Trischka, Tony

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TONY TRISCHKA

  • From New York. Lives in Fair Lawn, New Jersey.
  • 1963, began playing banjo at age 14. Inspired by the Kingston Trio’s “Charlie and the MTA.”
  • An innovative banjo player. One of the first to play jazz on the five-string banjo.
  • Introduced Bela Fleck to the banjo and gave him his first banjo lessons.
  • 1965-1971, played with a folk group called the Down City Ramblers.
  • 1971, formed Country Cooking (with Peter Wernick). Made his recording debut with album “15 Bluegrass Instrumentals.”
  • 1973, formed Breakfast Special.
  • 1976, recorded “Banjoland” album.
  • 1977, was musical director for a Broadway show called “The Robber Bridegroom.”
  • 1978, played with a group called Monroe Doctrine.
  • 1981, formed Skyline.
  • 1985, released solo project Hill Country (Rounder).
  • 1988, formed The Big Dogs with David Grier and Harley Allen; released “Live at the Birchmere” (Strictly Country).
  • He has authored numerous banjo instruction books.
  • 1992, performed and recorded with The Rounder Banjo Extravaganza, a collaboration with Tony Furtado, Tom Adams and David Grier.
  • 1993, created a touring show (and album) called World Turning (Rounder) which traced the evolution of the banjo from West Africa (where the banjo was born) to the present and future.
  • 1995, released a Christmas album Glory Shone Around: A Christmas Collection (Rounder).
  • 2000, formed the Tony Trischka Band, a jazz group.
  • 2001, performed and recorded with The Wayfaring Strangers.
  • 2006, released Solo Banjo Works album with Bela Fleck (Rounder).
  • 2007, released Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular album (Rounder) featuring duets with Earl Scruggs, Steve Martin, Bela Fleck, Alison Brown, Tom Adams and other banjo players of note. He and Steve Martin appeared together on the Late Show with David Letterman.
  • 2007, won IBMA award for Banjo Player of the Year. Also won Instrumental Album of the Year and Recorded Event of the Year awards for Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular.
  • 2008, released Territory album (Rounder).
  • 2009, established The Tony Trischka School of Banjo, an interactive banjo instruction website.
  • 2012, was awarded the United States Artists Friends Fellow in recognition of his achievements in music.
  • 2014, released Great Big World album (Rounder).
  • 2024, released Earl Jam album (Down the Road).