What Do Blue Grass and New Jersey Have In Common

No one would accuse me of being a Blue Grass aficionado. Besides that, New Jersey is not high on my list of favorite states. However, when you put Blue Grass and New Jersey together in a team of three brothers – I’m hooked.

Tommy, Robbie and Jonny Mizzone got the attention of the YouTube audience with their 2011 practice video: Dueling Banjos -Sleepy Man Banjo Boys - Revenge of theGuitar. At the time they were 13, 12, and 8. Today, at 16, 15, and 11 they continue to capture the interest of  musicians nationwide. They have appeared on the David Letterman, Jim Huckabee and Morning shows as well as at the Grand Ol’ Opry, Carnegie Hall, a Knicks Basketball game and a growing list of other venues. Of special interest to me, beyond their energy-giving music, is their commitment to the needs of orphans in the West Virginia section of Appalachia. 

 

You can learn about this trio at their home page. They can also be found on Facebook. My personal recommendation would be that you take a look at their Dueling Banjos clip and then go over to the YouTube presentation of their appearance with the JD Crowe troop. This will give you an idea of their “early” years and will heighten your appreciation of where they are today.   

 

If someone knows how to catch the attention of programmers for the Florida State Fair or the Florida Strawberry Festival, it might be worthwhile to put these fellows on their radar.