The First Quality Music Blog- Special Guests

Sullivan Banjo in Kabul, Afghanistan

Travis Cook — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:18:54 +0000

Every now and then, we receive a “letter of endorsement” from a Sullivan owner that overwhelms our hearts with joy, and affirms the sense of pride and enjoyment we get in making our own line of high-quality banjos. We’d like to share this one from Mark, serving our Country in Kabul Afghanistan, with you.

Greetings from Kabul Afghanistan!

Just to let you know that Bluegrass is alive and well on the other side of the world – and in the midst of the Taliban! I am getting great service from my Sullivan banjo. It has been across the globe three times all in baggage compartments of foreign airlines. It went with me to Kuwait (2008)(in 140 degree heat!), crossed by air over the Persian gulf, over Iran and down to Kabul (10,000 feet). Then it survived the unload by Afghani handlers and its still going strong! In fact tonight we were just finishing a rehearsal and whooooooosh! BANG! “Hit the Bunkers!” We had a rocket attack. So you can say my Sullivan has been baptized by hostile fire.

I have enclosed some shots from performances we’ve done here in Kabul (church and on New Years) (note all the Mongol soldiers we had there celebrating with us). We (Four Horsemen) have been invited by the MWR department (Morale Welfare and Recreation) to provide two more performances in February here on post and across town. Note the hat I’m wearing in the shots.

Best wishes!
-Mark

Mark asked us to let everyone know that if they just happen to be in town, they are having an open jam every Monday night in downtown Kabul. In Mark’s own words: “Second floor Ciano’s building, Camp Eggers, downtown Kabul right across the street from Karzai’s house“.

Thanks for the note, Mark, and we’re glad you are enjoying your Sullivan Banjo!

Whiskey Bent Valley Boys stop by First Quality Music

Travis Cook — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:11:46 +0000

The Whiskey Bent Valley Boys, a local group known for their high-energy performances of classic bluegrass tunes, stopped by today before heading out on a tour of the surrounding states. They were absent their fiddler, but they grabbed some instruments off the walls and agreed to play for us.

You can learn more about the Whiskey Bent Valley Boys, and check out their schedule of performances, at http://www.whiskeybentvalley.com

Aaron Thomas drops by to try out the Sullivan Vintage-35

Murrell Thixton — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:01:30 +0000

Aaron Thomas was in the showroom this week from Washington, IN and was kind enough to try out one of the new Sullivan Historic Vintage-35 Banjo Prototypes. We debuted this Banjo at IBMA and will have more information on it in the coming weeks – for now, the sound speaks for itself! He’s a great picker and in the video below performs a wonderful and unique version of “What a friend we have in Jesus”. Thanks for stopping by, Aaron!

Shady Grove stops by First Quality Music

Travis Cook — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:48:15 +0000

Shady Grove was in town for the National Quartet Convention and stopped by to see us. Shady Grove is an excellent group with wonderful vocal ability. JC joins Tim Moxley and Gerry Hall for an impromptu performance of the gospel tune Help is on the Way. Check it out!

Impromptu Jam at First Quality Music

Travis Cook — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:53:07 +0000

Today we had a few friends of ours stop by and, like many other days, a little impromptu jam broke out in the Banjo room. I was handy with a camera this time, and thought I’d share a little bit of what goes on at First Quality Music every day. Here we’ve got Malcolm Moger, an excellent Banjo player from Springfield, Virginia, and Shari Mabe from New Haven, Kentucky. Shari is a teacher at New Haven School where she tells us she’s formed a Guitar Club for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders that’s been operating since 2006. We weren’t able to get the information of the other guitarist before she left, but we thank them all for dropping in and letting us record them! A group of great musicians, check them out in the video below!

The FQMS Signature Wall

Travis Cook — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:18:20 +0000

I was walking around the building today when I got to really thinking about the history written all over First Quality’s walls. When you walk into our showroom, you’ll notice that behind the instruments our walls are covered in hundreds of signatures from visitors and musicians from around the world.

We thought we’d showcase a small portion of the more ‘famous’ signatures on our walls – and invite you to drop in and check it out for yourself!

Gold Heart paid First Quality Music a Visit

Murrell Thixton — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 15:40:30 +0000

The girls of Gold Heart and Dad Trent stopped into First Quality while on their way to the Bluegrass Festival in Henderson, Kentucky. Wow!!! Can these girls pick and sing!! It’s Analise on mandolin, Jocelyn on guitar and Shelby on fiddle. We appreciate Analise pickin’ a tune on our Old Growth Gibson Mandolin, I’m pretty sure she liked it! Heck they even let the me pick a tune with them before they had to go (I appreciate it). Thanks to the Gold family for sharing their wonderful music with us. Hope you enjoy the videos, be sure to check out these girls when they’re in your area you’ll love them.

Pete Webb plays the Sullivan Clawhammer Jam

Murrell Thixton — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:28:44 +0000

Pete Webb with the group Late for Supper stops by and visits us on a regular basis. He was checking out one of the new Sullivan Clawhammer Jam banjos and he picked us My Old Kentucky Home. Thanks Pete.

Daniel Martin Picks Shuckin’ the Corn

Murrell Thixton — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:55:32 +0000

Daniel Martin stopped by for a little tune up on his Bill Sullivan Recording King model banjo. I got him to pick one for us before he left, burn it up son! You can check out the “Bill Sullivan Recording King” tribute banjo on firstqualitymusic.com.

Matt Phelps playing “Home Sweet Home” on his Gibson Custom AJ

Murrell Thixton — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:50:52 +0000

Good friend and Guitar picker Matt Phelps dropped into the store today, we got him to pick us a rendition of “Home Sweet Home”. Matt’s picking his First Quality Custom Advanced Jumbo. You can check it out a guitar like the one Matt’s playing at First Quality Music’s website.