Sullivan Banjos

Putting The Fun In Banjos All Photos Courtesy of Eric Sullivan “Banjos = fun” is the lifelong philosophy of one American luthier. “Sullivan Banjos is fairly recent,” its current proprietor, Eric Sullivan of Alabama, shared during a recent interview. “It started in 1970 when Dad (Bill Sullivan) was working at General Electric in the tool and die division. The availability of banjo parts 54 years ago wasn’t what it is today. Being in the tool and die department, the employees had equipment at their disposal during lunchtime so he started making banjo parts and pieces. Word began to spread. People would bring banjos to have parts made or repaired. Dad told Mom, ‘When this business can make $20,000 in sales, I am quitting General Electric.’ Within two years, the boy quit! What Dad hated most was the hour drive to work and the hour drive to home. He said, ‘That’s two hours that I’m not getting paid for to be away from my family.’ Looking back, that one deci