Banjoman

Here's my story and I'm stickin' to it...

Although most of my music career has been spent as a guitar player and vocalist, I have played the banjo (after a fashion) since the late 1960's. My experience started with the acquisition of a circa 1900 vintage Cole's Eclipse five string, open back banjo from a good friend (he needed some cash and I wanted to play the banjo). My friend Paul Goss not only sold me my first banjo but gave me some quick lessons in frailing (claw hammer style) and threw in Pete Seegar's banjo book as a bonus. I believe I learned about four tunes and there the skill sat for some thirty years.

I picked up the banjo again in 2004 as a member of the Vic Wotherspoon Quartet. I convinced the band that a rhythm banjo would greatly enhance the band and - they actually bought the concept! So that lasted for some years through my Wotherspoon's Jug Stompers days and occasional use with The Resonators. In 2006 I decided that my real goal was to learn Scruggs style banjo and was fortunate to find a teacher, Dave MacPherson, in East Bridgewater, MA. I bought a Goldtone BG-250F resonator banjo and took lessons from Dave for a year and then decided to strike out on my own and expand my repertoire. Between various online websites, Homespun videos, local jam sessions and picking (no pun intended) the fertile minds of several new banjo playing acquaintances I have managed to add tunes, technique and speed. I've also been fortunate to acquire a really fine six year old Gibson RB-4 resonator banjo, one of the kings of the Gibson line. This year I'm working with a couple of friends on a stage performance with guess who on bluegrass style banjo. Stay tuned for new developments...

Here are some photos documenting my history with the five string banjo...

For Bookings and Information contact Dick at (508) 543-4521 or rwebb7@comcast.net