Pete Wernick

Dr. Banjo needed the professional services of the medical doctors last week. Noted banjo player, Hot Rize co-founder, and long time IBMA leader Pete Wernick suffered a heart attack this past Tuesday (February 1) at home in the early morning hours.

Every so often a group of musicians is assembled that presage something important, perhaps stellar careers in the making, a new sound for an established form, or even a radical restructuring of how we interpret a genre. As bluegrass lovers, we

This look back to the first time Hot Rize visited France in 1980 comes in three parts. First we have the recollections of Charley Sifaqui, a French journalist, banjo picker, and bluegrass lover who had the honor of accompanying the

UPDATE 12/30 – Pete received a note yesterday from Dean Budnick, editor at Relix, who was aghast at the oversight, and determined to make its right. They have since done so, completely revamping the article. Raffaela Kenny-Cincotta, who wrote the original

Pete Wernick, aka Dr. Banjo, and his Wernick Method instructional system for jammers, have announced the winners in round one of their Safe Jam Contest. This online video competition was launched to encourage people learning to play bluegrass to get out

Pete Wernick, aka Dr. Banjo, and his Wernick Method Jam class program are sponsoring a video competition to encourage a return to jamming for those concerned about viral exposure. Their Safe Jam Contest is offering prizes of Dr. Banjo merchandise for

Following an invitation that the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) extended to its members that they share a memory from “75 years of bluegrass,” we thought that we would collect a few to share with you.  Pete Wernick (Dr Banjo) played

 Pete Wernick has given a great deal to the banjo and bluegrass communities over the course of his lengthy career. The author of several top-selling instructional books for banjo, he was also a founding member of Hot Rize, and the

How much progress are you making in jam sessions? Have you got all the development aids that you need? Well, will a songbook - the words to the tunes that you are trying to conquer – be helpful?  Published songbooks aren’t as

We heard this morning from R. B. Powell,from Lewistown, PA, a banjo picker and promoter of scholarships for young musicians.   He shared this video he had shot of Ralph Stanley during MerleFest 2014 at the Creekside Stage as part of the