A. I started
drumming on the furniture when I was in elementary school.
At 14 I actually started taking drum lessons. I began learning
the banjo when I was 22. Music has always been important to
me, but I have college degrees in biology, art and elementary
education.
Q. Why did
you start playing folk music?
A. I fell in
love with the sound of the old-time banjo. I just wanted to
learn to play for my own enjoyment. It slowly grew into a
career.
Q. How many
instruments do you play?
A. I play banjo,
guitar, slide guitar, uke, bantar, hammered dulcimer, lap
dulcimer, autoharp, bones, spoons, harmonica, jaw harp, mouth
bow, washboard and paper bag.
Q. Why do
you play so many?
A. I really
like the sounds they make. Each one creates a different mood.
When I came to the mountains I was surprised to see the variety
of instruments that people played. I want to show that diversity
in my programs. I try to play even the very basic ones like
the spoons or washboard as musically as possible and not as
a gimmick.
Q. Who did
you learn from?
A. When I first
came to the southern mountains, I was surprised to see how
many people still played this music. Many of them were old-timers
and were more than happy to show a young person like me how
to play. As it turned out, I learned a lot more than music
from these men and women. They became my heroes and mentors.
Q. What is
your favorite instrument?
A. The old-time
banjo is still my favorite and best instrument.
Q. Do you
have a family?
A. Yes, I live
with my wife Ginny and my son Zeb outside of Ashville, NC.
Our wonderful daughter Sara Jane died in an automobile accident
when she was 10. We miss her every day.
Q. Where
have you traveled playing music?
A. I have played
in almost every state. For the U.S. State Department I have
traveled to Africa, South East Asia and Latin America.
Q. Do you
always wear a hat?
A. I love hats.
I've been collecting fedoras from the 1930's and 40's for
a long time. When I started playing on television the hat
became a trademark. Now, I always wear a hat when I perform.
I also collect neckties from the same period.