ALAN MUNDE
Alan Munde needs no introduction to long-time Bluegrass fans. From his early creative work with Sam Bush in Poor Richard's Almanac to his traditional bluegrass apprenticeship with Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys to his 21-year stint anchoring the landmark Country Gazette, Alan has blazed a trail as one of the most innovative and influential banjo players of all time. Along the way, Alan also recorded and contributed to numerous instrumental recordings, including the 2001 IBMA Instrumental Album of the Year - "Knee Deep in Bluegrass." Alan has supplemented his recorded work with several instructional publications for the banjo, and, from 1986- 2007, Alan taught bluegrass and country music at South Plains College in Levelland, Texas, a program that has produced many professional musicians nationwide. In recent years, Alan has performed and recorded as a duo with his South Plains Faculty colleague (and former Gazette-mate) Joe Carr. Alan's extensive body of recorded work, his instructional materials, and his work at South Plains (including the annual "Camp Bluegrass") has solidified his status as one of the true "gurus" of the 5-string. Alan leads his own group, The Alan Munde Gazette.