Hi Folks,

meeting more and more musicians I have been approached whether I want to share a little more of myself with you.

Here it is, my long journey to Bluegrass music:

As most of my friends know I am from Germany. I started classical violin in the proud age of 5 years old.

(As a comfort for all you parents who want to make your child happy and learn an instrument: I cried for three years every day when mam made me practice. Talking about child abuse.... As far as I judge myself I do not have significant damage from that although my friends are thinking differently ;-)...)

Snakes Alive with 'GRASS UNLIMITED'

Michael Jockel: Banjo, Guitar, Dobro

Ruediger Horne: Mandoline, Guitar, Dobro, Banjo

Gerard Moeres: Guitar, vocal chords

Volker Strauch: Bass

I survived 13 years of training and wasted three teachers. I wish to thank my last and favorite great teacher Knut Meyer. Without him I would have given up playing but he was a master in motivation and teaching. We played great stuff together like Beriot, Paganini, Beethoven, Bruch, Viotti and and and...all the good stuff I forgot already. (Please forgive me, Knut.)

The next years I was on my own. While serving the military I used to practice violin in the attic where nobody could hear me. I still did not know even the word 'Bluegrass'.

After the military I moved to Darmstadt (still Germany) where I studied Automation/Electrotechnique.

I thought I keep the music rather as an hobby and don't spoil it.

Here my life was meant to change: I was joining the University Symphony Orchestra and had my own Quartett going (I loved Schubert Quartetts!). One day a guy, Thomas Koenig, was ringing my door bell. Thomas introduced himself and asked whether I would be interested in playing in a Bluegrass band. My first response: "What's that, what was the name again, playing what?" I quick learned that I should be careful with the word 'Country Music'. It does not apply to every music where a banjo plays!

So I entered the amazing world of Bluegrass and didn't even know what it is. Here's the first band 'Rawhide'which I shared many hours of fun with for the next 12 years:

Later on I also joined the Country Band 'Canada Country Cowboys' and collected lots of on-stage experience. Usually while introducing the band members I was announced as Hardy Kefes on the Fiddle and the soldering-iron. There was always some with the equipment that had to fixed quickly during our performances. 7 musicians require quite some wiring... I participated in the effort of making people happy for 4 years.

Here our band with some guest stars from France. God forgive me, I forgot the name of the accordion player but I do remember his outstanding cajun style. He is a master of playing this button-accordian. We had lots of fun.

From left to right standing:

Ruediger Horne, Juergen Neugebauer, Mucke Kroeber, Michael Jockel, Hardy Kefes

sitting:

(?????), Sybille Kefes, Wolfgang Kroeber

October 1996 we moved to Leonard, Michigan. I regret that I had to leave my best friends behind. We played for more then 12 years together and were like a family. Every Friday was Bluegrass time.

Here my last jam session on our fare well party September 1996.

On the guitar (to the right) Gerard Moeres who joined later but is still an active member of this band. We changed names and you can listen to this band as the 'Grass Unlimited'

Since 2004 I am spending each year time in North Carolina and visit fiddle seminars with Bobby Hicks and Aubrey Hayney. So much to learn...

I take as many opportunities as my time allows to join jams here around. My band 'ROANOKE' plays Bluegrass, Oldtime, Texas Swing, Waltzes. With having the luxury of having two fiddle players on board this band is unique in Michigan and lots of old Bill Monroe pieces have been revived and played in original style.