Friday, October 7, 2016 3 Brooklin Town Crier The Brooklin Beat By Dan Surette I hear banjos… Sam, the young'un on the far right, playing with the Willowridge Band. This is a story of a young man who grew up on ol' time country music and bluegrass, even though he's not from Kentucky, Tennessee or anywhere else in Appalachia. He is one of our own, Brooklin native Sam Marshall, who attended Meadowcrest, Winchester, and Wilson schools and now plays banjo for Jim Hayward and The Willowridge Band. He would go camping with his grandparents as they visited town fairs and jamborees to hear the pickings of Earl Scruggs, Ralph Stanley and the songs of Bill Monroe, the Father of Bluegrass music. The music grew in him, so much so that his mom and grandparents gave him the second hand banjo underneath the bed in his Grandma's house. Today, that very same instrument has become his calling card. Let's first step back a bit. Bluegrass music gets its name from a strain of grass called Kentucky Blue Grass, which audiences would sit on as they listened to it outdoors. Bluegrass music has a tradition of musicians being able to sit in on a song or two in a live performance. In that sense, it's not unlike jazz. For those not aware what real bluegrass is like, you should check out any Tony Rice recordings with the Bluegrass Album Band as well as Earl Scruggs, Ralph Stanley, and Steve Martin and the Steep County Rangers. Yes, that Steve Martin - comedian, film star, and Grammy award winner for Best Bluegrass Album. Sam recalls how when he was a youngster, his grandfather's cousin, Dalton, was a banjo master and always asked him to play along, trad- ing off licks and passages and giving him a dose of good advice here and there. As Sam's talent grew, he sat in on different jamborees and "grew his chops" and network. His grandparents suggested he go to the Orono Bluegrass Festival, run by Jim Hayward, at the at the Orono Fairgrounds. Jim's band, already established, would invite Sam on stage for a few tunes. From that, Jim and Sam's friendship, and mentorship, grew. When Sam was 16, Jim's band was playing at Port Perry Town Hall and he invited Sam to come to the show. They needed a full time banjo player so he was invited to join the group. He's now been with the band for nine years. Their fine multi-generational sound is captured in their latest CD release "Willowridge Mountain Home" with Jim providing eight original compositions on the 14-track album. Hay- ward does the main vocals and guitar, Gary Meyer handles harmony vocals, mandolin and guitar, while Sam picks the banjo. The band is anchored by the bass and harmony vocals of Dickson Raynard who is also the recording engineer. Canada is listening to this group as their album was nominated for Album of the Year for the Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards. It seems they're about to make it big. If you would like to purchase one of their three CDs, visit willowridgebluegrass.com. They have an important show coming up on October 18 at 7pm as special guests with the East Coast sensations, the Spinney Brothers. Tickets are going fast for this show at Oshawa's LVIV Hall. Tickets can be purchased at the door or by phone at 416-281-1479. Jim is still playing that old banjo. He just completed a Live Sound Production diploma at Metalworks Studio and will bring that experience to the band's live show. Grandma and family must be proud. But BTC readers could use an old time ditty about Brooklin. Perhaps in 4/4 time? Local Puddy Tat's Scowl Makes It Big Mr. Gophie is the feline friend of Brooklinite Sabrina Novotny. He made it into In Touch Weekly magazine because of his, um, resemblance to a model. Which goes to prove that even a model has a "Pawpelganger."