Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/4416/-1/134/
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Bluegrass Musician Visits Stingray
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Guitar students in the Anguilla Stingray Music Programme were in for a treat when master bluegrass musician Richard Hefner recently visited the class at the Athlyi Rogers Study Centre.
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Young musicians and facilitators
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Hefner’s band The Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys are among West Virginia’s oldest bluegrass bands. The group first organized in 1968 around the threesome of Richard Hefner (banjo/tenor vocal), his brother Bill Hefner (mandolin/baritone vocal) and the late Harley Carpenter (guitar/lead vocal). They took their name from Black Mountain in their native Pocahontas County…As with most bluegrass bands, the Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys have had personnel changes over the years. Richard Hefner is the only original member; Harley Carpenter passed away in 1998. Richard’s traditional bluegrass banjo and tenor vocals have contributed both continuity and much of the “high lonesome” sound for which the band has become known. He has also displayed his banjo skills many times as a victor in contests and the Vandalia Festival.’ http://cdbaby.com/cd/bmbb2
Last Friday, Stingray guitar students and tutor Wilmoth (Father) Connor were introduced to the bluegrass experience and were quickly able to accompany the rousing lead of Hefner’s five-stringed bluegrass banjo. On Monday 26th the group enjoyed another visitor and a second banjo when Kenneth Richardson of the Superflies Stringband sat in to play and compare Anguilla stringband rhythms and style with Richard Hefner’s bluegrass. The group was also treated to a banjo-guitar rendition by Hefner and Joanna Burt-Kinderman, Stingray guitar tutor/coordinator, who is also a native of West Virginia. Members of the media were on hand to enjoy and capture the musical moment.
Hefner and his family left Anguilla on Tuesday, following an enjoyable first vacation in Anguilla.