Bob started learning the banjo at the age of 12 after hearing Roger Sprung’s “Stars and Stripes Forever” played on the 5 string banjo, as the theme song for WNBC’s weekly folk music show in the early 60s. Bob later discovered Roger lived in New York City and gave banjo lessons.  Bob began taking lessons from Roger but decided that that the guitar was more versatile.  Bob continued to take lessons from Roger on the guitar and after a only a few months Roger invited Bob to join his band for a summer tour of the bluegrass festivals of the Blue Ridge and Smokies Mountains. Bob’s first trip was Roger’s 14th and he knew many of the “Greats” of Old Time and Bluegrass Music. The Sprung Band played at all the fiddler’s conventions from Northern Virginia to North Georgia and visited or stayed with many including Doc Watson, Obrey Ramsey, Wade Ward, George Pegram, The Van Hoyts, Franklin George,  Clark Kessinger and many others. Bob had his first taste of grits, moonshine and the Sears Catalog. During the school year  Bob teamed up with Ray Swiethguth and Bob McCarthy to form the Bob and Ray Trio, a Kingston Trio clone with matching checked shirts, white belts and scarves.  The Bob and Ray Trio was selected for the finals of a band competition  held in Long Beach, New York, but came in second to a Beatles clone group with matching Beatles wigs. In 1964 he received brand new Martin D-28 for his 15th birthday, which he still owns  and uses for recording and local concerts.

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