Many of life's problems have kept me from practicing over the last years. 3 back surgeries, 1 neck surgery. 2 1/2 years ago I ordered a custom Huber banjo. Right after that I had an accident and destroyed left rotator cuff. That put me out of commission for a year. Then I had to have two surgeries on right shoulder. The first time it didn't heal properly. As I was getting over that they found cancer. With the new banjo I'm starting all over again. Thank you to all my friends and people here that has helped me. May GOD bless each of you and hope that whoever might read my bio will realize it's never too late to learn something new. Don't beat yourself up if you can't even play "I'll Fly Away" after 15 years. Take the time to enjoy it. Would love to chat with many of you. I don't get here often but you can e-mail/message me. Thanks, Carl.