How exciting! I spoke today to my old friend Edward, creator and builder of "The Original Banjola" about the imminent arrival of my very own banjola. It should arrive by the end of the week! Of course there will probably be the usual duties and customs etc. but I can't wait to get my hands on it. Edward and I decided that he should make one for me when I was down in Denver this summer for the first ever Colorado Banjolafest! Edward invited me down to both play and be the M.C. The one day festival took place near Denver on a beautiful property in Hygiene Colorado. The property was the home of one of the performers, Steve Mullins. He and his wife had graciously offered their location for the festival. Also performing were the amazing Grammy Award winning guitarist/banjolaist Al Petteway, Aaron O'Rourke a young dulcimur/banjola phenom from Florida, Tracy Leveque a transplanted Louisiana resident, and Edward himself. Go to http://www.banjolafest.com to find out more about the festival.
Edward has made three other instruments for me a steel string guitar, a nylon string guitar, and a dulcilyn, an early precurser to the banjola. Go to http://www.evd303.com to find out more about Edward and his career as instrument builder, luthier, and teacher! I've known Edward since 1976 when he owned and operated Ed's Music Workshop in Peterborough Ontario. I started out as a costumer, graduated to apprentice and band mate, and eventually landed as life long friend and golfing buddy!
So here I am in Toronto awaiting my banjola! All you banjo players and adventurous guitarists eat your heart out. When you see and hear this instrument you are going to wish you were me!
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