I grew up in Fremantle and was interested in music from an early age. According to my Mum, I would bang away on kerosene tins used as drums as a kid. At eight, I learnt classical piano from my piano teaching grandmother.
I discovered the banjo on a Seekers record- “Wreck of the Old 97”, and found my way to bluegrass music. At 14 years of age, I took up playing the banjo seriously, teaching myself to play. At 15, I met "Calamity" Jim Fisher through an ad in the paper and my banjo playing career had commenced.
I played bluegrass with Jim and Fred Kunhl (Stan Pede) in Perth in the late 70’s until moving to Sydney. Since then I have done much session/touring work, playing banjo, acoustic and electric guitar, dobro and pedal steel. Some artists I’ve worked with include Slim Dusty, Paul Kelly, Lee Kernaghan, Graham Connors, Keith Urban, Anne Kirkpatrick, Adam Brand and Melinda Schneider.
My main passion is playing bluegrass music. Some of my banjo influences would include Earl Scruggs, JD Crowe, Bobby Thompson, Alan Munde and Don Reno. Some guitarists who have inspired me are Clarence White, Django Reinhardt and Tony Rice.
I play an early 90’s Gibson RB 3 banjo, and in the studio, I mainly use my Australian-made White Swallow Deluxe. My acoustic guitar is an early 80’s Martin D 28.
I have heaps of fun playing in the Cowpersons and enjoy the musical freedom I have in the band.
© Sensitive New Age Cowpersons 2005
Last Modified: January 13, 2008
...Send Comments to janegermain@hotmail.com
