A Story About Earl

I wrote this story for Pickers In A Jam, the newsletter of the Banjo In The Hollow bluegrass club back in 1998 after seeing Earl play for the first time. I thought this would be an appropriate time to pull it out of the vault:   "Now gather in close here, children, and I'll tell…

Earl Scruggs: A Memory

When son Chris called tonight, March 28, to tell us Earl Scruggs had died, I knew I would want to write some sort of blog about him, but I had no idea what to write. Then it came to me. Casey and I had gotten to meet Earl and Louise, his wife, one time in…

Dalton’s Report on Banjo Camp Weekend

I see that my mama Casey and my Grandma Murphy had a fine time teaching people good things at Banjo Camp. While they were doing that, my Granddaddy and I spent three whole days together, and I had a fine time teaching him good things too. Here are some of them: 1. Always keep a…

Second Intermediate Banjo Camp: Been There, Done That!

Just a quickie here, folks, to let you know that our second Murphy Method Intermediate Banjo Camp was a rousing success! Sixteen students gathered in Winchester under the watchful eyes of Casey and me to play and play and play! They also did some learning, but I think the playing was the big hit of…

Murphy Method Camp Weekend!

Folks, the Murphy Method Banjo Camp is coming up this weekend here in Winchester, and guess who is Casey's designated babysitter for the weekend! So while all the Murphy Method students are having fun learning banjo licks from Murphy and Casey and having fun playing together, the youngest banjo player in the family (Dalton Henry,…

Allemande Left!

I’m just back from our big square dancing convention in Alexandria, Va., where we spent four glorious days dancing, laughing, shopping (you should see my new square dance outfit, complete with red petticoat!), and, yes, playing bluegrass! No, I don’t play for any of the square dances (in truth, there is little banjo or fiddle…

Chris Henry playing tonight at the Station Inn in Nashville!

Red Henry Great show tonight at the Station Inn in Nashville! Chris Henry and the Hardcore Grass play from 8 to 11! Mighty Fine music guaranteed. Y'all come! https://www.facebook.com/events/314700525259158/ Chris Henry and the Hardcore Grass at The Station Inn!! Wednesday, March 14 at 8:00pm at The Station Inn

Christopher’s Colorado College Workshop

Back in January I got a call, pretty much out of the blue, from the director of the bluegrass program at Colorado College, Keith Reed. I had met Keith at RockyGrass last year when I was teaching at the Academy and he mentioned that he wanted to get me up to Colorado Springs sometime to…