Member Since: 07/11/2007
Band Members: The current members of The Java Mules include Linda Angstreich (fiddle), Rich Angstreich (guitar and vocals), Amy McDonald (guitar and vocals), Allen Ashdown (mandolin), myself, and sometimes John Davis (guitar). Check us out at John Gessner's website: http://www.wishingstonefilms.com/video/java_mules/
David McDonald (fiddle), Sherman Jourdian (guitar and jug), and myself compose The April Fools.
The Hoecakes are David McDonald, Allen Ashdown, Sharon McDonald (guitar, vocals, and djembe), and me.I'm not sure what all the The Snides' last names are, but they include David McDonald, Sylvia Outley (banjo), her friend Robin (ukelele), and me.The Redheaded Stepchild consists of David and me (or The April Fools) with "Cousin Amy" McDonald.
Influences: (A) Instructional Books and DVDs: Bob Carlin, David Holt, Dan Levenson, Dwight Diller, Brad Leftwich, Ken Perlman, Frank Lee, Mike Seeger, Joe Weidlich, Cathy Fink, and Bob Flesher all have instructional DVDs and/or books out that I've worked on. There are almost no clawhammer players in my area to learn from, so I learned almost 99% of the technique from these fellows (minus what I already knew from guitar, mostly transferable left-hand techniques such as bends, hammer-ons, pull-offs, and slides). (B) Sound Recordings: As for my ear for what I want my banjo music to sound like, I would emphasize as influences Grandpa Jones, Lee Hammons, Dwight Diller, Fate Norris, Nathan Frazier and Murph Gribble (banjo players on the Altamont: Black Stringband Music CD), Creed Birchfield of The Roan Mountain Hilltoppers, Dave Macon, Josh Thomas (based on one song: Mike Seeger's rendition of "Josh Thomas' Banjo Roustabouts" on Vol. I of his Southern Banjo Styles DVD set), Dock Boggs, Fisher Hendley, George Pegram, Bob Flesher, Dan Gellert, Bob Thornburg (on the recent Banjo Gathering CD), Dick Freeman, Fred Cockerham, and Kyle Creed--though not all on the same song!
(C) Co-conspirators: The most important influences of all since Jan 1, 2007, however, would be (1) my fiddle player friends David McDonald and Linda Angstreich, who've taught me a whole bunch of tunes and (2) the Java Mules and the April Fools, who have taught me a lot about making old-time music with others, which is important, since most of my life I've played whatever I was playing alone. Before 2007, I would credit local musicians Bobby Carpenter, Smith McInnis, Raiford Baxley, Bobby McBryde, O.A. Champion, and Martin Scarborough, Jr. with giving me lasting models and direction on what to do with my banjo.
Sounds Like: My interests would predict my overall sound to be a blend of West Virginia, Mount Airy, Georgia, and Senegambia, but I don't know if that's what it sounds like. It depends on who I'm playing with and what we're playing.
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Record Label: Unsigned