Simon Spalding:  

Life Hello old classmates! I took a year off after high school graduation... I received a BA in Music from UC Berkeley, and have pursued dual careers in music and history. I still play banjo, but my main instrument has been fiddle/violin since I graduated. I've played a variety of music, much of it what is now called "world" music. I moved to Oakland in 1979; to San Diego in 1983, to Texas in 1984, and to eastern NC (where I now reside) in 1989. I've continued to ping-pong between a career in history, mostly doing interpretive and educational programs at museums, and music. My musical activities span a range from various folk and historical groups and projects, to playing in an electric folk-rock band in the 80's, to playing in an oldies band (the RetroRockets - we're still playing!), directing music for a contemporary church service (Centenary UMC in New Bern - still doing that!), and performing with my wife (Tuppence). I've spent much of the years 1981-1998 overseas, primarily in the UK, the Netherlands, France, and Poland; but also in several other European countries. I've played on a few dozen albums, some of them self-produced; and have provided music for a number of films. I play stringed instruments primarily, including Chinese erh-hu, electric bass (thank you Eric Harwood!), mandolin, oud, crwth, nyckelharpa, and of course 5-string and tenor banjo. In the last five years I've also started playing electric guitar, but in "Simonized" tunings that allow me to use mandolin-typ...Expand for more