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Steve Bing |
Playing Since: 1977
Experience Level: Expert/Professional
Interests:
[Teaching] [Jamming] [Socializing] [Helping]
Occupation: musician & music teacher
Gender: Male
Age: 76
My Instruments:
Fiddle, Mandolin, Cajun Accordion, Bass, Guitar, Harmonica
Favorite Bands/Musicians:
Texas Swing, Cajun, Appalachian. My favorite fiddlers include: Luderin Darbone, Bert Layne, Tracy Schwarz, Dewey Balfa, Canray Fontenot, "Snake" Chapman, Benton Flippen, Clark Kessinger, Bobby Taylor, Buddy Thomas, John Ashby, Benny Thomasson, Bob Wills, Milton Brown.
Classified Rating: (0)
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Profile Info:
Visible to: Public
Created 6/21/2011
Last Visit 10/14/2024
I have been playing the fiddle since 1977 and teaching the fiddle full-time since 2003. Today, I play and teach many fiddling styles including Appalachian Old Time, Bluegrass, Cajun, Texas-style, folk, and early country. I have taught fiddle at old-time music festivals in Louisiana, Texas, Ohio, and North Carolina. I am originally from Ohio and have lived in southern Kentucky, Louisiana, and presently Houston, Texas. Music has always been a major part of my life, since I was seven years old, playing guitar, which eventually led to playing in rock bands in high school and college. I have played music professionally and headed up bands continuously for the past forty years. In addition to playing the fiddle I also play the Cajun accordion, guitar, mandolin, and bass. I have a music studio in my home where I teach here in Houston, Texas. Here are some of my interesting musical highlights. In 1985, I appeared in a made-for-TV movie entitled "Hoedown", shown nationally on PBS, playing the fiddle and calling square dances. I ran and emceed the Ohio State Championship Fiddle contest for six years from 1987 to 1992. I have played the fiddle for several spotlight stories for radio and TV broadcasts, including one about a chicken who could predict the winner of the Kentucky Derby. For ten years during the summer months from 1985 to 1994 I organized, managed, and emceed "Hoedown In The Park" near Cincinnati featuring bands, entertainers, and clogging groups from all over the midwest with an average Saturday night attendance of over 1,000 people. In 1992 I was commissioned an honorary "Kentucky Colonel". In the summer of 2005, I toured nationally and recorded with folk music legend Glenn Yarbrough playing six different instruments and doing harmony vocals in the Havenstock River Band. Along with legendary Louisiana Creole musician Goldman Thibodeaux we recorded a "roots music" CD that was considered for a 2008 Grammy Award in the "folk music category." Past member of the stage band for the "Louisiana Opry" based out of Covington, LA. Made home recordings with Luderin Darbone over a two-year period. Luderin Darbone, the great Louisiana fiddler, and my idol, had the band the "Hackberry Ramblers" from 1933 until his death in 2008 at age 94. Even though his band had stopped playing a few years before his passing he made me an "official" member. I feel honored to have played at his funeral and was a pall-bearer. I have placed first, second, or third several times in fiddle contests in the midwest and south, including 1st place in the Ohio State Fiddle Championship (Senior Division) in 2017 and 2023. Also took 1st place at Old Fashioned Farmers Days, Sauder Village Fiddle Championships, Lorain County Fiddle Championships, all in the state of Ohio. I have place in contests in Kentucky, West Virginia, North Carolina, Texas, and Louisiana. My band website is the "Laughing Lizards String Band" (www.laughinglizardsband.com) playing Appalachian Old Time, Texas and Jazz Swing, and Louisiana Cajun music. I was a member of "Renaissance Cadienne" based out of Lafayette, Louisiana which was a touring group of dancers and musicians performing early Cajun, Acadian, and French-folk songs and dances of the 1800's and 1900's. With this group I toured France and French-speaking Canada. This group is no longer active but the memories remain. Listen to my music at the website listed above. I also have videos posted at www.youtube.com/thelaughinglizards I have students at all playing levels from absolute beginner on up. I have students who have never played an instrument before starting with me and also students who are classically trained string players who are learning "fiddle" styles. At whatever level of string player that you are I will be glad to work with you to improve your technique, rhythm, intonation, and tone. Also I can show you improvisation and how to solo over chordal arrangments. I teach both by written sheet music and by ear. However since fiddling is best learned by ear we will concentrate on building your repertoire the "old fashioned" way. Learning the fiddle requires great dedication including regular practice. You must be willing to put in the time and playing the fiddle will become a valued experience. I will do everything I can to make your musical journey interesting and rewarding whether you are a beginner or experience string player. My hobbies include finding and restoring vintage violins, bicycling, fishing, canoeing, hiking, and I am a licensed Amateur Radio Operator, call sign KY4N. I live in Houston "Heights" which is centrally located for anyone in the area. Thanks for reading my bio. Please email me at stevebingmusic@aol.com
