Member Since: 3/1/2008
Band Website: craigminstrel.com
Band Members: Craig Merlin Broers aka Craig of Farrington
Influences: CURRENT MOON moon cycles: Craig's musical influences, as his interests, are wide and varied. His father, who had been a trombonist and singer with an Army Band in World War II, provided him with a wealth of LPs, featuring Jazz (mostly Big Bands and soloists like Dakota Stanton and Johnny Mathis), and Broadway Musicals from OKLAHOMA to WEST SIDE STORY. His sense of humor was influence by the raucous comedy of the likes of Redd Foxx and Woody Woodbury. Craig studied piano from age 3 and upright bass from age 11, and played in Big Bands and Jazz Combos into his college years. He took up the guitar as a college student, sang vocal folk rock with a trio (332 ELLIS STREET) and performed and danced with his college swing choir, THE OLD GOLD SINGERS. After he married a pianist, he studied at the School of Music at THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, where he earned s Masters Degree in 1980, having completed course work in VOCAL (and Opera) PERFORMANCE, CHORAL CONDUCTING and MUSIC EDUCATION. He taught high school music from 1979-1992. At the University, he developed a fondness for EARLY MUSIC, performing as a soloist with the COLLEGIUM MUSICUM, which led him to audition, in 1984, for the MINNESOTA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL (Shakopee MN). He bought his first RENAISSANCE LUTE in 1986 (he's now on his third) and created THE MINSTREL LUTENIST CRAIG OF FARRINGTON. His relatively recent foray into folk music did not begin until the late 80s, and was inspired by the many musicians he met on the Renfaire circuit, including Bob Bielefeld, Jim Hancock, the late Malcolm Smith, David Roe, Billy Miller, Evan Carawan, and THE MINSTRELS OF MAYHEM (Jerry Barry & Ty Billings) with whom he toured in the late 90s. His most important model, as a street minstrel, was JOHN ENGLAND, still a friend - a barefoot minstrel from New Zealand he met in 1988. He is proud to also mention his protege, now the music director at BRISTOL RENAISSANCE FAIRE, Dan Marcotte aka DANIEL DOWLAND. Craig produced four cassette recordings in the 1980s, and has so far produced seven CDs, five which are still in print
Sounds Like: Who does Craig sound like? He's an original. Comparisons have been made to everyone from BURL IVES to ALLEN SHERMAN to JAMES TAYLOR.
Record Label: Craig of Farrington
Type of Label: None