Bob Carlin
Encyclopedia
For the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation member of the Ontario legislature see Robert Carlin
Bob Carlin (b. March 17, 1953 in New York City
) is an American
old-time
banjo
player and singer.
Carlin performs primarily in the clawhammer
style of banjo. He has toured the United States, Canada, and Europe performing on various historical banjos (including gourd banjos), and has explored the African roots of the banjo by working with the Malian
musician Cheick Hamala Diabate
and the elder African American fiddler Joe Thompson. He is also one of the few musicians skilled in the performance of minstrel
-style banjo songs of the mid-19th century.
For six years, Carlin toured throughout the United States, Canada, and Japan with John Hartford
.
Carlin is a three-time winner of the late Frets Magazine readers' poll. He has released four albums on Rounder Records
as well as several instruction manuals and videos for the banjo.
He is the founder of CarTunes Recordings, and also works as a record producer, having produced numerous recordings.
Robert Carlin
Robert Carlin was a Canadian labour union organizer and politician, who represented the electoral district of Sudbury in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1943 to 1948. He was a member of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation .Born in Buckingham, Quebec, Carlin moved to Cobalt in 1916...
Bob Carlin (b. March 17, 1953 in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
old-time
Old-time music
Old-time music is a genre of North American folk music, with roots in the folk music of many countries, including England, Scotland, Ireland and countries in Africa. It developed along with various North American folk dances, such as square dance, buck dance, and clogging. The genre also...
banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
player and singer.
Carlin performs primarily in the clawhammer
Clawhammer
Clawhammer is a highly rhythmic banjo playing style and common component of American old-time music. The principal difference between clawhammer style and other styles is the picking direction...
style of banjo. He has toured the United States, Canada, and Europe performing on various historical banjos (including gourd banjos), and has explored the African roots of the banjo by working with the Malian
Music of Mali
The Music of Mali is dominated by forms derived from the ancient Mande Empire. The Mande people make up most of the country's population, and their musicians, professional performers called jeliw , have produced a vibrant popular music scene alongside traditional folk music...
musician Cheick Hamala Diabate
Cheick Hamala Diabaté
Cheick Hamala Diabate is a musician from Mali, West Africa who has been nominated for a Grammy award. Using Adelphi, Maryland as his home he travels all over the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. He has performed at the Kennedy Center, the United States Senate, and the Smithsonian...
and the elder African American fiddler Joe Thompson. He is also one of the few musicians skilled in the performance of minstrel
Minstrel show
The minstrel show, or minstrelsy, was an American entertainment consisting of comic skits, variety acts, dancing, and music, performed by white people in blackface or, especially after the Civil War, black people in blackface....
-style banjo songs of the mid-19th century.
For six years, Carlin toured throughout the United States, Canada, and Japan with John Hartford
John Hartford
John Cowan Hartford was an American folk, country and bluegrass composer and musician known for his mastery of the fiddle and banjo, as well as for his witty lyrics, unique vocal style, and extensive knowledge of Mississippi River lore...
.
Carlin is a three-time winner of the late Frets Magazine readers' poll. He has released four albums on Rounder Records
Rounder Records
Rounder Records, originally of Cambridge, Massachusetts, but now based in Burlington, Massachusetts, is a record label founded in 1970 by Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin and Marian Leighton-Levy, while all three were still university students...
as well as several instruction manuals and videos for the banjo.
He is the founder of CarTunes Recordings, and also works as a record producer, having produced numerous recordings.