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True
West Magazine named Blazing the West the top Bluegrass CD
of 2003 in their annual Best of the West
issue.
Trans
Atlantic Bluegrass School
New
compilation CD featuring Ross Nickerson. Others featured on the CD are Earl
Scruggs,
Sonny Osborne, Eddie Adcock, Jim Mills, Greg Cahill, Pete Wernick, Scott Vestal
and more. 
Five-string
banjo master Ross Nickerson performs in support of his CD Blazing the West on
Pinecastle Records. Country Music Television named Blazing the West as one of
the top ten CDs to pick up in 2003.
Ross is a full time musician and on the
road ten to fifteen days a month performing concerts, workshops and reaching new
audiences. He has most recently toured the United States, Canada, England, Wales,
Ireland, Netherlands, Germany, and Sweden with an upcoming trip to Australia.
Ross is the author of The Banjo Encyclopedia, published by Mel Bay Publications
which has already sold out its third printing. He has recorded with some of the
top names in Bluegrass music and recently performed on stage with The Riders in
the Sky and The Oak Ridge Boys. Ross has also picked and appeared with some of
the best banjo players in the world including Earl Scruggs, Bela Fleck, Bill Keith,
Tony Trischka, Alan Munde, Doug Dillard, Pete Seeger and Ralph Stanley. Ross has
been a member of some very successful bands including two-time winners of the
Telluride Band Contest, and selected for contracts at Disneyland in Japan and
Opryland in Nashville.
Ross is always hard at work performing, touring
and offering 5-string banjo workshops. He has recently released five new banjo
instruction DVDs, is writing new material for a CD and continues to offer more
and more services for banjo players at his website, BanjoTeacher.com.
Quite a few people have inquired about
the equipment I use. Here is a list of things
I use and recommend
Check out the sound bytes page to hear some of what Ross sounds like..
Picking
the Patriotic Medley at the Oak Ridge Boys concert.
Ban-Joey (Joey Bonsall) dragged me up for a number. (twist my arm...) What a bundle of banjo energy Ban-Joey is!
Video of Ross Nickerson sitting in with Del McCoury Band at Calgary Folk Festival click here
Ross Nickerson with Bill Keith and Ian Perry at the Nova Scotia Banjo Camp -2006
Sitting in with Riders in the Sky-3-2003. What a great bunch of guys and they're the best at what they do. Cutting Blazing the West, the CD they played with me on was a treat. No one plays Texas style rhythm like Ranger Doug, Woody Paul is without a doubt the "King of the Cowboy Fiddlers", and Too Slim is a comic genius and a solid bass man to boot..
Ross
N, Tucson, AZ, 2005
I performed at the Athy Bluegrass Festival 7-02 in Ireland. Clem O'Brien Guitar. (update, Clem just joined the band The Chieftans") Niall Toner Mandolin. Going to see those guys at the 3rd Annual Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival in Ireland. September 23rd-25th, they are on the bill too.
These are my children. My daughter just graduated from the University of AZ, and is going to Law School. My son Jackson just joined the Air Force. (2005) update, he got assigned, he's going to be an Air Traffic Controller. update, he just graduated the first phase with a 98 average.
I got great kids! :) if I do say so myself. I'm a proud Dad!
My daughter Theo is in Law School at Suny-Buffalo. She's doing very well and is in the top 15% of her class. She's making a lot of friends too, having fun at law school??? She's in her second year now, has worked for an immigration judge and is going to work for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe this summer.
Gee, time flies, she just graduated law school. She is a lawyer. She has already been hired by the Attorney General Honors Program, Dept of Justice, Office of Immigration in Washington DC
My son Jackson finished as
the top graduate in the Air Force Air Traffic Controllers School.
His reward for being top grad was permission to pick the base he's
stationed at. He chose Germany, Ramstein AFB. He's completed the Air
Traffic controller school and is a full fledged controller now. He
turned 23 on May 4th, 2008 and has received another promotion.
My daughter Theo, Bones and me. Jackson
with his new car in Germany, he likes the autobahn...too much.
Come to a workshop and meet my dog "Bones"
Bones is the greatest dog! Great traveling buddy! Smart little bugger he is! Very polite to the banjo students too.
I'm singing the Curly Shuffle. NYUK, NYUK - in Tucson, AZ-2003 (my home away from home).
Playing rock was fun, Deering is quality!
Banjo Cruise 2005. It took some courage to get this event started but it was a success! It can only get better from here. Check out the Banjo Cruise faculty and itinerary we have for this year.
Ross
Nickerson signs with Pinecastle Records. 2002
Ross Nickerson with Tom Riggs, President of Pinecastle Records. Tom Riggs received a lifetime achievement award from the International Bluegrass Association this year!
The Banjo School In Catonsville, MD is where I give private lessons. Right next to the highway for easy access! Just like the Truck Stop!
Update! 2006. I moved. This is my new home. I live in Tonawanda, NY. Near my daughter who is going to law school at Buffalo/Suny. An old friend traveled all the way up and painted the house. It looks a lot better. I have a view of the Niagara River from my office. Niagara Falls is close too. What an awesome area.
This
is a picture of my house in Tucson, AZ. I spent most of the winter, working, teaching
and playing here. Tucson is where my children grew up.
Here
is a picture at my folks guest cabin at Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire.
My folks and family roots are from New England and Nova Scotia.
Ross Nickerson Performance Videos you can watch online
On the Road Blog Adventures in Banjo Travel
2005 Smokey Mountain Banjo Camp photos
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Ross Nickerson with Nancy Nitche of Banjo Newsletter |
With banjo legend Butch Robbins of Bill Monroe fame. |
Doug Dillard of Andy of Mayberry fame., What a great picker and a great guy too! |
Banjo wizzard Bill Keith. I'm either really tired or really confused! |
From Nova Scotia Banjo Camp 2006 Ian Perry, Bill Keith, Ross Nickerson
Picking with Danny Barnes at Calgary Folk Festival. July 2005. Danny Barnes kicks ass.
Picking with Bill Keith, Butch Robbins, James McKinney, Larry McNeely, Doug Dillard and camp director Jack Hatfield.
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THE BANJO GAZETTE Interview with Ross Nickerson by Phil Morley As I was so impressed with Ross's CD I had to get an interview with him. So I wrote and sent him a copy of BG with his CD review in it. Ross kindly sent back this interview plus a tab for San Antonio Rose. This tune is one taken from Ross's CD and if you haven't gotten it yet. I suggest you do it's fantastic. BG. When did you start to get interested in the banjo? RN. My best friend in High School played the guitar and he encouraged me to buy a used one. I really got interested after I went to the Union Grove Fiddlers' Convention in North Carolina. BG. At what age did you start playing? RN. I was 16 or 17 when I began playing. BG. Who were your main influences? RN. I was influenced and inspired early on by the Will The Circle Be Unbroken album which included Earl Scruggs and John MCuen. I thank all the great players and publications that have made tab available to learn from. BG. What was your first banjo and what is now your current banjo? RN. The first banjo I had was a Kay. I've had a variety of other banjos including Mastertones, and a Stelling. I now play a Goldstar. I call it the Masterclone. I also have a Deering Crossfire that Derring made custom for me. BG. Did you play in bands as you were developing your style? RN. I was in a band after only playing the banjo for nine months. Playing with others helped me progress more than anything. Also I practiced a lot in the first year. BG. What style would you say mostly ( Scruggs, melodic, etc..? RN. I play a mixture of Scruggs, melodic, and single string. I use whatever technique best fits the material I'm playing. BG. What gauge strings do you use? RN. I use 11,12,13,20,11. BG. What height bridge do you use and type of action? RN. 11/16 or 3/4. BG. What gauge finger picks do you use? RN. I use shelor picks with the cobalt coating from Bob Perry and a variety of thumbpicks. I cut down the blade and cut the lip that wraps around the thumb back so it won't catch in the strings. BG. How many hours of practice do you do? RN. When I first started, I practiced about four hours a day. Now I practice on an as need basis. For instance, if I have an upcoming gig or recording session I practice specifically for that. BG. What advice would you give someone who is starting out? RN. Practice a lot. The banjo masters credited with developing a style named after them such as Keith, Crowe Adcock, Fleck etc. are all quoted as practicing 8 or more hours a day. BG. Do you listen to other forms of music other than bluegrass? RN. I grew up on a normal diet of Rock and Roll. I got drawn into a love of bluegrass through my interest in the banjo. I've been able to use the many influences I have in different band situations I've been in. BG. Do you play any other instruments? RN. I play electric guitar and some Dobro but banjo is my main instrument. BG. Do you read music notation or do you play from feel. RN. I started with a little tab, by tape and sharing licks. Then I learned a lot from tab. Now I play mostly by ear. You can also check out some instruction articles that he wrote for the Ibluegrass web magazine or check out the story on the adventure of picking with Earl Scruggs.
Pinecastle Recording Artist-Ross Nickerson Bullet Proof Productions 1-866-322-6567 Ross Nickersons Upcoming Schedule
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