Alan Kaye - Banjo, Dobro, Autoharp
I mostly grew up in the Atlanta area, although I lived all over the country when I was young. I have played
guitar and banjo since I was a teenager and later played mandolin for a long time. A few years ago
I began to put a lot of time and effort into the dobro, and that has been very rewarding to me.
I have worked in libraries since 1975, and I really love my job. My wife Shirley and I have lived in
Cairo for 18 years. Shirley is an elementary school computer lab manager. We have two sons. One is a
web programmer in Warner Robins. He built his own computer and is a movie buff. The other graduated as a
Vocal Music Education major and wants to be a music therapist. Click here for a
recent sample of his ensemble work.
My very first guitar was a nylon-string model from Sears. I got it for Christmas and broke a string the same
morning, so my dad took me to the drug store to get another string. They only had Black Diamond steel strings, so
instead of looking further, we took the guitar back to Sears and got me a steel string Silvertone guitar. I think
that sent me in a certain musical direction that allowed for bluegrass.
Two years later my parents used 14 books of green stamps to get me a Kay banjo, which I learned to play by
listening to an Obray Ramsey album that I borrowed from my high school German teacher. I used to enjoy watching
Flatt & Scruggs and the Wilburn Brothers, and I also liked Hee Haw for both the music and the comedy.
I have been privileged to play with several local bands in Georgia. They include The Geechee Skeeters (1975-78),
Georgia Southern Grass (1978-80), Cedar Ridge (1982-88), a good group in Gainesville, Georgia (what was the name of
that band? 1990-92), and South Georgia Grass (1994-2005). Playing with Blue Holler has done me a world of good, and
I am enjoying it thoroughly!
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