History with Bluegrass: I started playing guitar around age 11. My guitar teacher in Shingle Hollow, North Carolina was E.O. Rednour. After a dozen lessons or so, he told me to quit wasting my time and buy a big chord book. He told me, “You’ll never be able to play leads.”
Around age 15 my uncle started having jams at The Pick Shack in Shingle Hollow. This was his mother’s old country store, which is now listed on the National Historic Register. My uncle needed a bass player, so he stuck one in my hands and the race was on. We formed a family band, Hickory Flat, and we played and recorded together for 25 years doing festivals and concerts, as well as fiddlers’ conventions. Eventually, I moved to Greenville, where I became regular side man/guitar picker for Gene Dillard at The Handlebar Bluegrass Jam. My good friend and future bandmate, the late Jim Rollins, joined us for last few years.
Favorite Musicians: Steve McMurray, Acoustic Syndicate. I’m a big fan of bands, verses musicians, and New Grass Revival is my all-time favorite band.
Favorite Part About Being In West End: It’s hard to find musicians who understand how to “play in a band”. I am proud to pick with some exceptionally fine bandmates. Julie Brown has great rhythm and can tastefully make her banjo fit into any musical style. Brian, or “Tone Daddy”, is a treasure we found during the Albino Skunk Fest rain-out of 2015, He blows us away on a regular basis! The sky’s the limit for this young man! Brian is technically a 10 on his fiddle and a most wonderful human being. Kathy’s our rock on the bass fiddle. Not only is she my wife, but she keeps us going and adds solid musicianship and shenanigans to our band.
There’s really no feeling like hitting the stage with WESB. I look forward to sharing the stage with these folks for many years to come. There is nothing like the joy of playing with people who know how to deliver and delight the audience.