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Music

Sharing lessons and a love of the banjo

Bob Carlin spent years mastering clawhammer banjo, and he'll play it at the Florida Old-Time Music Championship.

By LOGAN NEILL
Published March 31, 2006

SPRING LAKE - Bob Carlin describes himself as a student of the banjo. In addition to being an accomplished recording artist and performer, he has delved deeply into the historic roots of the instrument, back to its African origins, tracing its bloodlines to the banjo's present-day stature in American music.

Yet as a musician, Carlin plants himself squarely in what he calls "old-fangled" music. His distinctive, traditional "clawhammer" banjo style predates the modern three-finger style commonly heard in bluegrass music. It's an essential sound of the southern Appalachian mountains, and one Carlin believes best defines the instrument's character.

"People who don't know that much about the banjo really fall in love with the clawhammer sound when they hear it," Carlin said in a recent interview. "It's a very melodic, very friendly sound. I think people relate to it because it reminds them of simpler things."

Carlin, who will be a guest performer at this weekend's Florida Old-Time Music Championship at the Sertoma Youth Ranch, is one of the principal proponents behind the modern revival of clawhammer banjo. When he first picked up the instrument more than 30 years ago, few young banjo players were playing the early style, favoring instead the more popular bluegrass sound. Few records were available, and almost no teaching material existed. Carlin wanted to change all of that.

He sought out recordings by aging banjo masters such as Tommy Jarrell, Fred Cockerham and Kyle Creed, learning their styles and getting to know many of them personally. As his own banjo playing began to earn note, Carlin, too, became a sought-after performer at folk, bluegrass and old-time festivals.

In 1985, Carlin was awarded a grant to research, produce and host a radio series for the National Endowment for the Arts called Our Musical Heritage, culled from the Library of Congress' archival recordings. For Carlin, working among some of the world's most treasured music recordings was the thrill of a lifetime.

"You're talking about 80- or 90-year-old recordings that, in some cases, had never been heard since they were recorded," Carlin said. "It was like unlocking a sunken treasure chest."

Three years ago, Carlin was commissioned to produce and compile the North Carolina Banjo Collection CD. Though it contained performances by widely known banjo stars such as Earl Scruggs and Charlie Poole, the album enabled Carlin to also pay homage to several African-American banjo masters whose work has remained obscure.

These days, Carlin maintains a busy touring schedule that includes performances, lectures and banjo workshops in every corner of the country.

"I love entertaining people," Carlin said. "In the end my hope is that they come away with a love for this kind of music and to appreciate it as much as I do."

WHAT: Florida Old-Time Music Championship

WHEN: 7 to 10 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Sertoma Youth Ranch, southeast Hernando County. From State Road 50 east of Brooksville, turn south on Spring Lake Highway and go to Church Road. Turn east on Church and go to Myers Road. Turn south on Myers, and the ranch will be on the west side of the road.

ADMISSION: $5 for today and $10 for Saturday

INFORMATION: For ticket, camping and contest information, call 352 588-4734 or (813) 991-4774 or visit www.fotmc.org

[Last modified March 31, 2006, 06:35:49]