Playing Since: 1972
Experience Level: Novice

Interests:
[Helping]

Occupation: Territory Manager - FedEx

Gender: Male
Age: 65

My Instruments:
5-String Banjo

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Profile Info:
Visible to: Public
Created 6/19/2006
Last Visit 9/7/2025

I started playing at 12 after asking my parents for Banjo for my 12 th birthday - I was inspired by an old photo of my great grandfather playing a fret less 5 string - he definitely frailed by the wear patterns on the head. That was also about the time the movie Bonnie and Clyde came out with Warren Beatty and "Deliverence" - that's all I needed to seal the deal and it seemed the background music for so many commercials used bluegrass banjo. Of course, then the Eagles had some 5 string on Take it Easy, and John Denver was in his prime and it seemed every where I listened there was Bluegrass. I played to about 2700 people over the course of 2 days at Abilene Christian University's "Freshman Follies" in 1982 with Barry Adams on Guitar - we performed Dueling Banjos and of course the crowd went wild. It was awesome - then life happened - I graduated thanke laude, got married and put it down for 25 years - second worse mistake I ever made. I finally got my custom banjo made after the last 3 years of waiting for it and making payments to Moses McKnight in Van Alstyne Texas. He is unbelievably gifted as a luthier and artist. He made mine from Texas Mesquite - Harder than Walnut or Mahogony and SO LOUD - whoa. The whole Banjo is themed for Christ's glory. I''m having to relearn many songs but I hope I make new friends on this site and learn from as many people as possible. Did I mention I had a heart transplant 3 years after I was married at age 29? June 14th 2012 will be the 23rd anniversary. I think there may be only a few that have live that long. I'm God's proof of his grace and I will dedicate my new learning to giving the glory to God for all I learn, play, and help others!