My Bio

Here I am the maddest banjo picker in Essex, UK. I got hooked on the 5 string banjo in 1968 and wanted to learn to play it in five minutes.

It took me some years and a lot of long hours to get an idea of how it was supposed to go. My record collection grew and grew. I would slow the records down and try and work out what was happening. Everytime I went to a concert or festival, I would hunt out the banjo player and pin them up against the wall to get a few tips out of them. After many years of hard work though and sleepless nights, I began to get the idea.

In the mid 70's I started busking in my home town Romford, There a few people would ask me about the banjo and how they wanted to learn. So I started teaching a few people so they wouldn't have to go through all the pain and stress I (and my parents) that I had gone through. 

Also in the mid 70's I started a bluegrass newsletter. I had met a guy by the name of John O'Connell, he took me along to Cambridge Folk Festival, where Imet heaps of bluegrass musicians from all over the UK. I said to John that all these people go back to their homes after the festival and only meet up with friends they have made, when they attend the following year. So this is what gave me the idea of the newsletter "The British Bluegrass & Old Time Music Newsletter". This then became a small magazine "The British Bluegrass & Old Time Music Journal".

In the mid 80's I, Jan Jerrold and John Hopkins decided to join forces (John O'Commell had gone to work overseas) and change the name of the magazine to "British Bluegrass News". The pulication is still running today in conjunction with the BRITISH BLUEGRASS MUSIC ASSOCIATION (BBMA). Sadly Jan died and John Hopkins had left the scene.

I had to have heart surgery (bluegrass can damage your health), so I took a back seat, but hen I got the itch to start another magazine. I came back with a vengeance and started THE BANJO GAZZETTE. This I ran for about six years but once again I had to pass it on as I needed more heart surgery, and the stress of publication dates were hard to keep. I passed it to the nw publisher, but alas he only produced one issue and he was gone. Manypeople asked me if I would take it up again but I'm afraid I have enough things comfortably to be doing.

In 1980, I had the pleasure of interviewing the father of bluegrass music BILL MONROE, at the Wembley Country Music Show. In 1982 I spent a month in the USA with a great mate of mine, Steve Read, great bass player, guitarist and founder of Edale Bluegrass Festival. We met, played and stayed with some wonderful people, it has been one of seven wonders of my life!

In the mid 80's I joined a little C & W band jut for fun. I played some banjo. guitar and lap steel guitar. The band changed names a few times, started out Pinewood County then wenty to Kentucky Thunder and then went to Arbuckle & Beans. A & B we stuck to for around ten years. It was an exciting band and we would do anything from bluegrass, swing, country rock and a few hard core C & W. I learnt a lot from working with the band, not only music wise, but presentation and how to entertain THE audieance. Thanks guys for having me on board!

Also not satisfied with just working in the country band, my bluegrass band - Unlimited Bluegrass then to become Chelmer Valley Stringband and teaching banjo, I decided to join a trad jazz band! I'd seen an advert in my local paper, wanting a banjo player, so I thought,"that's me"!. I went along to their practice at the local college and thought,this is different, hadn't a clue what to do but took the bull by the horns and dug in there. I became the banjo player for the Chelmer College Swing Band, only for about a year or so (time ran out on me). The guys were great, we did some spots for the old folks, and again I'd learnt more about my banjo, where all the chords were, up and down the neck (I played my regular 5 string tuned to G but with a flat pick (plectrum). I met some great people and again I still bump into some of them, especially Dougie! 

Over the past twenty five years I have taught hundreds of people, young and old. To me I love teaching the best, I think it is that I can see the person right from the start, some who have never ever picked up an instrument and sit there totally lost. After a few months, they start getting things together and I can tell that they are going to make it. That's what gives me the kick to keep teaching. I am always pleased when some one wants to lern to play, to me this is keeping the music and instruments ALIVE!

I have taught a few children, banjo, basic mandolin and guitar. Two that come to mind were Clive Carroll, started off at six years old, now a well established guitarist in his own right. I knew Clive's mother and father, we use to play some Irish and bluegrass together. My adopted newphew, Richard Lee, again started off at six, by the time he was twelve, he was a confident player. He now plays and sings with our band WET PAINT BLUEGRASS BAND & WET PAINT BARN DANCE BAND www.wetpaintbarndanceband.co.uk I love playing guitar with Richard as he always seems to come up with something fresh, cool guy! I used to hate him when he hadn't played for weeks and then come up with some blinding solo, just blows your mind away.

Through the years I've had great pleasure in meeting, interviewing and playing with some great people. These are some I can recall, Don Stover, Red Rector, Bill Clifton - Joe Val & The New England Bluegrass Boys - The Del McCoury Band - Bill Keith - Eddie Adcock - The Johnson Mountain Boys - Bob Paisley & The Southern Grass - JD Crowe - Peter Wernick - Charlie Waller - Greg Carhill & Special Consensus - Ross Nickerson - Tom Hanway - Frank Wakefield - Dick Smith and many more that I can't think of at the moment.

Over the years I've had bands such as Unlimited Bluegrass - The Newts - The Chelmer Valley Stringband which became The Chelmer Valley Bluegrss Band. I played banjo for Buffallo, a great band still going.

Nowadays I play mainly guitar with my band Wet Paint and I also do the calling + guitar in Wet Paint Barn Dance Band. I love Wet Paint, all the guys and lady, Rachel are so kind to me as my old memory starts to go on strike, they are fine bunch and I love the material we do, from traditional to Bon Jovi! I also go out as solo artist at folk clubs etc, playing banjo, guitar and mandolin.

I broke my ankle back in Nov 2003 and spent five weeks in hospital and months after hobbling around. After having 3 major heart operations, my ankle has been the worst thing ever and it is still very painful. I don't think it will ever be right! My eldest brother once said to me, what would it have been like if I had injured my hand and not being able to play again. I must admit I never thought of it like that!

My band Wet Paint played at the American Embassy, London, for their elections night. I'd just come back out of hospital, having my metal plates removed from my ankle (the plates were contaminated with MRSA). There I was again hobblin around on crutches, what a fantastic time we had and we were heard on Radio 5!

These last five years I've been going to a fantastic banjo festival held inLongford, Ireland. www.johnnykeenan.com/ This is truly a wonderful gathering and has some top USA and Irish acts. Whats more you meet a load of great people who just love the music. It is bluegrass/irish music fused together. I have again gained alot ofgreat friends over there, I always look forward to heading out over there, its heaven!, jam to the early hours, few hours kip and start all over again, and four days of just fantastic music.

These last couple of years I have been involved with the East Anglian Bluegrass Fesival www.eabg.blueapples.co.uk/ This festival was founded by John Pearman. John sadly died a few years back, as I helped John get the festival off the ground in the early days, he asked me would I continue it. So with the rest of the committee we have. A great little festival!

I have a fair few banjos, my favourites are 1998 Stelling Virginian, 1984 Gibson Earl Scruggs (honey colour, last one made April 4th 1984), TB3 Gibson Arch Top (ballbearing tone ring with 5 string neck), Rob Alyward custom with a Huber pot etc 2000, Rob Aylward open back (ex Grover neck fitted to a pot with a Vega Whyte-Laydie tone ring, 1978 Grover (which Richard hangs onto and uses with Wet Paint band), 2001 Griffin Piccolo, handy for travelling and a 1960's Vega long folk banjo. Some of these you can see on Photos page.

I have over a 1000 CDs of bluegrass music and I've been spending a few years adding them to a database. Do I listen to them? Well yes I do and I'm still obtaining more. If when I retire from my day job maybe I'll have more time to listen!!

Another project I've just started (2009) is to do some DVD lessons. I've been asked by loads of people if I could do this. The idea I've had is to video my lessons so students from far away can then purchase the lessons on CD or DVD.

I've just taking up writing again and have just finished a childrens book, (no not how to play the banjo). If I get anywhere with it I may have a museum for old banjos and me, as I certain young lady I know is always calling me a DINOSAUR!!

It's been a great thirty odd years and I hope to have a least another thirty, if people can put up with me.

I can't believe where all these years have gone, but they do say when you are having fun, time flies, so if you don't mind, I've got to fly!!

Thanks to all the people that helped me to start for all the people who have taken up bluegrass banjo and to all the wonderful people I've met and made friends with!