About The Double Decker Stringband

The Double Decker Stringband started out in late 1977 with a name that did more to describe what they looked like than what they sounded like.  Since then they've gone through some changes visually, musically, and geographically.  The band haspread its version of old-time tunes and songs ranging from sentimental to silly, sacred to secular around the US, Canada, and Europe ever since.

Old-time music was in its heyday during that pivotal period of our not-too-distant past when this country stumbled from chorus lines in the 1920's to bread lines in the 30's.  Old-time remained popular as the Depression spread but records became a luxury few could afford.  Recording companies foed and the music went back to the parlors and porches of rural America.

Where we have performed

Bill Schmidt

Bill was born and raised in Trenton, NJ. He began playing guitar and uke during the 'Folk Scare' of the 1960's, and became a New Lost City Ramblers fan while in high school. He started playing banjo and fiddle in the early 70's and was a founding member of the Double Decker Stringband. He rejoined the band in 1999 after a brief 15 year hiatus. He also plays fiddle with the Hoover Uprights. In his other life, he's a sculptor and painter who teaches at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore.

Visit Bill's web site http://www.billschmidt.org

Bruce Hutton

Born in 1948, Bruce was about 10 years old when an exploration of the family attic in Massachusetts uncovered his mother's ukulele and his great uncles mandolin. At about the same time he discovered his older brother's hi-fi and stash of Folkways albums.

At high school in the Cambridge area he managed an on campus coffeehouse presenting Boston area artists. He frequented Boston and Cambridge coffee houses and the Newport folk festival where he listened to John Hurt, Clarence Ashley, and the group that proved to be his greatest inspiration, The New Lost City Ramblers.

Bruce and future wife Debbie managed the Hiram College coffeehouse; which featured student talent and visiting performers. Trips to Cleveland and Kent State were opportunities to hear favorites Mike Seeger and Doc Watson. Bruce's first performing was part of the duo 'Uncle Paul's Wool Thumpers' with fellow student Paul Newton.

Upon moving to DC Bruce met banjo player/collector Reed Martin, who provided Bruce with his first 5-string banjo and an up-close look at his dazzling claw hammer style. Reed also introduced Bruce to the Folklore Society of Greater Washington where he met musicians who became friends, many of whom including Reed performed with him on his 1978 folkways album.

During the 70's and 80's Bruce hosted an open mic every Monday at the Red Fox Inn in Bethesda, Md, (Thursday home to the newly formed bluegrass band--The Seldom Scene). Scheduled artists were added to the open mic format and the Red Fox featured many folk music legends. Tuesday became Old Time Music night, which brought out the local cloggers. Newly formed Double Decker Stringband was a regular.

Since 1973 Bruce has made folk music his profession. Then as now, his solo venues include festivals, community concerts, schools, libraries, museums, and senior centers. He performs for children, family audiences and adults, choosing material from his repertoire of old time songs, blues, ballads, rags and vintage 'jazz' jug band style.

Visit Bruce's web site http://www.huttonfolkways.com

Craig Johnson

Craig grew up in the Detroit suburbs during the 1950s and 60s. No wizened uncle strummed the dulcimer or expectorated on the dog at his house. Rather, he was raised on Broadway show tunes (he can still sing several selections from .Flower Drum Song.), Arthur Godfrey, and, a bit later, the Monkees. He played trombone in the high school marching band. None of this music meant much to him . it was just there.

Toward the end of high school he got his hands on a Woody Guthrie album and an autoharp and became obsessed with traditional music. He then found Mississippi John Hurt, Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell, Dave Macon, Leadbelly, and Roscoe Holcomb and purchased a series of shoddy guitars and banjos, attempting to play and sing along with each. His friends and family were tolerant and quietly appalled.

In 1971 it was off to the U of Michigan, ostensibly to be prepared for a career and self-sufficiency. College was interesting but the Ark Coffeehouse and the wonderful musical community it supported was really compelling. It was an education just to sit and listen. That's when he joined his first stringband.

John Beam

North Jersey under the shadow of Manhattan...trumpet lessons 5 to 8th grade ...a 78 by Elvis....alllowance $ for 45's...the Hollywood Flames, the Casuals, Everly Bros., Danny and the Juniors, Buddy Holly and the Crickets, Ersel Hickey...father's dismay...pantomime of Link Wray's "Rumble" on $12 metallic-taped guitar...Lp's by Cash, Frizzell, Kingston Trio, Ray Coniff(?)...sang Dion in Y camp...white buck loafers...U of Virginia...learned 7 guitar chords and blew smoke rings instead of studying...mother's dismay...switched to art school Newark...Jesse Fuller and spin the bottle at party...then Van Ronk, Hardin, Hurt, Muddy, Diddley, Dylan...drafted at wrong time...$80 guitar in Nam...mail order Baez, Redding, Doors on reel-to-reel...$400 D-28 NYC 1969...harmonica in radioless VW microbus...hitchhiked length US..."Hair" in LA...trying to make up for lost time...met Bill in Baltimore...old-time tunes with no end...Double Decker...art instructor 27yrs Maryland Institute...owns aNoPheles Blues gallery Chincoteague, VA