Garrett Lakes Arts Festival (GLAF) is pleased to present Johnny Staats and the Bluegrass Band, Saturday, September 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the Garrett College Auditorium. Tickets are $17 for adults, $7 for students and free for youth five years and younger (but tickets are required). The Sponsor Partner is Jim O’Connell. This evening performance rounds out the day’s events of the Deep Creek Lake Art and Wine Festival. Individual ticket purchases may be made by calling the GLAF office at 301-387-3082, or through the GLAF website at www.artsandentertainment.org.
“UPS driver by day and coon-hunter by night, Johnny Staat’s virtuosity on the mandolin has swooned a millionaire into volunteering to be his roadie and a pet-store owner into dropping his business to be his manager. It seems that everyone from common strangers to country hat acts are drawn to work with this West Virginian. Five seconds into opener “Mandolin Meltdown,” this pied picker will draw you in too — and from there, it’ll be all your wee brain can do to keep up with the notes as they flip and fly like the most nimble of gymnasts. As if providing a stroke of mercy for the easily winded, rest stops in the form of ballads (“Coal Tattoo,” the title track, “Timbuktu”) are interspersed throughout the Staats-penned compositions.” The Austin Chronicle
Born and raised in West Virginia, Johnny received his first mandolin at age 7. He joined his first performing band at age 9 and has devoted hours to practice resulting in many awards. At Charleston, West Virginia’s prestigious Vandalia Gathering he was awarded the mandolin championship in 1996, 1997 and 1999; 1997 was particularly notable in that he pulled off the rare feat of also winning the guitar title and placing 3 rd in the fiddle competition. He has been featured in The New York Times, People Magazine and made appearances on The Today Show and the CBS News with Dan Rather. He has made six appearances on the Grand Ole Opry and has recorded 2 albums on CD. Since 1988 he continues to work as a full time driver for UPS in West Virginia. Johnny and his group perform instrumental and vocal bluegrass.
Garrett Lakes Arts Festival Season Sponsors and Grantors are Coldwell Banker Deep Creek Realty, First United Trust and Investments, Garrett County Chamber of Commerce, Herbert H. Leighton, M.D., Sincell Publishing Company, Total Biz Fulfillment and Wisp Resort. Large gifts and grants have been given by Audrey and Howard Naylor, The Garrett County Arts Council, The Maryland State Arts Council, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts and Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour.
Johnny Staats and the Bluegrass Band