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Story taken from The Chattanoogan.com
Varnell Banjo Player Garrett Arb Is Scholarship Recipient
posted February 19, 2008
Banjoist Garrett Arb
Banjoist Garrett Arb latest Share America scholarship designee
Share America Foundation, Inc. has honored Garrett Arb, 15, of Varnell, Ga., who started playing the banjo at the age of nine. Garrett will receive the Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship special Dottie Rambo Award when he attends college.
He began his love of music when his grandfather, John Arb, shared with him an older Ode banjo.
Within a couple of years, he was sitting in the audience at the Wink Theatre in Dalton at a concert featuring million selling banjo stylist Raymond Fairchild and it was then and there, Arb was hooked for sure.
“It was depth of his originality on the instrument,” he said. “I like the twang and clarity of his notes. That’s why I like him so much.”
Garrett soon began devouring the Fairchild catalog playing all of his most noted tunes and eventually began performing on stage as a guest with the musician he idolized.
Some of his favorite tunes include Rueben, Whoa Mule, and Great Speckled Bird.
In the process of his learning, he expanded his talents to guitar, both bluegrass and classical styles, and the piano.
Since 2003, he also added some other musicians to his list of stylist to aspire to Don Reno, Earl Scruggs, and Jens Kruger and even songwriter and vocalist Dottie Rambo.
Even during the interview in the background on the telephone, Garrett is picking out licks with a pick given to him by Rambo.
How did Dottie Rambo become part of banjo players' list of favorite performers? It began as what was to be a brief appearance with Randall Franks as the feature youth for Share America Foundation’s kick off concert in April 2007.
When Dottie met Garrett backstage, she asked him if he thought she could play with her on one of her songs.
“She is the sweetest woman you could meet,” he said. “I never heard the song before but they had a tape and I listened to it. It wasn’t very complicated.”
Randall and Garrett joined her on stage for that song and then:
“I took a couple breaks then instead of going off stage she kept me up there for rest of show — one hour and 30 minutes,” he said.
Meeting her for the first time that night, Garrett said he did not realize what a big music legend Dottie is and what a big star she is around the world.
“I never imagined getting to do something like that — playing with someone that is such a legend,” he said. “She has really written some authentically inspired songs. She has a tremendous gift. Her music serves as a good minister to me.
“It was so kind of Dottie to encourage me in the way she did as well as ask the audience for support of my future ministry,” he said.
Her request started a scholarship currently valued at $710, according to Franks, Share America Foundation president.
A ninth grader at Northwest High School in Tunnel Hill, Ga. he said he wants to attend Lee University in Cleveland to study composing, directing and church ministry. His parents are Lisa and David Arb of Varnell, Ga.
“I know when the time comes that I begin college the Dottie Rambo Award from the Share America Foundation will be a great help," he said. “Music is something that is really fun. I think music to me — it’s just a gift from God and very worth pursing. It doesn’t matter to what level you advance there is always something you can do to improve.”
Graduating seniors who play fiddle, guitar, banjo, mountain or hammered dulcimer, acoustic bass, or mandolin, may be eligible for the Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship.
The Share America Foundation, Inc. presents two scholarships each year, ranging between $250-500 to students continuing the traditional music of Appalachia.
The scholarship continues the legacy of the late parents of Actor/Entertainer Randall Franks, best known for his role as “Officer Randy Goode” on TV’s “In the Heat of the Night.” Pearl and Floyd served as entertainment managers for Randall guiding his music and acting career.
Students in most counties in North Georgia and Southeastern Tennessee are eligible with students from other areas becoming eligible based upon whether local support for the organization's efforts has come from their community.
Deadline for application is March 31, for more information about eligibility or how a student might apply for this scholarship, contact high school counselors or Share America Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 42, Tunnel Hill, Ga. 30755 or shareamerica@gmail.com.
