Buddy Merriam

Words: Drew Moss | Photos: Lynn Spinnato

Once in a while, if we’re incredibly lucky, we meet our heroes.

Once in awhile, if we’re incredibly unlucky, we get struck by lightning.

On a stormy August day in the Berkshire Mountains of 1976, Long Island bluegrass legend Buddy Merriam did both.

“When Bill Monroe hit the stage, I never heard anything as powerful in my life,” said Merriam, recalling the day he met the great-grandfather of this most American of American musical genres.

“I found myself outside…

One might say that becoming a bluegrass virtuoso was simply written in the stars for Buddy Merriam, a mandolinist originally from Hartford, Connecticut. Although he had played guitar since childhood, he became interested in the mandolin after seeing Frank Wakefield perform in 1972, choosing to pick it up as a second instrument. Then, while attending the first Berkshire Mountains Bluegrass Festival in upstate New York, Buddy developed a fascination with the mandolin style of Bill Monroe, after he was…

Buddy Merriam recently brought his new show, The Mandolin Experience, to North Shore Public Library.  His longstanding reputation as a fine musician brought in a large audience that enthusiastically tapped their toes to Buddy's lively tunes.  I whoeheartedly recommend The Mandolin Experience as a concert that will be enjoyed by music lovers of all ages.

Marcia P. Johnson
Adult Program Coordinator
North Shore Public Library
250 Route 25A
Shoreham, NY                 

Join us for a big show coming up March 9 at…

Re-Release Buddy Merriam's Back Roads Mandolin Volume 1!

Now available through our website!

$25 + $3 shipping

Greg Cahill, Buddy Merriam & Back Roads with Danny Knicely & Nate Leath, Foggy Mountain Hilton, Free Grass Union, and more!

What a Mighty Day and Mighty time at this years Long island Bluegrass Festival with Bluegrass Legend Frank Wakefield headlining the show and the honor of Back Roads being his back up band!

Buddy Merriam - Back Roads Mandolin

LilyPad Records
534

It’s not easy to put together a highquality instrumental bluegrass CD, so it’s especially impressive that a regional band, albeit a veteran one, has done such an impressive job. Buddy Merriam, leader and mandolinist with New York’s Buddy Merriam & Back Roads, has assembled a rich and enjoyable collection of original tunes.

“Back Roads Mandolin” hits all the right notes in every sense of the word. The 14 tunes are put together with as much variety…

                   photo by Bob DeVercelly                              

        There are some beautiful and inspiring photos from the Long Island Bluegrass Festival held at Tanner Park in Copaigue on August 15th, 2009 thanks to Gina Motisi Photography.

Thanks Gina & Artie!

http://www.simplephoto.com/SC/index.cfm?fuseaction=Vendor&vid=20577&fn=ginamotisiphotography