2009

The Martin family used to play music together at home just for fun. But, it wasn’t long before they were performing throughout the region as The Martin Family Band. This talented group performs a rich and unique blend of Old-time mountain music, Irish, 18^th century Colonial music and has been the informal “house band” at Mt. Vernon for 15 years.

Locally, they have performed at events such as the Sheep and Wool Festival and the Washington Folk Festival. Internationally they have performed in Ireland, Scotland and Germany. Their unique mix of instruments includes hammered dulcimer, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, guitar, button accordion, piano, lap dulcimer, recorder and tin whistle.

Carl, the father, plays mandolin and tenor banjo and is also a member of the Common Ground Ceili Band. He has traveled extensively playing music in Ireland, Scotland and Germany as part of the Cimbalom World Association. Jeanean, the mother, plays hammered dulcimer and guitar. She sings and has been performing and teaching music for 20 years. She is also a talented visual artist who teaches and exhibits in the Washington, DC area. Both Jeanean and Carl are fine musicians who have encouraged their family and others to play music.

Children Lydia, Emily and Claude have all followed in their parent’s footsteps.

Lydia plays piano, 5-string banjo, recorder, guitar, button accordion and sings. At the age of 17 she had the distinction of performing for President Clinton at the White house. She received a scholarship from the Levine School of Music in Washington, DC where she studied classical piano, and she studied 5-string banjo with banjo master Dwight Diller. She is the recipient of many awards including 1st Place in the Old-time Banjo and band competition at the Deer Creek Fiddler’s Convention, Westminster MD and was recently featured on the banjo staff at the Folk Alliance in Memphis, TN.

Emily plays tenor banjo, mandolin, lap dulcimer and tin whistle. She is a natural musician, mostly self-taught, who learns her music by ear in the true folk tradition. She has the distinction of winning two consecutive 1st place medals at the Mid-Atlantic Irish Music Competition. She also received 1st place in mandolin at the Deer Creek Fiddler’s Convention. Emily heartily pursues her interest in old-time music, playing and singing mountain ballads with sister Lydia. And together, they are studying Appalachian ballad singing with Ginny Hawker.

Claude began playing fiddle at the age of seven. An award-winning fiddler, he took 1st place at the Deer Creek Fiddler’s Convention and the Speedy Tolliver Fiddle Contest and 2nd place at the George Mason Traditional Fiddle contest. Claude performs with both his family and with his own band, Fauntel. He sings and plays his own compositions, as well as contemporary arrangements of traditional music.

An exciting new addition to the band is Josh Henderson who brings it all together with his steady bass rhythms. At the Deer Creek Fiddler’s Convention he took 1st place in the bass competition. To learn more about the musical adventures of the Martin Family band, visit www.themartinfamilyband.com