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Left to Right: Thom Bresh and Michael Garvin in May of 2000
Living in such a musical family it is so nice to see someone capable of carrying on musical values now in danger of being lost to the ears of the future.
When Michael was only four years old his grandpaw Bert, showed him the notes to two tunes on the mandolin. Although not much interest showed until the age of ten when Michael first
began banging around on a little guitar.
A couple years later his grandmother Betty thought him the chords and the song "House of the Rising Sun" after that they got him a good electric guitar for christmas.
So after a year or so of rockin' down in the garage, Michael was attracted to the solo guitar of Merle Travis and miraculously developed the Travis style so fast he even played two of Merle's pieces at school
for the first time at the age of fourteen and at the age of seventeen, placed 4th at the Merle Travis National Thumbpicking Guitar Contest in Mountain View, Arkansas! While continuing to develop his skills for many different styles of music, the demand to participate in jams with his family and their friends granted him a solid
foundation in Bluegrass music. Taking on the role of a Travis/Rice range I also easily admired Doc Watson and after attending the IBMA in Louisville I seen so many hot pickers all over, but only Jim Hurst really inspired me.
At the age of eighteen an interest grew in the roots of Bluegrass and old-time fiddle tunes. After an entire summer was spent with squawks and squawks of all types coming from the basement of the
Garvin house, but by winter Michael was all ready building a repertoire of Kentucky fiddle tunes learning right off with the help from the best around the Tri-state.
A couple years later and Michael started doing good in fiddle contests and his highlights are First Place at Grayson, Kentucky 2003 and 2004. First Place at Greenup, Kentucky 2004. Second Place Ed Haley Fiddle Festival in Ashland, Kentucky 2003 and 2004. Second Place Original Ohio Old-Time Fiddle Championship in Nelsonville, Ohio 2004.
Also, The Kentucky Arts Council's approval of the apprenticeship with Roger Cooper will be a very productive experience that will assure another generation of traditional arts in Kentucky. The most precious award of all was receiving the Lord Jesus Christ into my life July 27th, 2004 for now I have hope to rise above this world! What a great feeling that is!
Wouldn't you agree? -Michael Garvin ~Fall 2004
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