COOKEVILLE — Earl Grubbs left Murfreesboro last weekend as an
average citizen.
He returned with a crown - as he was honored as Tennessee's top
music-maker on a resonator guitar, a unique musical instrument often
noted for a soulful sound.
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"We were in Cookeville Sunday
(May 7) for the seventh annual Railroad Rendezvous Springfest,"
Grubbs said. "It was also the site for the annual Depot Bluegrass
Festival that stages the Tennessee State Resonator Guitar
Championship. That's the title I won."
The resonator guitar is also popularly known as the "Dobro," a
trademarked name now owned by the Gibson Guitar Co.
Is this a step toward a national title for the local musician?
It's a possibility.
"I was able to claim the second annual state championship and
honored to join 2005 National Resonator Guitar Champion Johnny
Bellar, who won our state's first championship last year," Grubbs
confirmed. "Yes, this qualifies me for the nationals, which are
scheduled in Todd, N.C., next year. I hope to follow in (Tennessean)
Johnny Bellar's footsteps and ultimately bring the national title to
Murfreesboro."
The music makers' love for music traces back to childhood, when
he first learned to vigorously strum, stroke and pick a banjo.
"After attending several local festivals, I noted as a teenager
that there was an overwhelming number of banjo players," Grubbs
said. "But there would be only one or two resonator guitar players.
So, I became interested in learning to play this unique instrument."
With a borrowed resonator, the teenaged Grubbs turned first to
the music he loved performed in the style of bluegrass legends
Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs.
"They had their own style of bluegrass, a unique sound that so
many of us have emulated down through the decades," he said. "But
instead of listening to Flatt and Scruggs, I had my ear tuned to the
sound of resonator player Jerry Douglas of Nashville, who worked on
multiple recording sessions for Flatt and Scruggs."
Grubbs has his family's backing in making music out across
America's landscape.
"I'm very proud of my husband who left Murfreesboro the weekend
of the JazzFest and went to Cookeville's Springfest and came back
with the title as Tennessee's best Dobro musician," said wife, Lisa
Grubbs.
Two other musicians, Ray Lane of Walter Hill and Joe Holloway of
Smyrna, accompanied Grubbs.
"They graciously travel with me to most competitions, and we play
as 'The Earl Grubbs Combo" at area venues such as the Leanna Opry
and the Almaville Community Center Concerts," Grubbs said. "Back in
April, we traveled to Holladay, Tenn., where I won second, and
Smyrna reso player Rob Pearcy won third, behind national champion
Johnny Bellar of Ashland City."
In strumming his way to the state championship, Grubbs
incorporated a mix of traditional bluegrass sound and a bluesy jazz
sound in the songs "Kentucky Waltz" and "Sweet Georgia Brown."
He described his love of music.
"It was Bill Monroe, credited with being the 'Father of
Bluegrass,' who brought the sound down out of the mountains of
Kentucky," Grubbs said. "I fell in love with the sound as a
teenager, after hearing Flatt and Scruggs. But in addition to
listening to bluegrass, I also listen to jazz, the blues and western
swing. All of that is in my sound."
Reso guitar players typically have a special name for their
favorite instrument, sometimes noted for it's forlorn sound.
"Rutherford County Deputy Sheriff Scott Dozier nicknamed my
custom-made resonator — 'The Formula One' — which was made
especially for me by Pulaski, Tenn., instrument-maker Tooter
Meredith," Grubbs explained. "My reso is made of mahogany with an
ebony stripe running through it. I have a second reso, as a backup."
World-recognized Nashville resonator guitarist Jerry Douglas has
a guitar labeled "The Terminator."
"Our guitars are important, an extension of our soul and talent,"
Grubbs credited. "So yes, it's not unusual for us to give them a
name of their own."
Guitar-maker Meredith described his clients' talent.
"Earl's a very talented player, playing a lot like Jerry Douglas
played 20 years ago," said Meredith, who has a world-wide waiting
list. "It took eight months for me to make Earl's special guitar.
His style of play is what most resophonic guitar players try to
emulate. Earl is a very good, tasteful player who can make you want
to listen to him for hours and hours."
"Reso guitar's sound is on the grow," added Meredith. "The price
on the resonators range from $3,000 to $6,000, and up. I only make
customized instruments.
"They have their own sound," Meredith added. "It's often
described as a haunting sound, sounding like no other instrument. I
formerly played a banjo, but when I heard my first resonator, well,
I've played nothing else."
Grubbs talked about unique aspects of a resonator guitar.
"Learning to use the steel bar up and down the strings, as
opposed to sliding your fingers up and down the fret board and neck,
is one unique feature of a reso guitar," Grubbs added. "When I
started 25 years ago, there was only one brand, the Stevens bar,
that you could find. Now, there's several brands of steel bars. And
I guess you could say that the resonator was he forerunner of
today's electrified-amplified steel guitars.
"Plus, learning to play the reso guitar in your lap, that's
different from any other instrument," he said.
Grubbs estimates he practices one to two hours nightly on his
favorite instrument in a designated "music room."
"My wife, Lisa, and 8-year-old daughter, Rachel, have designated
that as my space, in our home's bonus room," Grubbs said. "My wife
is not into music, but Rachel is already an award-winning clogging
dancer. They both encourage me a lot in my love for music."
On the Web:
http://www.earlgrubbs.com/
—Dan Whittle, 278-5153
dnj.com 
