Banjo shortcuts from Rebekah Weiler
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Podcast
About Rebekah Weiler
Rebekah Weiler, “the old-time banjo gal of Tennessee,” plays with Delmer Holland and the Blue Creek Ramblers around her Nashville home. She’s been a banjo finalist at Clifftop and Galax and has won the Kentucky old-time banjo championship. She’s also been an instructor at the prestigious 2008 Augusta Old Time Week. Rebekah, a three-time Dean’s List honoree, is entering her senior year at Middle Tennessee State University where she is majoring in history. Rebekah is a 2008 graduate of IBMA’s Leadership Bluegrass class.
Tips on preparing for a show from Jeremy Garrett
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About Jeremy Garrett
Jeremy began playing fiddle as a child in Idaho and honed his skills at South Plains College in Levelland, Texas, where he was named Bluegrass Male Vocalist of the Year in 1996. He has performed with an array of bluegrass artists, including Bobby Osborne, Chris Jones, Ronnie Bowman, and Jim Hurst, backed award-winning country singer Lee Ann Womack, and released an album (Jeremy and Glen Garrett) with his father that featured dozens of top-shelf bluegrass pickers and singers.
Jeremy made the leap in 2005 from sideman to full-fledged partner as a member of a The Infamous Stringdusters. In 2007 The Infamous Stringdusters won three IBMA awards (Best Album, Emerging Artist and Song of the Year) for their debut effort, “Fork In The Road.” They released a new self-titled album on Sugar Hill Records this summer.
Tips on “going pro” from Andy Moritz
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About Andy Moritz
At University of Houston Andy was surrounded by classical music and music education majors, particularly marching band directors, when the “change” happened. The revelation that acoustic music would be his key to fame and fortune led him down the folk, rock, and bluegrass path, resulting in the formation of a band called Classical Grass in 1996, of which Moritz was a founding member. An accomplished bassist in multiple genres, Andy has also mastered big band, orchestral, and chamber ensemble styles, playing with a variety of bands including Classical Grass, Sugar Bayou, and the Charlie Prause Piano Trio, in addition to 10 years as a member of the Woodlands Symphony. Andy directs a large and highly successful private studio of bass students.
He joined Cadillac Sky in 2006, electrifying audiences with his versatility and unique approach, endearing him to fans as “The Panda.” Cadillac Sky releases their sophomore album for Skaggs Family Records, “Gravity’s Our Enemy,” August 19th.
Health tips from Sandy Lee Cherryholmes
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About Sandy Lee Cherryholmes
Sandy Lee, aka Mom, plays a hard-hitting mandolin style and driving rhythm that keep the momentum going in the band Cherryholmes. For special numbers, she switches to the clawhammer banjo. She is the most versatile singer in the band. From bluegrass gospel to old-time mountain and country tunes, she does it all. Her yodeling is a real crowd pleaser. Sandy is also a great harmony singer and song writer.
Until April of 1999, the dynamic family band known as Cherryholmes did not exist, and half of its youthful members hadn’t even picked up an instrument. In five short years, this high-energy Nashville-based band was named 2005 IBMA’s Entertainers of the Year. Their 3rd album on Skaggs Family Records, Cherryholmes III, is due out September 30th.
Tips on traveling from Marcy Marxer
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About Marcy Marxer
Marcy Marxer is a two time GRAMMY winner (Bon Appetit!: Musical Food Fun and cELLAbration: A Tribute to Ella Jenkins) and eleven time nominee who specializes in folk, swing, children’s and roots music. She has produced over 75 recordings for Rounder, Sugar Hill, A&M, Smithsonian Folkways, Appalseed and other labels. She co-engineered all of her Grammy winning and Grammy nominated CD’s.
As part of the powerhouse duo, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer, Marcy has toured the United States, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Scotland, Great Britain and Canada. Her instrumental virtuosity on guitar, mandolin, ukulele, cello banjo, hammered dulcimer, latin percussion and steel drum keeps her busy in the studio as side musician and artist.
Tips from Bob Carlin
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About Bob Carlin
Bob Carlin’s website says he is a producer, performer, teacher and researcher. The Old Time Herald calls Bob Carlin “a travelling ambassador and crusader for traditional Southern banjo music.” His latest book is The Birth of the Banjo: Joel Walker Sweeney and Early Minstrelsy.
Bob has explored the African roots of the banjo by working with the Malian musician Cheick Hamala Diabate. Bob has written and produced documentary albums and radio programs on numerous subjects related to American roots music, and started his own label, CarTunes Records.
Tips on making it from Randy Graham
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About Randy Graham
Randy has had a long career in music, recording and touring with Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, The Bluegrass Cardinals, Baucom, Bibey, Graham and Haley, and David Parmley & Continental Divide. He has also worked extensively in commercial radio which has honed his skills in marketing and promotion.
After leaving David Parmley, Randy formed the Randy Graham Talent Group. Handling a roster that includes David Parmley & Continental Divide, Blue Moon Rising, Jimmy Bowen & Santa Fe, Audie Blaylock & Redline, Heather Berry, and David Davis & the Warrior River Boys.
Tips about mandolin care from Bobby Clark
MP3 Podcast
About Bobby Clark
There is no mistaking the signature mandolin sound for anyone other than Oklahoma native, Bobby Clark. Having won the National Mandolin championship in Winfield, Kansas, the Buck White International Mandolin Championship in Kerrville, Texas, and the World Mandolin Championship in Des Moines, Iowa, Bobby can only be called a true mandolin virtuoso. Bobby began his musical career alongside another Oklahoma native, Vince Gill as a member of the Bluegrass Review. After moving to Nashville in 1983, he became a well sought after instrumentalist and worked with Vassar Clements, Larry McNeely, Peter Rowan, the Bluegrass Cardinals and spent 16 years with Mike Snider.
In addition to his work with Williams and Clark Expedition, Bobby has recorded two solo albums and worked on other album projects with the likes of Ricky Skaggs and Vince Gill. In addition, he has a keen ear for sound and is the owner of Top Dog Recording and Sound in Hendersonville, Tennessee.
Tips about practice from Sierra Hull
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About Sierra Hull
At the age of 16, Sierra Hull is an extremely accomplished bluegrass musician. Hailing from the small town of Byrdstown, Tennessee, Sierra began playing the mandolin at age eight. Only two years later she had her recording debut with an all-instrumental album called “Angel Mountain.” And while that album was only recorded 6 years ago, she comments that when you’re only 16, 6 years is a long time, and her sound has definitely developed a lot since then.
In February 2008 Sierra signed with Rounder Records and in May released the album, Secrets, her first album as a full-fledged instrumental and vocal talent. The album was produced by Ron Block, and features many guest appearances, including Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, and Rob Ickes. Such big names, however, do not faze this seasoned performer, Sierra has shared the stage with bluegrass greats such as Alison Krauss, Sam Bush, and Ricky Skaggs. Ron Block comments, “It’ll be intriguing to watch how her vision and creativity affect the future of bluegrass in the coming years.”
Tips about blend from Clayton Campbell
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About Clayton Campbell
Twenty-seven-year-old Clayton Campbell plays fiddle for the Gibson Brothers.
He’s from a musical family; in 1998 his parents founded the Kentucky Opry, a family entertainment attraction on Kentucky Lake. Clayton’s been playing fiddle, mandolin, guitar and singing backup with them since he was 7 years old.
You can hear Clayton’s fiddling on the Gibson Brothers’ latest CD, Iron and Diamonds.
Tips about singing from Tim Shelton
MP3 Podcast
About Tim Shelton
Tim is from eastern Kentucky and the leader and founder of the band New Found Road, which was formed in
2002 and is presently finishing their fifth recording project, expected to be released later this year. Tim performed gospel music in the Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana area prior to forming New Found Road and was briefly a member of Larry Sparks’ band the Lonesome Ramblers. He also had an Ohio-based group called the Beacons. In 2000 he recorded a solo gospel CD titled “I Stand Amazed” with the collaboration of several members of the Isaacs and Joe Mullins on banjo from the super group Longview.
New Found Road’s fourth recording, “Life in a Song” contained the wonderful a cappella song “When I Get Home” which was ranked the number one gospel song in the March 2008 issue of Bluegrass Now magazine in their Gospel Truths Chart.
Tips about fans from Cliffton Preddy
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About Cliffton Preddy
Born in 1973 and raised in Wilton, NC, Clifton Preddy has been playing the fiddle since the age of three after becoming tired and unsatisfied with his plastic toy fiddle, and insisting to his parents that he wanted a “real” fiddle like the one that his Great-Uncle Emil “Dunk” Preddy played.
Over his musical career, Clifton has performed with such bands as: Swift Run, The Virginia Travelers, New Classic Grass, Lynwood Lunsford, New Vintage, Carolina Road, The Navy Bluegrass Band, The Jason Michael Carroll band, Steel Creek, Carolina Connection, and The Beard Brothers. His greatest musical influences are: the late Mr. Chubby Wise, Mark O’Connor, the Lonesome River Band, and his Great-Uncle and old-time fiddler Emil “Dunk” Preddy. He enjoys songwriting, and has been fortunate enough to perform some of his originals with Constant Change.
Tips about finger strength from Blake Williams
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About Blake Williams
Blake plays banjo for Williams & Clark Expedition and has over 34 years of professional bluegrass experience. He toured with Bobby Smith & The Boys From Shiloh fresh out of high school and soon moved into the role of banjo player for Lester Flatt and the Nashville Grass until Lester’s death in 1979. Blake then worked with the Bill Monroe, for 10 years, making him Monroe’s longest tenured banjo player. Audiences love his emcee work and he’s recognized as an outstanding country comedian. An accomplished songwriter, Blake’s songs have been recorded by Rhonda Vincent and Lester Flatt. He wrote much of the material on Williams & Clarke Expedition’s latest CD, A Brand New Set of Blues. Look for Blake on the cover the May 2008 Banjo Newsletter.
Tips about tuning from Moondi Klein
MP3 Podcast
About Moondi Klein
Moondi grew up in Manhattan and along with his brother Adam, joined the Metropolitan Opera’s Children’s Chorus before the age of 10 and sang with the Chorus through his mid-teens. However, Moondi’s father, who worked with The Rockefeller Foundation awarding grants, took him on a trip to The Carter Fold in Southwest Virginia and changed his musical focus; Moondi got a taste of mountain music and hasn’t looked back since.
Moondi learned to play the guitar and banjo, and studied music in college. After college he moved to the Washington D.C. area and and helped form the band, Rock Creek, gaining recognition for his outstanding vocal skills. Later he replaced John Starling as the lead singer with The Seldom Scene and eventually went on to form Chesapeake with Jimmy Gaudreau, Mike Auldridge and T. Michael Coleman. Chesapeake’s three CDs with Sugar Hill Records gained critical acclaim. In March 2008, Moondi and Jimmy Gaudreau released their first project as a duo, “2:10 Train,” on Rounder Records.
Tips about mandolin solos from Jesse Cobb
MP3 Podcast
About Jesse Cobb
Currently Jesse Cobb plays mandolin with the Infamous Stringdusters. An experienced picker in the Nashville scene, Jesse has served a stint with Grand Ole Opry member Mike Snider, performed with Jim Lauderdale, Melonie Cannon, the Fox Family, Valerie Smith and Lee Ann Womack.
The Infamous Stringdusters have a new self-titled album which will be released on June 10th on Sugar Hill Records, on which Jesse wrote the instrumental, Golden Ticket.
Photo by Kristen Barlow.
