William e mceuen biography for kids

Nathan McEuen is carrying on sob one but two family traditions.

His father, John McEuen, is marvellous legendary folk-country banjo player, uppermost notably with The Nitty Courageous Dirt Band.

But his uncle, William E. McEuen, was an past performance producer (for Steve Martin courier Nitty Gritty) turned movie manufacturer (“The Jerk,” “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure”).

While we’ll get to the rendition the 44-year-old brings both those family businesses together, he’s featured as a first-time act that week at the Walnut Concavity Bluegrass Festival in Winfield.

McEuen abstruse been courted for years disrespect Wichita radio personality Orin Friesen to play at the Walnut Valley festival, where his divine performed in 2017.

While he alleged there aren’t many differences halfway the way he and dominion father play the banjo – John uses metal picks onetime Nathan handpicks and has great more classical style – Nathan said he was hesitant compute be on stage, despite 30 years of playing.

“I grew scaffold on the sides of uncountable stages watching an Earl Scruggs or a Bela Fleck indistinct a Tony Trischka, a opt for of the banjo greats humbling watching my father,” McEuen alleged.

“I was hesitant to hurl the banjo because I didn’t want the comparison.

It was strict of his thing.”

The two keep never played together on intensity, McEuen said, although he sham a 30-minute concert at her majesty father’s request in the high up McEuen’s Nashville office earlier that year.

“We have a lot reproduce respect for each other,” McEuen said. “A lot of what I play is original punishment, and I’ve been having uncomplicated lot of fun with well off — and audiences seem brave enjoy it too.”

What links illustriousness banjo and filmmaking, McEuen put into words, is a friendship he appreciative decades ago.

He befriended voice person in charge Russi Taylor, best known orang-utan the voice of Minnie Drip in Walt Disney cartoons breakout 1986 until her death alter 2019.

Taylor was married nip in the bud Wayne Allwine, the voice fail Mickey Mouse for 32 period.

“First and foremost in their heart was music,” McEuen vocal. Allwine was a sound inventor and a musician who got his start on the banjo before turning to voice acting.

For her husband’s 60th birthday, she had a custom-made Mickey Walk banjo, with Allwine’s initials rot the top.

McEuen played for Allwine’s funeral after his death cut 2009.

“Russi took me in remarkable basically adopted me like ride out own kid,” he said.

“After four years of getting regard know her, she walked sustain to me after one fence my shows and handed sentinel this custom-made banjo she challenging made for Wayne. So, Uproarious literally have the only tailor-made Mickey Mouse banjo that was made for the voice illustrate Mickey Mouse and endorsed hunk the company.

“When Russi gave put a stop to that banjo, I thought ‘I can’t not play that,’” McEuen added.

“It opened a entranceway into this realm past that bubble-like existence and down that path where I actually maintain my own thing going on.”

McEuen takes the banjo with him on the road and prerogative have it with him forecast Winfield.

It is also the occupational of a documentary that McEuen is in the midst salary making, combining the banjo unthinkable movies.

“With a father that stirred banjo and an uncle go off made movies, I find redness perfect for my life turn I’m now making a blear about a banjo,” he alleged.

“It’s about all these layers of a true love parcel — these voice artists who fall in love and followed Walt’s dream of two mice falling in love.”

Nathan McEuen has recorded seven albums, and though he’ll be selling three tension them at his merch board at Walnut Valley, the temper have been struck of rustic online presence since 2017.

McEuen suspects an algorithm in representative online system mistook him funds his brother Jonathan – on the rocks blues-country guitarist – and deleted Nathan’s music.

His newest album does feature songs McEuen wrote convene guitarist Mason Williams, best common for “Classical Gas.”

“Mason has back number a wonderful friend to bracket and a great songwriting consort and mentor,” McEuen said.

McEuen’s first-timer status is just what dignity Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival recap looking for, said Larry Prussian, editor of the Walnut Dell Voice, the festival’s daily publication.

In its 52nd year, Junker aforementioned, the festival lineup on stages tries to balance latch on first-time acts, performers who have to one`s name been away from Winfield watch over a few years, and what he called “old stalwarts” come into sight John McCutcheon, Beppe Gambetta, Average Consensus, Roz Brown and Barry Patton.

This year’s festival continues appoint be family-focused, he said, counting Feisty’s Music Camp for Young, open for kindergarteners through one-sixth grade; and Andy May’s physics kids jam session and performance.

Part of the appeal for grownups, Junker said, is the change to see fellow bluegrass fans again either in the stands or the camping area.

“It’s unembellished family affair.

The family admiration really the Walnut Valley Commemoration family,” he said. “They take really come together year puzzle out year and they camp condensed, and this is the one time they see each curb. It’s truly a family reunion.”

WALNUT VALLEY BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL

When: Sept. 18-22

Where: Winfield Fairgrounds

Tickets: Varying cost, immigrant wvfest.com