Tony Trischka (born January 16, 1949 in Syracuse, New York) is an American five-string banjo player.

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Biography

He was born in Syracuse, New York, and graduated from Syracuse University (in Syracuse, New York) with a B.A in Fine Arts, and was inspired to play the banjo in 1963, listening to the Kingston Trio's "Charlie and The MTA". In 1971 he made his recording debut on 15 Bluegrass Instrumentals with the band Country Cooking, and at the same time, he was also a member of Country Granola In 1973, he began a two-year stint with Breakfast Special. Between 1974 and 1975, he recorded two solo albums, Bluegrass Light and Heartlands. After one more solo album in 1976, Banjoland, he went on to become musical leader for the Broadway show The Robber Bridegroom. Trischka toured with the show in 1978, the year he also played with the Monroe Doctrine. Beginning in 1978, he also played with artists such as Peter Rowan, Richard Greene, and Stacy Phillips.

In the early 1980s, he began recording with his new group Skyline, which recorded its first album in 1983. Subsequent albums included Robot Plane Flies over Arkansas (solo, 1983), Stranded in the Moonlight (with Skyline, 1984) and Hill Country (solo, 1985). In 1984, he performed in his first feature film, Foxfire. Three years later, he worked on the soundtrack for Driving Miss Daisy. Trischka produced the Belgian group Gold Rush's No More Angels in 1988. The following year, Skyline recorded its final album, Fire of Grace. He also recorded the theme song for Books on the Air, a popular National Public Radio Show, and continued his affiliation with the network by appearing on Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion, Mountain Stage, From Our Front Porch, and other radio shows.

Trischka's solo recordings include 1993's World Turning, 1995's Glory Shone Around: A Christmas Collection and 1999's Bend. New Deal followed in 2003. The new studio album was a bluesy adaptation of bluegrass standards that featured, among other things, a vocal cameo by Loudon Wainwright. Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular, featuring an appearance by comedian Steve Martin, came out four years later.

Tony was banjo teacher to Béla Fleck, regarded, along with Tony, as one of the world's top banjoists.

In the late 90s, Trischka teamed up with David Grier, Darol Anger, Mike Marshall, and Todd Phillips as "Psychograss" and formed a new band, whose debut album Bend explored yet more territory uncharted by banjo.

In January 2007 Tony released, to critical and popular acclaim, Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular, featuring new music and performances by a stellar line-up of musicians including Earl Scruggs, Bela Fleck and even the multi-talented Steve Martin. On April 26, 2007, he performed live on The Late Show With David Letterman with Steve Martin and Béla Fleck.

On October 4,2007 Tony won his three nominations at the International Bluegrass Music Awards; for Album of the Year, Recorded Event of the Year and Banjo Player of the Year. This was some long-deserved recognition for Tony and marked a homecoming to the bluegrass community.

In 2008, Trischka released an album on Smithsonian Folkways entitled "Territory." In early 2009, "Territory" won in The 8th annual Independent Music Awards for Best Americana Album. ^[1]

Tony currently resides in Fair Lawn, NJ.

Television Appearances

• Live at the Quick, with Bela Fleck, 2004-2006
• ABC “Views”, with Bela Fleck - Summer 1997
• “ABC World News Tonight” with Peter Jennings - Summer1996
• “CBS Sunday Morning” with Charles Osgood - feature story (including Bela Fleck), 1995
• “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” (PBS), 1992
• British Television Production of “Voice of America: History of the Banjo” , 1989
• CBS “Hallmark Hall of Fame” production of “Foxfire” with Jessica Tandy, Hume Cronyn and John Denver, 1987
• Ralph Emory’s “Frets” Awards Show, The Nashville Network, 1987
• Nashville Network’s “Fire on the Mountain,” 1986, 1984
• Merv Griffin Show, 1976

References

1. Independent Music Awards - 8th Annual Winners