by Bert Daniel | Feb 8, 2023 | Uncategorized, Welcome Column
The banjo has always held a certain fascination for me. I was enthralled when Bill Evans presented his Banjo in America extravaganza ten years ago. What a cool instrument I thought, as Bill played through a series of vintage instruments to illustrate the venerable...
by Bert Daniel | Feb 1, 2023 | Uncategorized, Welcome Column
Del McCoury turned 84 today. Happy Birthday Del! One of bluegrass’s senior statesmen, Del is particularly close to fans here in California because he visited us pretty often. He’s also trained some of the best and brightest bluegrass stars out there still touring...
by Bert Daniel | Jan 25, 2023 | Uncategorized, Welcome Column
I suppose everybody who’s hooked on bluegrass is by definition hooked on banjo. Some people say, with good reason, that Bill Monroe “invented” bluegrass. But without those Earl Scruggs banjo rolls to drive the music, that invention would be hollow. Without the banjo,...
by Bert Daniel | Jan 16, 2023 | Uncategorized, Welcome Column
Today’s national holiday might be an opportunity to pick a little more bluegrass music with friends as long as you get the day off. Some of us might even be playing guitars with the same name as the holiday honoree. Baby boomers like me can look back more than fifty...
by Bert Daniel | Dec 12, 2022 | Uncategorized, Welcome Column
Like many of you, I listen to a lot of bluegrass music. I listen to it live whenever I can because that’s how it should be enjoyed for its full effect. But I also listen to a wealth of recorded music by great musicians I may never get the opportunity to listen to live...
by Bert Daniel | Nov 25, 2022 | Uncategorized, Welcome Column
Unless their parents force them into it, most people choose to play a musical instrument because they like the sound of it and maybe they like how they fit in with other friends who play an instrument as well. They put in a ton of effort to bond with their instrument...
