A Secret Life Of Banjo

2011-11-30T16:26:00.001-05:00

Hello Friends & Family,

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are looking forward to Christmas and New Year with your loved ones.

Thank you very much to everyone that has ordered my banjo and dulcimer cds and tab books this year. :)

And thank you to everyone who has written to tell us how much they are enjoying them--it really makes all the hours and days we spend recording and writing worthwhile to know they are appreciated. :)

I am offering a special holiday bonus this year to encourage you to buy music from a small indie artist (me) instead of the big commercial producers. :)

Happy Holidays bonus from today until December 15, 2011.

Order any combination of 3 cds or tab books directly from my website and receive a copy of "Banjo Dreamin' Suwannee Nights" CD--absolutely free as my holiday gift to you. This is our cd that we recorded to sound like drifting down the Suwannee River on a starry winter's night. If you already own it--you know that it makes a wonderful Christmas gift for your friends who love good acoustic music. :)

Many folks have written over the years to say this is their favorite of our cds. It is very pretty, with many fine tunes, and if you already have it--you know it has a winter holiday feel to it--and I'd like you to be able to enjoy it this winter if you don't already have it. :)

Just click to my website--any orders that arrive with 3 or more cds/and or books, before December 15, 2011--I'll include a copy of Banjo Dreamin Suwannee Nights. :)

www.maryzcox.com

Also, several people have written asking for T-shirts with the "Girl With the Banjo Tattoo" CD cover on them.

They are now available at Cafe Press.

http://www.cafepress.com/girlwiththebanjotattoo.591027863

2011 has been a wonderful year for us as we continue to be blessed with good music, fun and loving family and friends, lower blood pressure and cholesteral :), fun festivals, and somewhat good basset hounds. (hey--they turned over all the trash cans in the house the other day.)

To banjo friends--Thanks to banjo builders, Lo Gordon (Cedar Mountain Banjos), & John Bowlin (John Bowlin 1865 fretless) for including my music for their interviews on the DVD series that Craig Evans is producing on independent American banjo builders. I've seen parts of it and it is awesome. :)

To dulcimer friends--Bob ordered me a Timberhill butterfly dulcimer for Christmas and Paul Conrad (the builder) just takes my breath away with the beautiful intarsia woodworking he did. If you see me this year or next, ask to see it :) Also, I was very pleased to win first place this October at the Transylvania (Brevard,NC) Old Time Music contest. :)

To Cox family-- Bob and I will be hosting Christmas Eve dinner again this year at our home with the extended Cox family and friends. Our daughter, Natalie and son, Gordy, will be joining us here in town, and Sidney will probably join us viA SKYPE from Tokyo. :) We are having the big Greek dinner, so I'm buying Georgia pecans, and our Meyer's Lemon tree is heavy with fruit--so I'll be baking baklava very soon. :)Please email me soon with a head count of how many in your extended family will be attending Christmas Eve dinner and whether or not you would like to do book/movie exchange again this year--or something different?

A very Merry Christmas (and winter holiday to folks who celebrate other traditions).

We hope your New Year is even better than this one!

Love,

Mary Z & Bob Cox & Elvis and Priscilla too :)

ps. If you don't want to receive once in a blue moon emails from me--just send me an email and I'll delete you.

www.maryzcox.com

webpage

www.secretbanjo.blogspot.com

a secret life of banjo blog :)

Girl With the Banjo Tattoo :)

2011-09-14T11:36:00.000-05:00

Free banjo MP3 for August only :)

2011-08-20T14:49:00.000-05:00

New CD!!!

Cello banjo, cigarbox banjo, banjolin, John Bowlin 1865 fretless, Deering Gabriella and more fun banjos on solos and duets on:

Last Chance, Chickens Crowin At Midnight, Scarborough Fair, Whiskey Before Waltzing With Soldiers, June Apple, Goodbye Girls I’m Going To Boston, Morning Has Broken, Sweet Bama, Pretty Polly, Gaspe Reel, Julia Delaney, Star Of the County Down, Needed Time & Chinkapin Hunting. $15.00

AND---a New clawhammer banjo tab book too! Simple tabs to all the tunes on "Girl With the Banjo Tattoo" cd---And--all the tunes on "Drumming On the Edge of Banjo--all in one book

the Bonus MP3 for August if you order the new cd and/or tab book, is Mole in the Ground on a John Bowlin 1865 fretless banjo. This is a brand new track, not on any of my cds.

As a special thanks to folks who already ordered cds and books in July and received a free MP3 for July--if you would like the new MP3--just drop me a quick email and I'll send it right on to you. :)

Remember that you can order both cds and the tab book (3 items) for the same postage price in the USA ($5) as it costs to order only one item. International postage ($15)

***********************************************************************************

Girl With the Banjo Tattoo :) and free MP3 in July only.

2011-07-07T17:19:00.001-05:00

Hello Friends and Family,

Hope you are having a wonderful summer and keeping cooler than we are in Tallahassee.

We just finished a new clawhammer banjo cd—and yes—a tab book to go with it too.

If you order the new cd and/or book in July—I’ll also send you a free bonus MP3 of Mississippi Sawyer. (email attachment only)It’s not on any of my cds and is only available to you. It was originally supposed to be on the new cd, and it turned out fine—it didn’t quite fit the overall mood of the cd—but thought some of you might enjoy it anyway.

Cello banjo, cigarbox banjo, banjolin, John Bowlin 1865 fretless, Deering Gabriella & John Hartford, Chuck Lee, Cedar Mountain, Lame Horse and more on solos and duets on: Last Chance, Chickens Crowin At Midnight, Scarborough Fair, Whiskey Before Waltzing With Soldiers, June Apple, Goodbye Girls I’m Going To Boston, Morning Has Broken, Sweet Bama, Pretty Polly, Gaspe Reel, Julia Delaney, Star Of the County Down, Needed Time & Chinkapin Hunting.

AND---a New clawhammer banjo tab book too! Simple tabs to all the tunes on "Girl With the Banjo Tattoo" cd---And--all the tunes on "Drumming On the Edge of Banjo--all in one book .

Last Chance, Chickens Crowin At Midnight, Scarborough Fair, Whiskey Before Waltzing With Soldiers, June Apple, Goodbye Girls I’m Going To Boston, Morning Has Broken, Sweet Bama, Pretty Polly, Gaspe Reel, Julia Delaney, Star Of the County Down, Needed Time, Chinkapin Hunting, Rock the Cradle Joe, Coleman's March, Tam Lin, Campbell's Farewell To Red Gap, Foggy Dew, Coo Coo's Nest, Snake Charmer's Daughter, Soldiers Joy, Murat's Dream & John Bowlin's Ground Hog Strut.

This is a fun book with historical and playing notes and hints for playing tunes on many kinds of banjos. :)

They are both available on my website:

www.maryzcox.com

Thank you to everyone who has been buying my cds and books and buying them as gifts for your friends and family—you make it possible for me to continue to offer you new banjo music and tabs.

For folks who only do digital--the digital downloads are up oncdbaby now. They will be on itunes--but it usually takes a couple months before they put them up.

Hope to see you sometime this year

Best wishes always,

Mary Z. Cox

Mississippi Sawyer on the Mississippi River

2011-03-18T12:00:00.000-05:00

Thistle and Shamrock (NPR)

2010-06-23T20:06:00.001-05:00

Sunday night I burnt the appetizer for father's day dinner--so Bob went to the grocery store at the last minute to pick up cheese and crackers and he listened to WFSU on the radio.
Here's what Bob heard. :)

We got a pleasant surprise yesterday. When I was driving home from the grocery store I heard a track from Mary’s latest CD playing on “Thistle and Shamrock” (a Celtic music program) on our local public radio station. They have posted the playlist but have not yet posted the podcast.
http://www.thistleradio.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=44&Itemid=91

It is the June 17 program (number 1412). Mary’s track is in the middle of the list.

The tune they played was "Soldiers Joy" which is on our new "Drumming on the Edge Of Banjo" CD. You can take a listen on my website if you'd like. :)
www.maryzcox.com

Bob & Mary Z. Cox/ Florida Folk Festival 2010

Pix of Florida Folk Festival 2010

2010-06-01T12:12:00.000-05:00

Mary Z. Cox & Bob Cox at 2010 Florida Folk Festival

2010-05-17T17:24:00.000-05:00

Bob and I will be at the Florida Folk Festival in White Springs on Memorial Day weekend. Here is where we will be playing:

Friday/May 28th 12:30 PM Song and Story Tent

Saturday/May 29 7:00 PM Old Marble Stage

Sunday/May 30 12:40 PM Under the Oaks

Bob and I have been working up some nice new sets and hope you will come by and have a listen and say hello.

My new cd, "Drumming On the Edge of Banjo" and all my other cds and tab books are available in the Stephen Foster gift shop at the park.

More Back Story for Drumming On the Edge Of Banjo

2010-03-05T10:19:00.003-05:00

On the Edge Of Banjo/ Back Story

This is not another African roots meets modern banjo cd. It began as an American story--a blend of Afro/Caribbean, Celtic, old time, and a fusion of American music from the 17^th to the 21st century.
It began with "The Old Plantation" painting from the 1700s. Two men are pictured playing a banjo and drum for a dance--and we wondered--where would that music have taken them with today's awesome banjos and drums and the freedom to choose their musicians?

We chose Yazid for this project because he is not African--but African American--and his drumming has a heavy Caribbean as well as African flavor. He more accurately reflects the feel of the music in colonial America gone modern--more than current African/American blends. :)

Mary Z’s family roots are Scotts, Irish, English, Hungarian and Bohemian. Her Celtic ancestors came to the Americas in the 1600s and 1700s and her middle European ancestors in the 1800s. We believe we have thrown the feel of this early American mix of music into the cook pot, let it simmer, and—voila-- present day acoustic fusion.

The things we played J

Goldtone 5 string cello banjo, Lame Horse open back banjo, Gibson RB250 banjo, Deering John Hartford banjo,(the black and gold one) John Bowlin 1865 fretless banjo, (made from a tracing of Mary Z’s left hand) Ken Miller custom guitar, (Bob Cox’s 000) Blue Lion mountain dulcimer, Ron Ewing dulcimette, bowed bass, (Jim Crozier) djembes, congas, bell, Revere Ware copper bottom pots and pans,(a wedding gift from Ma Cox) snapping fingers, (Gordy Cox) wind chimes from the front porch, shakers, tambourine, Gordy’s car keys, church bells, George Clinton singing “Old Groundhog.”

More back story for Drumming On the Edge Of Banjo

Vicki Genfan (guitar) pushed me down the percussion path three summers ago.

Then I took Scott Nygard's, Pan African guitar class, and had so much fun in there-(we played different parts with groups of guitars-- like a guitar drum circle) that I began looking for a drumming instructor. :)

Then, Yazid. IMHO--he is hands down the best Afro/Caribbean drummer I've ever heard. (he's taught ethnomusicology at FSU and has even drummed for Marvin Gaye ) I began his group class on the shore of Lake Ella and began to learn some basics of percussion.

One day I invited him to my home to just try out a few experiments with drums and banjo. I played him a few cuts from my cds because he said he really had not heard much banjo before--so he came over and we just played for a couple hours. :) Then he came over to play every week, and we found we really liked the way banjos and drums sounded together and we began pulling our best tunes together for a cd.

Gordy Cox moved back to Tallahassee after seven years in New York City. He is a young, edgy, sound engineer. (he graduated from Full Sail in Orlando). He doesn't usually work with old time banjo music--although he did record and mix much of my "Secret Life Of Banjo" CD. He prefers funk, rock, dance music and produces and engineers some pretty edgy cds and videos these days.(he just finished a video for a pole dancing school that everyone seems mesmerized with) But he is the best. Yazid could barely believe what he could do with his drums--and he has a great ear for blending acoustic music and percussion.

Gordy pushed and shoved us into the 21st century and we went with it--except we hung on to the traditional tunes and stayed all acoustic as we went kicking and screaming into click tracks and multiple recordings and hours, and days, and months, and almost a year and a half until the cd was finished.

Gordy likes texture and requested mountain dulcimer and guitar on some of the mixes. Jim Crozier came by after work with his double bass and bow and added texture to the banjo and drums on “Murat’s Dream” and then a bass /drum duet to spice up Snake Charmer’s daughter. When I brought home a new dulcimette from the Unicoi festival—Gordy picked right up on the possibilities of it’s clear bell sound and we took it directly to the studio to juxtaposition it’s voice right next to the cello banjo.

Then Gordy took some of the raw mixes over to George Clinton's studio one day while George was in town. He played them and George and his whole studio began dancing to the music. George graciously cut the vocal to "John Bowlin's Groundhog Strut" to help us enter the world music market. :)

Oasis put our cds and digipaks together and also did the mastering on Drumming On the Edge of Banjo. We think they did a really nice job too.

I was looking around on the web to get some ideas for art work for the cd, when I spied Rich Disilvio's beautiful dreamscapes--and wouldn't you know it--he also designed cd graphics. (quite a lot of them, in fact. :)

Rich designed all the graphics for the cd and we are all stunned at what a beautiful job he did. :)

Drumming On the Edge Of Banjo :)

2010-01-29T19:59:00.002-05:00

Worldgrass by Mary Z. Cox & Yazid

Afro/Caribbean drumming with Celtic clawhammer, frailing fusion banjo.(plus cello banjo, guitar, bowed bass, dulcimer, dulcimette, pots and pans and featuring George Clinton (PFUNK) vocals on "John Bowlin's Groundhog Strut. "

Banjos in History in Cashiers, NC

2009-10-23T15:06:00.002-05:00

New Lame Horse banjo

2009-09-27T15:09:00.001-05:00

Here's a pix of my new Lame Horse open back banjo prototype.
I'm thrilled with its tone and the wood is really beautiful.
If you'd like to see close up pix and hear a couple MP3s--here is the link to Jenkins Brothers Guitars.
http://www.cjenkinsluthier.com/Lame_Horse_Instruments/Shooting_Star_Banjos/Shooting_Star_Banjos.html
Here's my review of this banjo. :)

Review of new Lame Horse Shooting Star banjo prototype.
Sound

Clear and pretty tone. Records extremely well. Good volume for playing with other instruments without being too bright or ringy.

Sound Rating

10

Setup

Yes, it was set up nice, but it was shipped from Texas and I had a local luthier set it up for the new environment.

Setup Rating

10

Appearance

The wood and craftsmanship on this banjo are breathtaking--but very tasteful and not gaudy.
The pot is made of 48 solid blocks of wood.
The pot is bubinga and anigre. Both are
west African woods, which are very beautiful, and very good tone
woods. The neck is anigre, maple, and bubinga. The peghead overly is
ebony, as is the fingerboard. The peghead inlay is mother of pearl
(gold and white), and the inlay at the 5th fret is ivory.

Appearance Rating

10

Reliability

It has those new black tuners that are so expensive--but they work wonderful.
This whole banjo is made of quality parts and workmanship.

Reliability Rating

10

Customer Service

Chris Jenkins is the best. This particular banjo was the prototype for this model.
This is a top notch luthier who is interested in producing an awesome open back banjo for the Lame Horse Instrument line.

Customer Service

10

Components

Everything is lovely on this banjo. I particularly like the clear woody tone--it has the woody tone without sounding muddy. The ebony fretboard is particularly smooth and easy to finger.
There is a pretty scroll at the top of the scoop. The inlays (a small lame horse and a shooting star) are understated but exquisite.

Components Rating

10

Overall Comments

Love this banjo--we bonded immediately and it had to stay here. It is one of my favorite banjos.
You can hear an MP3 of it on my webpage:
maryzcox.com
You can see detailed pix of it and hear sound samples on the Lame Horse web site:
http://www.cjenkinsluthier.com/Lame_Horse_Instruments/Shooting_Star_Banjos/Shooting_Star_Banjos.html

Overall Rating

10

RK Ne Plus Ultra banjo at St. Malo beach

2009-08-16T08:23:00.003-05:00

Here's a quick video of me ( Mary Z. Cox) playing Foggy Dew under the sea wall at St. Malo. (France) The waves are pretty loud, but the tide is coming in. When the tide is out--you can walk out to islands in the English Channel. Once the tide is in, it fills to the top of the sea wall and sprays over on the sidewalk and street. So, guess I'm actually playing this tune at the bottom of the English Channel. :)

Be A Banjo Star Workshop/April 2009

2009-04-21T11:31:00.003-05:00

Here are some pix of the workshop I taught at the John C. Campbell School last week.
The students were awesome. :)

Spring festivals and banjo workshop

2009-03-01T19:22:00.002-05:00

(pix by Lee Howell)

The crab apples and azealas are blossoming in Tallahassee, and we have a few fun events coming in March and April. Many folks ask us, "when are you playing someplace near here?" Here are three events in or near Tallahassee. Hope you will come out and join us and have a good time.:)

There is a strong possibility that I may be toting my new 5 string cello banjo to some of these events--so if you have never heard one, this is a good chance to get up close for a listen and look. :)

Also, there are a couple openings in my "Be a Banjo Star" workshop at the John C. Campbell School in April. This will be the first time we've been in the springtime and we hear that it is really pretty then.
If you have been to this workshop before and would like to come again--please let me know and I'll work in some new tunes with the techniques for you. :)

New on Banjoquest!
(Field videos of banjoists, banjos, tunes, and banjos in locations you may or may not have seen or heard before. :)
I've added Ernie Williams, Tommy Bledsoe, and Mark Johnson and there will be more fine banjoists appearing on Banjoquest soon.
http://banjoquest.blogspot.com

Hope to see you soon. :)
Best wishes,
Mary Z. Cox

'

Date: 3/7/2009
6:45 PM - 9:00 PM

Saturday, March 7th, 2009

Cracker Coffee House

Bob & I will be hosting the March 2009 Coffee House this year instead of February. March is Bob's birthday month--so we will be celebrating folks with March birthdays as well as St. Patrick's Day. :)
Sign up by 6:45 with Larry Hoover in the auditorium to play a tune.
White Springs FL 34432

This is great fun and would love to see you there. We've already heard that Mike and Ellen Sheppard, Jim Crozier, and Michael Vicky are going to be there too.

Contact Information:
Name: Larry Hoover

Location Information:
Stephen Foster Park auditorium
White Springs, FL
United States

Suwannee Valley Quilt & Old Time Craft Festival

Date: 3/14/2009

Mary Z. & Bob Cox - 2:00 PM

US Hwy 129 & Hwy 26
Trenton FL 32693
USA

Price: free
Suwannee Valley Quilt & Old Time Craft Festival

http://thingstodo.msn.com/trenton-fl/events/show/86118279-suwannee-valley-quilt-old-time-craft-festival Mary Z. & Bob Cox play banjo, dulcimer & guitar at 2:00 PM on the Old Railroad Depot stage--old time music and dancing in the afternnoon with Tom and Ellen Hogan & the Flying Turtles and the Hot Pepper Steppers :)
Contact Information:
Web site: http://thingstodo.msn.com/trenton-fl/events/show/86118279-suwannee-valley-quilt-old-time-craft-festi

Location Information:
Trenton, FL
United States

Tallahassee Community Friends of Old Time Dance

Date: 3/28/2009
7:30 PM - 10:30 PM

Saturday, March 28th, 2009

Tallahassee Community Friends of Old Time Dance

Drumming On the Edge of Banjo with Mary Z. Cox & Yazid - 7:30-10:30 PM

Tallahassee FL
850-421-1559

Price: TBA
Two time Florida Banjo Champion, Mary Z. Cox, and African Caribbean drummer, Yazid, blend early Florida roots music in highly percussive rhythms for dancing and listening.

Yazid (William Johnson) is a professional drummer and percussion instructor that plays regularly with several performance and dance groups all over Florida. His musical background ranges from professor of ethnomusicology at Florida State University to drummer for Marvin Gaye.

Mary Z. Cox, banjo recording artist, plays banjo with her guitarist husband, Bob Cox, in concerts and workshops from coast to coast, and has also played for old time dances in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina for many dance groups.

Mary Z. & Yazid are very pleased to introduce this new sound that draws from the not so diverse African/Caribbean and Southern banjo cultures. The banjo is, after all, a drum with strings.

Yazid and Mary Z. are currently recording a “Drumming On the Edge of Banjo” CD which will hopefully be available in 2009.
For more details:
Contact Mary Allgire at (850) 421-1559 or by sending e-mail to: maryallgire@yahoo.com
or mail to: TCFOOTD, P.O. Box 5992, Tallahassee, FL. 32314
Contact Information:
Name: Mary Allgire
Phone: 850- 421-1559

Location Information:
Tallahassee, FL
United States

Will Mclean Festival

Date: 4/3/2009

Friday, April 3rd, 2009

Will Mclean Festival

Mary Z. & Bob Cox at Willfest

Dunnelon FL

April 3, 4, 5, 2009
More details arriving soon.
See festival website for latest information.

Contact Information:

Location Information:
Dunnelon, FL
United States

Be A Banjo Star: Banjo workshop with Mary Z. Cox

Date: 4/12/2009

Sunday, April 12th-17th 2009

John C. Campbell Folk School

Be A Banjo Star: Continuing Clawhammer Banjo
April 12-17 2009

Expand your repertoire of banjo tunes, while improving your technique and tone. We'll explore tunings beyond basic G, begin drop thumbing, and play together as a class to steady right hand rhythms and practice simple chordal back up.
This is going to be great fun--the food and facilites are awesome at Campbell--and it will be a week of fun and banjo!)
Contact John C. Campbell Folk School for free color catalog and registration.
Contact Information:
Web site: http://www.folkschool.org
Phone: 1-800-365-5724

Location Information:
One Folk School Road
Brasstown, NC 28902
United States

www.maryzcox.com
webpage

www.secretbanjo.blogspot.com
a secret life of banjo blog :)

Ragtime Annie on Goldtone Cello Banjo & Chuck Lee Banjo

2008-11-30T18:26:00.002-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-26T15:46:00.000-05:00

If you order "Walkin' That Banjo Home" CD and/or tab book before the the end of November from my website--I'll send you a free bonus experimental MP3 by email. :)

Old Blue Bus review of Florida Banjo

2008-10-29T14:24:00.002-05:00

Old Blue Bus
an audio blog with no particular destination
Monday, October 20, 2008
New Release: Mary Z. Cox - Florida Banjo

Florida Banjo is the latest CD from one of our favorite old-time banjo players. Mary Z. Cox has introduced the art of pre-Scruggs style banjo to an entire generation. Through her workshops and classes she has unleashed a vibrant community of old-time banjo and dulcimer players on a musical world that had all but forgotten the beauty of clawhammer style banjo. As usual, Mary has also provided tabulature for the songs on Florida Banjo available as a book for aspiring banjo players.

The fifteen songs on Florida Banjo not only showcase one of the most amazing practitioners of old-time banjo, but some other mighty fine musicians as well. As expected, Mary's husband Bob Cox adds his delightful flat-picked guitar. The sounds of Bob's guitar and Mary's banjo intertwine so effortlessly, as only a duet with decades of musical intimacy can. Other guest artists adding to this thoroughly enjoyable album are Kerry Blech, Jim Crozier, Lo Gordon and Ellen Sheppard.

Mary Z. Cox was interviewed by Larry Wines for his syndicated radio and television show "Tied to the Tracks." The show has yet to air, but the interview is available online (video here.) Be sure to watch all five segments, each featuring a wonderful performance by Mary Z. Cox, often accompanied by Bob Cox.

For those of you that already own Mary Z. Cox's CDs, Florida Banjo is a must-have, as I don't know of anyone who owns only one Mary Z. Cox CD. All six of Mary Z. Cox's CDs are cherished treasures in my own collection. Those of you not yet initiated, give a listen to the track below and watch the video above. Then follow one of the links below to start your collection.

Mary Z. Cox - Wind That Shakes the Barley.mp3
beautifully performed on her custom Deering GDL Banjo.

Artist: Mary Z. Cox
Ttile: Florida Banjo
Artist Website: maryzcox.com
Mary's blog: A Secret Life of Banjo
MySpace: myspace.com/banjodreamin
CDs and downloads available at:
maryzcox.com
CD Baby
County Sales
Elderly Instruments
Amazon.com
or your local independent record store.

posted by Ed at 10/20/2008 09:05:00 PM

Drumming On the Edge of Banjo (Mary Z. Cox & Yazid)

2008-10-04T11:25:00.005-05:00

A new sound coming in my secret life of banjo. :) Acoustic percussion has been working its way into the edges of my banjo, resulting in a new group forming (Bob & I are still very much recording and performing our duet--this is an additional group that we think world music fans will enjoy.

We are "Drumming On the Edge Of Banjo" and here is our short bio.
Two time Florida Banjo Champion, Mary Z. Cox, and African Caribbean drummer, Yazid, blend early Florida roots music in highly percussive rhythms for dancing and listening.

Yazid (William Johnson), a former professor of ethnomusicology at Florida State University, and drummer for Marvin Gaye, is a professional drummer and percussion instructor that plays regularly with several performance and dance groups all over Florida.

Mary Z. Cox, banjo recording artist, plays banjo with her guitarist husband, Bob Cox, in concerts and workshops from coast to coast, and has also played for old time dances in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina for many dance groups.

Mary Z. & Yazid are very pleased to introduce this new sound that draws from the not so diverse African/Caribbean and Southern banjo cultures. The banjo, is, after all, a drum with strings.

Yazid and Mary Z. are currently recording a “Drumming On the Edge of Banjo” CD which will hopefully be available in 2009. 

Sound files coming soon. For booking information (concerts and dances) please contact me at:
maryz@maryzcox.com

Guitar camp pix/ Mary Z. & Gordy Cox

2008-08-05T13:44:00.001-05:00

New banjo and pickers pix--it may be you :)

2008-07-24T14:06:00.002-05:00

Boy did we have a lot of fun in White Springs, Pasadena, Albuquerque, Fayetteville, Mountain View, Brasstown and many other wonderful places this year. Take a look--you may see someone you know! :)

Be A Banjo Star/ Mary Z. Cox banjo class

2008-07-15T17:55:00.002-05:00

Here's another class of brilliant and fun banjoists from the John C. Campbell Folk School. July 4, 2008/Brasstown, NC

Mary Z. Cox & the Adobe Brothers/Albuquerque

2008-06-28T21:44:00.002-05:00

This video was taped by Judy Muldawer at the Fire Star Cafe in Albuquerque.
Wayne Shrubsall and the Adobe Brothers with Mary Z.Cox

Mary Z. Cox & the Adobe Brothers/Albuquerque

2008-06-25T00:35:00.003-05:00

Live at Albuquerque

2008-06-21T23:10:00.000-05:00

Check out my Slide Show!

2008-06-16T17:44:00.001-05:00

Robert Sidney Cox graduation/ Cal Tech

2008-06-15T12:19:00.001-05:00

Off To California

2008-06-08T22:57:00.006-05:00

We took off early Thursday and we are already in Arizona.
Here are a few pix.

John Bowlin 1865 fretless in Arizona

Mary in Arizona

Bob and Ken Miller guitar in Arizona

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Mary & John Bowlin fretless on Lake Dunn in Arkansas

56th Florida Folk Festival 2008

2008-05-27T09:25:00.001-05:00

Arcy graduates & Cal Tech concert

2008-05-19T19:55:00.002-05:00

Arcy and his girlfriend, Mercedes are helping to get ready for our California visit coming in June. :)
Hope to see you there!

Florida Banjo CD and T's too!

2008-04-07T21:24:00.003-05:00

http://www.cafepress.com/maryzcoxbanjo

New Florida Banjo T's in several colors, styles and many sizes available at the link above.

Florida Banjo CD now available at:
http://www.maryzcox.com

Willfest this weekend!

2008-03-30T05:58:00.004-05:00

Willfest begins this coming Friday evening!

Here's the link to the festival.

http://www.willmclean.com/festival/index.shtml

Bob and I will be playing at noon and at 5PM on Saturday, and I'll be giving a dulcimer workshop on Sunday at noon. Our new CD, Florida Banjo, is supposed to arrive tomorrow--so we will have it at Willfest with us! This is a really fun festival with lots of workshops, stages, and picking everywhere.

Florida Banjo preview

2008-03-20T12:19:00.001-05:00

Ponce de Leon soundtrack

John Bowlin's Groundhog Strut

2008-03-12T19:12:00.002-05:00

New Fretless banjo!

2008-03-11T12:31:00.001-05:00

Here it is (cell phone photo). Boy--is this a beauty! The tone is awesome, but what I like best is the neck. The surface is smooth and slick and the neck fits my hands and fingers perfectly. When I put my fingers down on a chord, they are right there--even without frets. :) Now I understand why John asks for a tracing of your left hand before making a banjo.
John Bowlin is a delightful banjo builder too. This is a keeper!

New imix of old time string band music!

2008-02-15T17:50:00.001-05:00

Florida Banjo coming soon!

2008-02-13T09:27:00.002-05:00

video of new Recording King banjo

2008-02-03T17:33:00.000-05:00

New banjo!

2008-01-22T22:16:00.000-05:00

Just got this new Ne Plus Ultra--open back clawhammer banjo from Recording King.
I've been playing it all evening and it sure sounds sweet!

Bet you need a new banjo too! Mary Z. Cox

2008-01-20T22:03:00.000-05:00

Sally Ann on clawhammer banjo

2008-01-13T18:55:00.000-05:00

2008 banjo, dulcimer and family news!

2008-01-06T09:53:00.000-05:00

Hello and a very Happy New year!
2008 will be a very exciting year at the Cox house.

We are particularly thrilled that we will be returning to California this year, Albuquerque
New Mexico, and the John C. Campbell School in North Carolina. :)
Here is a quick list of where we will be this year.
http://www.maryzcox.com/calendar.html

Please check it from time to time if you live in California, New Mexico,
Florida or North Carolina for more details as they are added. There will
be a banjo workshop at the Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena and I'll
put it up as soon as we get the final details. Details for New Mexico for
a concert and workshops will be up soon too.

Registration has started for our "Be a Star, Play Banjo" week long
workshop at the John C. Campbell School in June/July.
http://www.folkschool.org/index.php?section=class_detail&class_id=2100

We had a marvelous time last year with all the wonderful banjoists who
came. If you are a returning student from last year or the year
before--please email me and let me know that you are coming--I will make
sure that we cover some new tunes to practice technique. :)
If you are thinking of coming this year--please sign up soon--this is a
wonderful place--relaxing and fun and the food is great!

Bob and I have been mixing and editing our new CD and it is with local
bassist, Jim Crozier, right now for a few bass parts. (He sounds wonderful
with banjo!) As soon as it returns, it will be off for mastering! We are
hoping to have it in time for the Cracker Coffee House in February or
Willfest in April. :)

FAMILY NEWS:
Arcy (Robert Sidney Cox III) our oldest son, is graduating from Cal Tech
with his Doctorate. (He's a biogenetic engineer)The ceremony is June 13,
2008 and we plan to be there shouting and whooping our congratulations!

Natalie continues with her busy life of full time student,(art at FSU)
part time stylist, and she is on the FSU dance force. She'll be on the FSU
Florence program in May and part of June and has been taking Italian this
year too. I've even heard her sing in Italian. :)

Gordon remains busy in New York City. He will be flying to North Carolina
in August to join Bob and I for a guitar camp in the mountains. :)

Bob turned 60 this year and his Mom had her 90th birthday too! He loves
his research position at OPPAGA, and he continues to come up with new and
exciting foods and beverages in the kitchen. He bought a 2001 Kawasaki
Vulcan Classic 1500 this year, so after several years of not owning a
bike, we are back to cruising the back roads of North Florida and South
Georgia again. :)

My good news! I am retiring from my school job on June 3rd. I have plans
for instructional DVDs in banjo and mountain dulcimer and will finally
have the time to start and finish them! :) We also have the next two CDs
on the planning board as well as some tab books. This is going to be a fun
year. :)

Hope everyone is healthy and happy at your home and hope we get to see you
this year!

Best wishes and love,
Mary Z. & Bob Cox
Jezebel too!
www.maryzcox.com
web page
www.secretbanjo.blogspot.com
a secret life of banjo blog :)

John Hartford Banjo & Merry Christmas from Mary Z. & Bob Cox

2007-12-23T09:34:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

2007-12-19T12:33:00.000-05:00

Charleston, SC/Banjo and dulcimer!

2007-11-22T14:54:00.000-05:00

Hello,
Bob and I will be visiting Charleston on Saturday, December 8 and will
give a small concert Saturday evening at the Hungry Monk music store.

I'll also be giving clawhammer banjo and mountain dulcimer workshops
during the day on Saturday. :)

If you live anywhere near Charleston, please consider joining us for the
day--it will be lots of fun and a chance to learn a few new tunes and
technique on banjo and dulcimer.
Here are the workshop descriptions:

Old Time Banjo Workshop - 9 to 11am - $40
Creeping up the Banjo Neck (Intermediate)
Begin to play tunes up the neck in Double C or Double D tuning. Get your
fingers used to creeping past the 5th fret without music theory or stress!
We’ll use this technique to learn Sally Ann, John Stinson’s #2 and
Angeline. Come tuned in gCGCD. Add sparkle to your playing while having
lots of fun.

Mountain Dulcimer Workshop - 1 to 3pm - $40
Mountain Dulcimer Favorites/String Band Style (Intermediate)
Learn North Alabama fiddle tune, ‘Step Around Johnny" in an easy string
band style with fun variations. Mary Z. won first place in two
competitions in 2006 and one in 2007 playing this tune –and you can learn
to play it too! We’ll also experiment with "Julie Ann Johnson" and
"Angeline". Please come tuned in DAD.

The concert is at 8PM and tickets are $15 advance or at the door.
To pre register and find out more:
http://www.hungrymonkmusic.com
843-571-3857 John Holenko
Bob and I will be staying with Glenn Fleming and his lovely wife--so if
you are a friend of Glenn, you may contact him for tickets too.

This is the first time we have visited Charleston near Christmas and we
bet it will be just beautiful this time of year. Even if you live out of
town-this would be a nice weekend to come and stay at a bed and breakfast
or camp and see the sights in historic Charleston. There are excellent
restuarants and shopping to keep any spouse happy while you are in class.
[:D]
www.maryzcox.com
webpage
www.secretbanjo.blogspot.com
a secret life of banjo blog :)

Banjo Dreamin' Suwannee Nights with Fall Quilt Show

2007-10-17T16:16:00.000-05:00

Banjo Dreamin' Suwannee Nights with Fall Quilt Show
Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center
P.O. Drawer G
White Springs, FL 32906
386-397-1920

http://www.floridastateparks.org/stephenfoster/default.cfm
Come join the fun! View the quilts and hear the clawhammer banjo, guitar and mountain dulcimer music of Mary Z. & Bob Cox at the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center on the historic Suwannee River, October 20th along with the
RIVER QUILT SHOW AND SALE
Date: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, October 19 and 20. 9 a.m to 4 p.m. Sunday, October 21.
Description:
SUWANNEE RIVER QUILT SHOW AND SALE
"Quilting on the Suwannee-Past, Present and Future"

SS Stewart Banjo

2007-10-12T21:21:00.000-05:00

An American Princess is coming!
Bernunzios is selling the SS Stewart Tsumura collection. I was not in the market for a new banjo, but could not resist ordering at least one small banjo from this collection of vintage banjos that has been so long in a Japanese vault. :)

Give me a 10 for Best Summer Slideshow

2007-09-23T16:04:00.001-05:00

Give me a 10 for Best Summer Slideshow

Check out my Slide Show!

2007-09-10T18:22:00.001-05:00

Clawhammer Banjo Youtube video

2007-09-04T14:45:00.000-05:00

Live on the Suwannee! Banjo Dreamin' Suwannee Nights with Fall Quilt Show

2007-08-24T19:59:00.000-05:00

Saturday, October 20th, 2007 9:00 AM EST

Banjo Dreamin' Suwannee Nights with Fall Quilt Show
Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center
P.O. Drawer G
White Springs, FL 32906
386-397-1920
http://www.floridastateparks.org/stephenfoster/default.cfm
Come join the fun! View the quilts and hear the clawhammer banjo, guitar and mountain dulcimer music of Mary Z. & Bob Cox at the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center on the historic Suwannee River, October 20th along with the
RIVER QUILT SHOW AND SALE
Date: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, October 19 and 20. 9 a.m to 4 p.m. Sunday, October 21.
Description:
SUWANNEE RIVER QUILT SHOW AND SALE
"Quilting on the Suwannee-Past, Present and Future"

The 19th Annual Suwannee River Quilt Show and Sale will be held on October 19, 20 & 21 at the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center in White Springs. More than 200 quilts will be shown, during the three-day show.

The theme for this year´s show will be Quilting on the Suwannee-Past, Present and Future and Ed West, author of "Father´s Quilts" will be the guest speaker as part of this annual event.

Workshops, demonstrations, lectures, antique quilts and door prizes will also be featured.

To obtain more information on the Quilt Show or how to enter a quilt in the Suwannee River Quilt Show, call (386) 397-7005.

new Deering John Hartford banjo arrives!

2007-08-11T09:35:00.000-05:00

It arrived at dinner time last evening! Knew it would be pretty--but we were unprepared for its sound. Awesome! Bob and I have heard this model before--and Bob couldn't understand why I bought this one. (I sold my Ramsey Woody to pay for it). He is in shock. This banjo sounds wonderful and better than any John Hartford banjo we have ever heard before! Thank you Deering banjos! Our digital camera is broken--so these pix were taken on a cell phone and a little blurry. :(

Firetruck banjo

2007-07-22T12:45:00.001-05:00

Banjo apprentice/ Tim Gardner

2007-07-19T15:17:00.000-05:00

Here is a photo of Tim Gardner (Mary & Lo Gordon's son) building a Cedar Mountain Banjo in Lo's shop. Besides building banjos, he is a top notch fiddler to boot!

BanjoTalk podcast

2007-06-26T07:55:00.000-05:00

(Charlie Cox & Mary Z. Cox--banjo teacher and student reunite 30 years later)
Hello,
If you missed the Sunday night show, you can still listen to the whole thing via podcast on:
www.banjotalk.com
Go to the "Archives" and it is show #13
There were some really great call in guests.
Tunes played were:
Ponce de Leon (new)
Andrew Jackson, Go Back Home (A Secret Life Of Banjo)
Rockin' In a Weary Land (Banjo Dreamin' Suwannee Nights)
The next show is on July 9 with guest Tony Trishka.
David will be giving away more cyrogenic strings from the American Made Banjo Company. :)
Best wishes,
Mary Z. Cox

BanjoTalk radio show this Sunday

2007-06-22T15:13:00.000-05:00

Hello,
Hope you are having a wonderful summer. Here's a quick update on what is
going on at the Cox house these days. :)

Please join us this Sunday June 24th, 2007 8:00 PM EST for the BanjoTalk
radio talk show. Mary will be the guest this Sunday.

http://www.banjotalk.com

Please tune in Sunday night on your computer. This is a fun show and you
can even call in and talk.
Why?
Because I'd really enjoy hearing from you--this is my first time on live
radio on BanjoTalk. :) Because if you do, you're in a drawing to win
Perfect Touch Banjo Picks and a Recording King banjo!

8-9 PM Eastern Standard Time
7-8 PM Central Standard Time
David tapes these shows and puts them on podcast--if you call in and ask a
question or just say "hello"--you can download the free podcast later and
see what you sound like on the air. :)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Florida Folk Festival has been rescheduled to November 9 – 11, Veterans
Day weekend and Bob and I will be there. The weather should be great by
then! Here's the link and phone # to check as more info becomes
available.

55th Annual Florida Folk Festival
White Springs, FLORIDA
1-877-635-3655
http://www.floridastateparks.org

Since the spring festival was cancelled due to fire--I have some new Banjo
T-shirts available online while they last. Take a look at the design on my
homepage. :) Here is what is still available: In moss green/ M, L, XL and
one XXL. In golden tan/M, XL only--sold out of L and XXL in this color.
I also have a few Dulcimers Allowed T's in the popular chocolate color in
M and L only. Contact me by email for details and ordering if you'd like
to get one. :)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to everyone who came to our Jacksonville concert in May. It was
great fun and we enjoyed meeting everyone. And thanks to Bruce Ford and
his wonderful family for hosting us and the River City dulcimer group for
playing warm up. The whole evening was very special and we hope to return
next year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to everyone who attended my banjo class in February at the Campbell
School. Boy were you ever a group of musical geniuses and it was great fun
too. :) Bob is already preparing his fresh roasted and ground coffee for
the next class in July 2008. He has been experimenting with some Brazilian
that is awesome. :)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to everyone who came to my classes at the Suwannee Banjo Camp in
March. I enjoyed being with many old and new friends and it sure was fun.
Lots of musical geniuses there too!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coming!
We are still recording our new CD and hope to have it ready in the fall or
at least before the end of the year!

As of today, we have five CDs in print and available: Vintage Banjo,
Walkin' That Banjo Home, A Secret Life Of Banjo, Banjo Dreamin' Suwannee
Nights, and Dulcimer Fandango.

Mary has caught up some with the banjo tab books for the banjo CDs and
these four are now in print and available:
Vintage Banjo, Walkin' That Banjo Home, A Secret Life of Banjo, Banjo
Dreamin' Suwannee Nights, and Dulcimer Fandango.
http://www.maryzcox.com---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is where we will be this summer:
July 13-14--Uncle Dave Macon Days
July 15-21--Cashiers, NC and hopefully the Tuesday Jam at Mary and Lo
Gordon's music store on that Tuesday night. :)
July 22-28--John C. Campbell Folk School.
July 29-August 4--Suwannonoah Gathering Guitar Week.
If you see us at any of these events, be sure and come and say hello. :)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.maryzcox.com
webpage
www.myspace.com/maryzcox

Florida Folk Festival/ Rescheduled

2007-05-28T15:55:00.000-05:00

Hello,
The Florida Folk Festival has been rescheduled for Veteran's Day weekend in November. That should be much nicer weather. :) The Stephen Foster Park has reopened and they will be hosting the Cracker Coffeehouse the first Saturday of June.
Larry Hoover will be the host.

Florida Folk Festival/ May 25-27, 2007

2007-05-12T09:10:00.000-05:00

The schedules just came out yesterday--they are massive--so just take a look here to see who will be there.

http://www.floridastateparks.org/folkfest/Highlights.cfm

Here is where we will be!

Friday May 25 Mary Z. and Bob Cox/ Old Marble Stage--2:30 PM
Saturday May 26, Mary Z. and Bob Cox /Amphitheater (mainstage) 7:00 PM
Sunday May 27, Mary Z. and Bob Cox/Under the Oaks, 12:30 PM

Also, I will be teaching a mountain dulcimer workshop on Friday, and will be at the Banjo Contest on Sunday. :)

Hope to see you there!

Check out my Slide Show!

2007-04-27T14:28:00.001-05:00

New banjo photos coming soon

2007-04-22T16:09:00.000-05:00

MP3s from all banjo cds now available!

2007-04-07T09:21:00.000-05:00

And there are short previews of every tune--right here!

If you are interested in placing one of these mini stores on your blog or webpage, let me know and I'll send you the code. :)
Thanks,
Mary Z. Cox

April Mel Bay Banjo Sessions Article

2007-04-04T15:04:00.000-05:00

http://www.banjosessions.com/apr07/Berg.html

Twain Berg wrote this article and we think he did a really fine job. He has included banjo tab and Mp3s and photos for a true multimedia article. Also, within the interview, he mentions many other old time banjoists, fiddlers, and guitarists as well as some of my favorite banjo builders. Take a look, your name may even be in this article. :)

Cedar Key weekend slideshow

2007-03-26T17:46:00.001-05:00

Cedar Key, Florida weekend

2007-03-26T17:06:00.000-05:00

Resting on the porch at the Island Hotel.
We are going to rent some bait and paddle frozen kayaks next time we visit.

We saw Tom and the Flying Turtles at the Raw Bar on the canal.

Don't download this song video is for banjos too.:)

2007-03-20T21:20:00.000-05:00

Weird Al video about musical pirating.
Don't Download This Song

Add to My Profile | More Videos

Ponce de Leon on Deering audio sample page!

2007-03-11T11:28:00.000-05:00

(Gordon, Arcy, & Natalie Cox/December 2006)
An MP3 of "Ponce de Leon" is now up on the audio sample page on the Deering banjo page. It is recorded on the Gabriella. :)
http://www.deeringbanjos.com/samples.htm

Twenty best selling banjo tunes by Mary Z. Cox

2007-03-04T09:34:00.000-05:00

Dear MARY,

Congratulations, your iMix "Twenty best selling banjo tunes" has been published in the iTunes Music store at:

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewIMix?id=218158388

Twenty best selling banjo tunes

Playlist Notes: Here are Mary Z. Cox's twenty best selling banjo tunes on itunes all in one place. A very nice sampler of tunes from all of Mary's banjo CDs.

Song Name Artist

Dixie Mary Z. Cox

Soldiers Joy Mary Z. Cox

Angeline Mary Z. Cox

Wayfaring Stranger Mary Z. Cox

Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss Mary Z. Cox

Cindy Mary Z. Cox

Blackberry Blossom MARY Z. COX

Song Of The Chanter Mary Z. Cox

Rockin' In A Weary Land Mary Z. Cox

Winder Slide Mary Z. Cox

Sweet Sunny South Mary Z. Cox

Dunsmore Lasses Mary Z. Cox

Shepherd's Wife Waltz Mary Z. Cox

Snowdrop MARY Z. COX

Sally Ann Mary Z. Cox

Old Yeller Dog MARY Z. COX

Sheebeg Agus Sheemore Mary Z. Cox

Andrew Jackson, Go Back Home Mary Z. Cox

Julie Ann Johnson MARY Z. COX

Bonaparte's Retreat Mary Z. Cox

Your iMix will be available in the iTunes Store for 1 year.

Ground Hog Sherman Challenges Phil

2007-02-02T12:53:00.000-05:00

------- For Immediate Release -----

In a rare and dramatic disagreement with Punxsutawney Phil, Susquehanna Sherman, Groundhog, saw his shadow this morning and predicted 6 more weeks of winter.

Joining Sherman on the recycling bin this year is Apprentice Prognosticator, Little Buzzy. Buzzy will be given a formal name when the apprenticeship period is complete.

The Susquehanna Sherman Ground Hog Club is headquartered in a mobile home park in Starview, PA, a hamlet near Mount Wolf. The Club has thrived since 2002 and has grown to two members, both Co-Presidents and Co-Founders. Additional Membership is not anticipated at this time.

Respectfully submitted,

Tim Smith, Recording Secretary & Co-President
724 Lake Drive
Mount Wolf, PA
(717) 266-6300

Happy Ground Hog Day

2007-02-02T07:59:00.000-05:00

The young ground hog in the slide show is Buzzy that belongs to Tim Smith. The other live ground hog is Phil.
Happy hog day to all.
Best wishes,
Mary Z. Cox
ps. Note that Buzzy is perched on a banjo head.

Check out my Slide Show!

2007-02-01T22:53:00.001-05:00

Check out my Slide Show!

2007-01-31T21:03:00.001-05:00

First banjo of the year for me!

2007-01-25T21:06:00.000-05:00

Here it is almost the end of January 2007,and of course, I am on intense banjo restriction from last year, but Tim Smith rescued a Saga Banjo kit and sent it along to my doorstep--so a quite nice clawhammer banjo waltzed through the door to brighten January in Tallahassee. In fact, I've been playing it all evening and having a really fun time. One of my neighbors even stopped buy and played it awhile
too.
If you'd like the story on its construction, visit Tim's Save the Banjo Page.
http://savethebanjos.com

imix of banjo, ukes, vocals/very sweet. :)

2007-01-13T12:21:00.000-05:00

Tubby banjo

2007-01-11T09:08:00.000-05:00

Here is a new imix for those of you who love your ipods and MP3 players. It is all low tuned gut banjo. Take a listen, it is great fun. :)

For itunes and banjo waltz lovers

2007-01-10T09:05:00.000-05:00

For itunes and ipod lovers.
Here's an imix of waltzes--two of them are on my banjo, but there are some other pretty ones here by other artists as well. :)

Robert Sidney Cox III 2007

2007-01-04T22:20:00.000-05:00

A new pix of our eldest son, Arcy. He just bought a digital camera and will be taking a photography class.

Happy New Year 2007 from Mary Z. & Bob Cox

2007-01-01T20:21:00.000-05:00

Here is a snapshot taken on our 34th wedding anniversary on September 3 in St. Augustine, Florida.
This year will be 35 years! Here is the question!
What is the right number of banjos to celebrate 35 years together? 35 for 35?

Mary Z. & Bob Cox in concert at Unicoi 2006

2006-12-18T08:53:00.000-05:00

| View Show | Create Your Own
Photos by Terry Lewis

New Simmerman Dulcimer arrives

2006-12-13T09:35:00.000-05:00

Here are the dancer's at Saturday's dance

2006-12-13T09:33:00.000-05:00

Screech Malone at Friends of Old Time Dance in Tallahassee

2006-12-12T08:16:00.000-05:00

Here's a cell phone pix of Karen, Jay, and Mary Z (Aden not pictured) Screech Malone played the old time dance last Friday and Mary Z. sat in on banjo.
Lots of fun and good fiddle tunes!

banjo girls at Suwannee Dulcimer Retreat/ Dec. 2006

2006-12-07T16:13:00.000-05:00

Aubrey Atwater trying out MaryZ's new 12" Chuck Lee banjo with the Tony Pass ancient wood rim. MaryZ holds Aubrey's Reiter.

Tom Paley/Tallahassee workshop at Goodwood 2006

2006-12-05T08:24:00.000-05:00

| View Show | Create Your Own

Suwannee Dulcimer Retreat 2006/White Springs, Florida

2006-12-04T14:34:00.000-05:00

Tom Paley Workshop, November 30,2006

2006-12-01T00:48:00.000-05:00

Tom Paley Workshop/Tallahassee/11/30/06

2006-12-01T00:24:00.000-05:00

Mary Z. Cox, Tom Paley, Hugh Davis

Tom Paley tries out MaryZ's new Chuck Lee Banjo

2006-12-01T00:17:00.000-05:00

Tom inspects new Tony Pass Rim on new Lee banjo

2006-12-01T00:14:00.000-05:00

2006 Holidays begin!

2006-11-25T16:29:00.001-05:00

| View Show | Create Your Own

Lo Gordon Society Christmas

2006-11-12T20:55:00.000-05:00

With the holidays coming fast, it's not too early to order "Lo Gordon Society" gear for your Cedar Mountain banjo enthusiast!

Go to this site to order T-shirts, sweatshirts, caps, and more!
I have the pink ladies shirt and the gray T too and they are high quality shirts with nice lotus flower design

Cedar Mountain banjo

2006-11-10T16:32:00.000-05:00

Carroll sent me this photo that he snapped a couple weekends ago at Mary & Lo Gordon's home. Yes, that is my Cedar Mountain banjo that I am playing at the party. I also played it in the banjo contest and in the band contest.

Cypress Creek/ long ago and far away

2006-11-06T12:58:00.000-05:00

Brian Hill sent me this old promo photo of a bluegrass band we were in over 35 years ago.
Boy were we ever young then! By the way, that's my Gibson RB250 when it was new. I still play it today as a clawhammer banjo and it still sounds great.

2nd & 3rd in old time banjo contest

2006-11-05T20:48:00.000-05:00

Here is a pix of Chip Arnold and me--still friends--after the old time banjo contest finals.
Joe Decosimo got first, I placed second, and Chip placed third. My blue ribbon is from the mountain dulcimer contest where I placed first.
The contest was well attended and the competition extremely well represented. I heard the other four finalist play--and wouldn't you know it--not a single one was having a bad day. They all sounded like first place to me.

New custom Lee banjo arrives

2006-11-05T20:41:00.000-05:00

Boy is this ever a beauty and it sounds as good as it looks.
Just a beautiful tone. I played it for both sets at the Barberville Festival this weekend--it was hard to put it down!

Old Time Music Competition 10/28/06 Brevard, NC

2006-10-30T19:20:00.000-05:00

&ver=102906" quality="high" salign="lt" width="341" height="256" wmode="transparent" name="rockyou" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"/>

Best gut strings for banjo

2006-10-25T19:03:00.000-05:00

Peghead sketch for inlay on new Lee banjo

2006-10-16T20:40:00.001-05:00

Here is the sketch Chuck Lee sent of the rough outline of the peghead inlay. I can't wait to see the finished inlay. Chuck is such a wonderful artist. I love the way he came up with the basset hound floating on a cloud.

If you'd like to see some of Chuck's finished inlay and banjos--check him out at:

http://www.leebanjos.com

More later!

Itunes links to Mary Z. Cox CDs

2006-10-13T14:03:00.000-05:00

Mary Z. Cox: Vintage Banjo
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=5184326

Mary Z. Cox: Walkin' That Banjo Home
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=7451679

Mary Z. Cox: A Secret Life Of Banjo
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=14876246

Mary Z. Cox: Banjo Dreamin' Suwannee Nights
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=152537564

Or just type in "Mary Z. Cox" in the search box on itunes

Bob & Mary Z. Cox to play at United Way luncheon

2006-10-10T15:50:00.000-05:00

Bob and Mary will play the first lunch setting at the Pepper Building this Friday.
All proceeds for the lunch go to United Way.

Here's a fun personality test--fun for banjoists. !

2006-10-09T15:31:00.000-05:00

Your Five Factor Personality Profile

Extroversion:

You have high extroversion.
You are outgoing and engaging, with both strangers and friends.
You truly enjoy being with people and bring energy into any situation.
Enthusiastic and fun, you're the first to say "let's go!"

Conscientiousness:

You have medium conscientiousness.
You're generally good at balancing work and play.
When you need to buckle down, you can usually get tasks done.
But you've been known to goof off when you know you can get away with it.

Agreeableness:

You have medium agreeableness.
You're generally a friendly and trusting person.
But you also have a healthy dose of cynicism.
You get along well with others, as long as they play fair.

Neuroticism:

You have medium neuroticism.
You're generally cool and collected, but sometimes you do panic.
Little worries or problems can consume you, draining your energy.
Your life is pretty smooth, but there's a few emotional bumps you'd like to get rid of.

Openness to experience:

Your openness to new experiences is high.
In life, you tend to be an early adopter of all new things and ideas.
You'll try almost anything interesting, and you're constantly pushing your own limits.
A great connoisseir of art and beauty, you can find the positive side of almost anything.

The Five Factor Personality Test