Making Music

This fascinating exploration is principally composed of oral histories by 32 Haywood County banjo players, none of them household names, who were interviewed extensively for this project. . . . Appalachian mountain life comes alive as it's viewed through its musical heritage. Dan McClure, Library Journal

Making Music is a wonderful, in-depth look inside the culture of playing folk music for fun. Having known virtually all the participants who helped Dr. Allsbrook, I can attest fully to the authenticity, the educational value, and the entertaining aspects presented in Making Music. Marc Pruett, Grammy recipient, honorary doctor of arts, and recipient of the North Carolina Heritage Award

This collection of oral histories offers up new information on the instrument’s recent spread. By focusing on a specific mountain area of Western North Carolina, Allsbrook documents families of musicians and the way music is learned and perpetuated. He provides an interesting read for all those inquisitive about the banjo’s growth. Bob Carlin, longtime banjo performer, documentarian, and disseminator