Bluegrass Musician Interview - Ed Sellers

Hello everyone.  It is really a wonderful thing to be able to share someone's musical journey.  Kansas City has so many talented Bluegrass musicians and Ed Sellers of the Bluegrass Missourians is just one of those individuals whose fiddle ability goes right to the top.  Please enjoy the following interview so you can appreciate his story.  Bill

BB: When did you get started in your musical journey?
Ed: I learned to play the guitar when I was 16. My hometown is Plattsburg, MO.  Music was part of my early years along with football, basketball, track and getting my Private Pilot's license.

BB: What happened after that?
Ed: My Dad played the fiddle, and my Mom would dance. I backed up Dad on the guitar and sang some country songs. I played and sang at school and other local venues.

BB: Where did you go from there?
Ed: After high school, I joined the Army and ended up a Staff Sergeant in charge of the crew of an early warning radar unit in Illinois. While there, I started playing guitar and singing in a country rock group, The Galaxies. We played all around the Illinois and Indiana area. A highlight was when we opened for Roy Acuff and the Wilburn Brothers. Roy even introduced us on stage.

BB: What happened after the Army?
Ed: At the ripe old age of 20, I went to college at UCM to become a teacher.  While there, I joined a fraternity, Sigma Tau Gamma, and played guitar and sang in the fraternity rock band. After 3 degrees and 35 years as a teacher, counselor and coach, I have retired to my avocation of bluegrass music and travel.

BB: How did you get into Bluegrass?
Ed: In 1974, I witnessed a fiddle contest at Kearny, MO. I decided at that point that I wanted to learn how to play the fiddle. In 1976, I joined the Bluegrass Missourians. I have been playing the fiddle ever since. There have been lots of highlights since then - opening up twice for Bill Monroe and other greats and winning
the fiddle championship of Kansas 4 times. Our band has recorded 14 albums.

BB: What is your favorite Bluegrass Band or Artist? and who influenced you the most?
Ed: Obviously, fiddle players are my favorite. There are so many good fiddle players out there. I try to learn from all of them.

BB: How many songs have you written?
Ed: 4 bluegrass songs. I wrote some early rock and country tunes, but I don't count them.

BB: What advice would you give to young people wanting to get started in Bluegrass?
Ed: Listen to the music. Keep your timing and noting pure. Practice.

BB: Anything else you want to say to wrap up this interview?
Ed: Yes, if folks want to learn more about me and the Bluegrass Missourians, please check out the following URL web site addresses:

http://www.Fiddlin-Ed-Sellers.com/

http://www.BluegrassMissourians.com/