Tom Hanway facts for kids
Tom Hanway is a talented American musician. He was born on August 20, 1961, in Cleveland, Ohio. He grew up in Larchmont, New York, and went to Hampshire College. Tom is famous for playing the 5-string banjo. He also writes music and books.
Tom Hanway is known for creating a style called "Celtic fingerstyle" banjo. In 1998, he worked with a banjo maker named Geoff Stelling. They designed a special banjo called the Stelling Tom Hanway SwallowTail. This banjo is used in bluegrass, folk, and Celtic music all over the world.
Learning the Banjo and Early Music
Tom Hanway started playing the banjo in the 1980s. He learned from famous banjo players like Tony Trischka and Bill Keith. He was also inspired by music from Earl Scruggs, Ralph Stanley, Don Reno, and Béla Fleck. Other musicians who inspired him include David Bromberg, Jerry Garcia, the Grateful Dead, and Vassar Clements.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Tom played with several bands. These included the John Herald Band and Blue Horizon. He also performed with Kenny Kosek in a bluegrass musical called Feast Here Tonight.
Tom has played on many music recordings. He also produced three albums for his own record label, Joyous Gard Records. For his album Bucket of Bees, he played with amazing musicians like Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas. He has also performed live with music legends like Bill Monroe and Peter Rowan. From the 1990s to early 2000s, he helped organize the St. Mark’s Bluegrass Festival. In 2005, his band, the Ravens, won the 'European Bluegrass Band of the Year' award.
Irish and Celtic Music Style
In 1998, Tom Hanway released an important book and CD. It was called Complete Book of Irish & Celtic 5-String Banjo. A music magazine said in 1999 that his book would become "the bible" for banjo players interested in Irish and Celtic music.
Tom also writes about music. He contributes to the Celtic League, American Branch, about Celtic music. He is a member of the United Arts Club in Dublin, Ireland. There, he helps promote concerts for traditional Irish, bluegrass, and folk music. Tom now lives in Longford town, Ireland. He is still a popular banjo player in the Irish bluegrass music scene.
Music Albums
Here are some of the albums Tom Hanway has released:
- Bucket of Bees (1991)
- Tom Hanway & Blue Horizon (1992)
- Burnt Toast (1996)
- Complete Book of Irish & Celtic 5-String Banjo (1998) – This is a CD that goes with his book.
- Grillbillies Album, Volumes 1 and 2 (1999)
- The Badbelly Project: Hesitation Blues (2005)
