Tim lists his early banjo influences as follows: Bernie Leadon (Eagles), Rusty Young (Poco), Bobby Thompson, Jerry Garcia, Eric Weissberg, Marshall Brickman, Greg Rich, Abe Brown, Larry McNeely, Bill Keith, Earl Scruggs, Craig Smith and Pat Cloud. During its few years of existence, Last Chance helped produce some of today’s most influential acoustic musicians, including Stuart Duncan, Gene Libbea, Ken Orrick and Alison Brown. He then helped form the band Last Chance, who performed at the Golden West Bluegrass Festivals in Norco, California, and numerous festivals throughout the West. In 1978 Tim played in the short-lived band, the Sunnyside Boys. At one of his first bluegrass jams, he met Greg Rich (luthier extraordinaire) and took his one and only formal banjo lesson.
He started learning with his best friend Jeff Harvey and began jamming with other players-even learning tunes by the Who, Yes, and Led Zeppelin.So, Tim’s musical career was off to a prodigious start. Tim heard Bobby Thompson’s playing on Hee Haw and recorded the shows to learn the banjo parts. At age 17, Tim’s Mom bought him his first banjo, for $60. His sister’s boyfriend Ralph Liddle gave him “Old and In The Way,” and then the Dirt Band’s “Circle” album. He heard Duelin’ Banjos around the same time. In his room, Tim joyously played air banjo on his tennis racquet when the banjo came over the speakers. In 1975, at age 16, Tim’s first memory of connecting with the banjo was hearing some 8-track tapes of the Eagles and Poco. He studied trumpet from grades 3-11 and played in the school bands. Tim became a soloist in the church boy’s choir when he was 7. His sisters took piano lessons and his older brother played guitar. His mother was a singer/pianist, and his Dad occasionally played clarinet. I got to hear Tim play an even wider range of music that day-a delight for me. I got to know Tim better, and we really bonded as players and friends. We played many tunes that day with the prototype pick-ups installed. Our meeting was the culmination of this process. Rob Turner, EMG President, had been developing a new banjo pick-up, and Tim, Bill and I had been assisting Rob separately. We talked, and remained in touch with the idea that we would arrange for a BNL interview.įinally, just before Christmas 2011, Tim, Bill Evans and I rendezvoused at a studio in Petaluma, CA. I was blown away, again, and discovered he is an awesome bluegrass player as well. I finally met Tim and heard him play solo, live, at the winter NAMM show while he was demoing and performing at the Recording King Booth. So I ended up telling everybody to go out and buy it.įast forward a few years. It’s very engaging some of it is so beautiful you just want to keep hearing it again. I probably listened to it five or six times while driving through the southwest. The first time I heard it I thought, let’s hear that again. The album is all solo banjo, which is quite a challenging undertaking. I thought I’d heard most of the great players-well, add Tim to the list!
Wow! This guy had to be the world’s greatest player I’d never heard of. We were listening to Tim’s original compositions-a melodious mixture of bluegrass, Spanish, classical and jazz. His execution was flawless, with great tone and dynamics. So began my introduction to Tim’s playing. We popped the CD into the player and I almost drove off the road-the music coming out of the speakers was amazing. I graciously accepted and we took off out of town. He pressed Tim’s recent CD, “Milagros” into my hands and told me that I was about to be blown away. After playing several banjos, Paul asked if I had ever heard the playing of Tim Wiedenkeller (Tim Weed). I immediately bonded with the proprietor, Paul Blumentritt, regarding all things banjo. Of course I had to stop in and see if there were any interesting new or vintage banjos to check out. We were on our way out of town and saw the sign for The Folk Shop. By chance, my wife and I found ourselves in Tucson, Arizona. My first exposure to Tim Weed’s superlative banjo playing, and our subsequent friendship, was one such happening. Every once in a while, if you’re lucky, an unexpected and wonderful experience unfolds.
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