Resident spotlight: Wayne Erbsen
With 18 recorded albums, 40 published method books and 60-plus years of instructor experience under his belt, resident Wayne Erbsen is, without a doubt, a musical legend.
Wayne is a self-taught musician and songwriter who, inspired by a folk revival in his home state of California, first picked up a guitar at the age of 15. He continued to learn and practice guitar with his sister, Bonnie, and also picked up the banjo along the way.
In 1973, Wayne moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, to learn more about the roots of Southern Appalachian music, following the work of legends Doc Watson, Ralph Stanley and Earl Scruggs. Not long after the move, Wayne discovered that the popularity of traditional Southern Appalachian music was fading. This solidified his desire to dedicate his life to performing and preserving this heritage.
In Charlotte, Wayne connected with Southern Appalachian musicians and taught music at Central Piedmont Community College. Wayne later moved to Asheville and continued his teaching career at Warren Wilson College and the University of North Carolina Asheville.
After publishing his first method books with Carl Fischer Inc., Wayne decided to create his own publishing company, Native Ground Books & Music.
Wayne's recordings range from gospel to old-time music to mountain ballads, which he has recorded on the guitar, banjo, fiddle and mandolin. Producing and publishing books and recordings has been very rewarding for Wayne.
“These pieces can spread far and wide, increasing their chance of impacting others,” he said.
Native Ground also published cookbooks, “Log Cabin Cooking” and “The Lost Art of Pie Making,” written by Wayne’s wife, Barbara Swell. Though Native Ground is now permanently closed, a selection of Wayne’s online audio recordings of the method books can be accessed online.
Among Wayne’s extensive list of accomplishments is his appearance on the children's television show “Sesame Street.”
Wayne has also hosted the program “Country Roots” on Asheville’s Blue Ridge Public Radio for more than 30 years. “Country Roots” has and continues to spotlight bluegrass and old-time country music.
Additionally, he has won several prizes at fiddlers’ conventions, including first place in clawhammer banjo in Galax, Virginia, in 1973 and first place in senior old-time fiddler in Fiddler’s Grove, North Carolina, in 2004.
Today, he stays involved with music as the director of the UNCA Bluegrass Band. The band has played for multiple years at the Bluegrass First Class music festival at the Crown Plaza Resort in Asheville.
“The most rewarding part of directing this band is witnessing students learn, while the audience enjoys the performance at the same time,” said Wayne.
Every few weeks, Wayne treats Ardenwoods residents and staff with his musical talents in the multi-purpose room. These performances are highly anticipated and well attended.
Cheers to Wayne and his many accomplishments and contributions to the music community!
