User:Bill Garbus

b. 1949 NYC

Fiddler, primarily old timey styles from Round Peak, NC, Texas, secondarily Celtic & New England.

early interest in bluegrass banjo, introduced to old timey genre by John Burke, Andy May and Kenny Kosek in 1970. early influences include New Lost City Ramblers, Armin Barnett, Dave Milefsky, Mark Gunther, Allan Block, Wade Ward, Arthur Smith, Clark Kessinger.

Met Ray Alden in early 1970s and was fiddler in old timey band, The 'NY Chucklebusters' with Ray, Dave Spilkia and Bill Chaleff. Accompanied Ray on visits to Tommy Jarrell, Fred Cockerham, Kyle Creed. Journeys to NC and WV with Dave Spilkia and Mark Gunther to other first generation player followed, with visits to Esker Hutchins and the Hammonds Family. Tommy Jarrell became (and still is) primary guru.

in mid 1970s was fiddler in bluegrass band 'Sin City' with Stacy Phillips, Gene Yellin, et. al and 'Southern Express', with Jerry Shieber and Pete Lissman. and 'traditional folk' group 'Delaware Water Gap', with Henry Sapoznik et. al

Played for many square and contra dances, many sponsored by Country Dance and Song Society, in and around NYC in the early to mid 1970s, when Jim Morrison was director.

Formed Old Timey String Band "Half Shaved", with Larry MacBride, Margaret Ann Martin and Bob Bell and recorded LP on Flying Crow Records

Currently fiddler in 'Old Time Contrarians' string band with Susan Sterngold, Mike Resnick and Margaret Ann Martin.

Married to Margaret Ann Martin since 1977. Both daughters, Merrill (tUnE-yArDs) and Ruth are singer song writers.