A little bit about me. I was born here in Missouri to parents that were both musicians. My father was a drummer, lead vocalist, and band leader until his death in 1993, and my mother was a barrel house piano player who loved ragtime, boogie woogie, pop standards, and listening to the radio. If my mom could hear it she could play it and had a very gifted musical ear. She could do it all on the piano.
So, I started out listening to all of this right away as a youngster, and I thought it was normal to see musicians at all kinds of odd hours playing in my home. I spent most of my childhood at musical events as my father took me along, but I eventually picked up the guitar, then the mando, banjo & fiddle.
A local flat picker Jim Renz helped me and encouraged me to try ol timey mandolin. I have been devoted to playing mandolin for the last thirty years. I grabbed a banjo about six years ago and lately the fiddle has become my all consuming passion. I had one for years around the house and finally got with the best Ol time lady fiddler in the state of Missouri Ms. Vesta Johnson who is a young 86 years old and plays the traditional mo. dance tunes.
Locally here in St. Louis I have played in lots of bands over the years and in duos, trios and solo performances, but my preference these days is to do more quality than quantity and to do showcases of good acoustic music. I practice routinely with an acoustic group compromised of five string banjo, guitar and bass. I fill in the fiddle, the mando, guitar and vocals and we have a lot of fun playing the old traditional fiddle tunes. We do a variety of many of the bluegrass, folk, and irish tunes in my happy home here in St. Charles county near some old indian burial grounds “so they say” & strawberry fields that have yielded to housing development.
Lastly, home recording is one of the great joys and source of endless frustration trying to get it right. Solo recording is not for the faint of heart. Cheers to all of you. Lets keep traditional music alive. -Glenn T. Butterhorn ---------------------------------------------------------
songs from
glenn's cd are now featured on:
I would like to mention some friends and good sources for acoustic music. Check out…..
Curtis and Dennis Buckhannon, who are two really gifted musicians in the St. Louis area and who are well known for doing dance music and festivals.
Doug or Gale Foehner.
The Focal Point Performing Arts Center in Maplewood, Missouri.
White Crow Music Conservatory in Saginaw, Michigan. Don “Ziggie” Zietler owner and Siusan his partner in Stonecross. There latest recording is Dark Irish.
The Meramec Jets at whatever festival they happen to be at, they are a great bunch of guys.
The Gordons out of Illinois. -------------------------------------------------------
BANJO BILLY
www.banjobilly.net
-------------------------------------------------------- VESTA JOHNSON
Vesta Johnson, Ol Time Missouri
Fiddler --------------------------------------------------------
Switchback - an American music duo with several full-length recordings released, the earliest of which dates back to 1994. The music of the band falls into the Americana and traditional Celtic genres..http://www.waygoodmusic.com/switchback_new/content.php
MUSIC STORES I RECOMMEND: Music Folk in Webster Groves, Mo., Andy Ploof. www.musicfolk.com Killer Vintage in St. Louis, Mo. Mark www.killer-vintage.com Acme guitars in “dog town” St. Louis, Mo. Mike Teppe www.acmeguitars.com Gravity Music in St. Louis, Mo. Jimmy Gravity. http://www.gravitystrings.com/ Euclid Records in Webster Groves, Missouri. http://www.euclidrecords.com/
www.faziosmusic.com
REPAIR PERSONS: Joe Mendel - Mendel's Fretted Instrument Repair
Joe Mendel
is not only an expert repair person, but
www.jmendelfrets.com Chris Villani - Acme Guitars Jimmy Gravity - Gravity Guitars, St. Louis, Mo.
Colin Blair
-
fiddle and banjo,
fiddle and banjo
Billy Lee
Fiddler and Luthier
Wright City, Missouri
String Instruments repaired and custom
made, mandolins, violins, guitars, and
Custom cases for your instrument made.
Phone:
636-745-2584
Doug Foehner Furniture
Refinishing
314-577-1934
Fine craftsmanship, attention to detail, delivery
available specializes in antiques and restorations.
Breezy Ridge Instruments,
Ltd.
Contact:
Todd
Fine
picks,
ol reliable capos,
strings and accessories.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
CONCERT VENUE
WILDWOOD SPRINGS LODGE
www. wildwood springs lodge.com
Contact:
Bob owner of lodge or
Chuck for upcoming concert
information and Wildwood
Springs is an excellent
venue
for
concerts,
bed and breakfast
and a great supper with concert.
Curtis and Loretta are excellent
Acoustic folk
musicians and please
Do yourself a big favor by checking
out their website, show, or myspace.
Dan
Harris:
on the net
SoupyGato
Internet Radio Show
MARTY STUART & THE SUPERLATIVES
on RFD cable or dish television.
Great ol time country tv show
for a half hour weekly on RFD.
Great ol time country and gospel.
BRYAN DIETZ @
BLUEGRASS MIDAMERICA
on the net right here in Missouri.
PUBLICATIONS:
OLD- TIME HERALD
MANDOLIN MAGAZINE
FOLK FIRE
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