Charlie Hamrick
Banjo
I was born in Clearwater, Florida, a third generation native. I graduated from Clearwater High School in 1969 and then attended two years at St. Petersburg College.
Although I was born with a 47% hearing loss, at 10 years old I started playing harmonica. At 12, I started playing the clarinet and had four years of private instruction. I then became interested in swing, so I taught myself to play the saxophone. I entered state competition and was awarded a medal of excellence on the clarinet and a medal of excellence on the sax.
Guitar was
my next interest, and I took about a year of private instruction of jazz--but
soon turned to country music. That was about the time that country music
became rock, so I then turned to bluegrass and the banjo. I also
learned to play bass, and later I learned to play the dobro and the mandolin.
I suppose that wasn’t enough musical instruments, so I also took two
years of private instruction on the piano.
I was an original member of Orange Blossom Bluegrass, playing with them for four years.
For 32 years, I worked in the building material supply business along side my dad and my wife, but now I make my living doing what I like best--playing and teaching music.
Besides music, I love to fish and shoot skeet. I was state skeet champion and also club champion for five years.
I always try to be considerate of other people and their feelings. And I always try to do my best at whatever I do.
I have found new friends playing with Never Fade and I like the good feeling I get when Never Fade does a good job and has influenced somebody to love Jesus Christ. The Never Fade band is a group of fine men and fine musicians. I am truly blessed by God to be a member of this band, serving Him.
Please feel free to stop by my website.. Charlie Bill's Banjos