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On November 14, 1995, a Stelling Sunflower banjo—serial number 4356— began its journey from the Virginia factory to Gruhn Guitars in Nashville. Ten months later it was purchased by a banjo picker in Mill Valley, California who kept it for an indeterminate amount of time. At some point it came into the possession of my…

And Her Passion  for Teaching Megan Lynch Chowning’s career as a contest champion and recording/performing artist would be the envy of any bluegrass fiddle player.  She is a seven-time national fiddle champion, six-time California state champion and has won one or more state championships in four other states. She spent four years touring with country…

 A Great Banjo Picker and a Good Person Steve Dilling is a very humble and thankful man. Instead of listing his many accolades from 40 years in the music industry, he references all those who have helped him along the way. He is reflective, appreciative, and grateful. His dad, Don Dilling, explained his son’s demeanor….

How He Hears It   Photos By Amy Richmond Multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Jeremy Stephens of the bluegrass group High Fidelity is a devoted student of traditional bluegrass and country music. While he enjoys digging through the golden nuggets of music history, Stephens puts his own stamp of uniqueness to his music on his second solo…

Robert Lewis “Zeke” Hutchison, banjoist, singer and family man, died August 2nd, 2021, after a long illness. Born on September 13th, 1948 (Bill Monroe’s 37th birthday) in Belmont County, Ohio into a musical family, he made a special mark on the music scene in the upper Ohio River valley as well as nationwide. He is survived…

Country music legend Don Maddox has passed away, at age 98, on September 12, 2021. The last surviving member of The Maddox Brothers and Rose, Don was a fiddler and singer who certainly leaves a lasting legacy and impact on the genesis of country music.  Don Maddox was born on December 7, 1922. At a…