Conrad Shiba's Folk Music Page

Conrad Shiba's Folk Music Page


(L) 2008 and (R) 2009 Cumberland Gap Dulcimer Gathering	(Photos by Pam Lewis)

I began playing folk music in my teens, inspired by my older sister's record collection and the "Hootenanny" television show. The "British Invasion" led me to play in a rock band for a couple years, but I still also played folk music. During college I performed in coffeehouses, mostly singer-songwriter stuff. Trips to the Mariposa Folk Festival got me interested in more traditional music. After I graduated I bought my first banjo, then in Columbus, Ohio, I met some musicians who introduced me to traditional Appalachian music. Nowadays I play guitar, banjo, hammered dulcimer, mountain dulcimer, autoharp, banjo-ukulele, ukulele, and harmonica. From 1982-1990 I played banjo and guitar in the Raggedy Robin String Band. I now do solo performances for schools, festivals, coffeehouses, civic events, receptions, and other occasions. In addition to my appearance in the movie and video mentioned below, I performed the musical soundtrack for the video "Preserving the Legacy," a history of medical care in Danville prepared for the Ephraim McDowell Medical Care Foundation, and I also appear on the CD "UUCL Greatest Hits."

Booking Information
For concerts, festivals, receptions, weddings, etc.:
Contact Conrad Shiba, 3165 Waterworks Road, Danville, KY 40422.
Telephone: (859) 402-8431. Email: cfshiba00 "at" adelphia "dot" net

My Performance Schedule

    Jan. 7, 2009. Lecture/performance on dulcimers and ballads. Kentucky Folk Music course, Centre College.
    Jan. 13, 2009. Lecture/performance on banjo history and banjo styles. Kentucky Folk Music course, Centre College.
    Mar. 15, 2009, 11:00 A.M.. Unitarian-Universalist Church of Lexington. Lexington, KY.
    Apr. 26, 2009, 11:00 A.M. Unitarian-Universalist Church of Lexington. Lexington, KY.
    May 8-9, 2009. Cumberland Gap Dulcimer Gathering. Cumberland Gap National Historic Park Campground, Cumberland Gap, VA.
    May 22, 2009, 8:00 P.M. Accompanist (guitar) for Sounding Joy women's choir. Norton Center for the Arts, Danville, KY.
    September 12, 2009. J. P. Fraley Mountain Music Gatherin', Carter Caves State Park, Olive Hill, KY.
    September 20, 2009, 12:00 noon. Constitution Square Arts Fest, Danville, KY.
    TV Alert! It's an old program, but KET is airing "Hammered Dulcimer Styles and Music" again. My old band, the Raggedy Robin String Band, plays a couple of numbers in the show. KETKY, Tuesday 6 October 2009, 11 PM, and Saturday 17 October 2009, 5:00 AM. Web page with info at http://www.ket.org/tvschedules/episode.php?nola=KHDUL+000000&
    Feb. 5-6, 2010. Dulcibrrr festival, Rough River Dam State Resort Park, Falls of Rough, KY. Poster. Brochure.
    May 7-8, 2010. Cumberland Gap Dulcimer Gathering. Cumberland Gap National Historic Park Campground, Cumberland Gap, VA.


Jamming at the Fraley Festival. Who's that banjer player in the back?	Raggedy Robin String Band with Cheryl Ladd on the set of "Bluegrass" L to R: Conrad Shiba, Cari Norris, Cheryl Ladd, Carmel Bowman, Eleanor Wilson (rear), Mike Norris

Raggedy Robin String Band (1982-1990)

The band was formed in 1982 during the Appalachian Family Folk Week at the Hindman Settlement School in Hindman, KY. Band members were Eleanor Wilson (hammered dulcimer and autoharp), Mike Norris (guitar and harmonica), Conrad Shiba (banjo and guitar), and Carmel Bowman (fiddle). Mike was the son-in-law of Lily May Ledford, famous banjo and fiddle player in the Coon Creek Girls, and Eleanor was her manager. Lily May and Jean Ritchie were inspirations, friends, and mentors to the band. In addition to dozens of concerts, festivals, workshops, and conventions, RRSB appeared in the CBS television miniseries Bluegrass (directed by Simon Wincer), in which we played "Whiskey Before Breakfast" and "Star of the County Down" for a Kentucky Derby party scene, and the KET production Hammered Dulcimers: Styles and Music (available on video from KET or at public libraries). RRSB is often in the playlist of Sweetwater Folk, a Live365 internet radio station that specializes in dulcimer music.

Album: "Raggedy Robin String Band" (1989) Click on the underlined links to hear sound clips.
Track list: Boatman/Cherokee Shuffle, Down on the Farm, Temperance Reel/Mississippi Sawyer/Whiskey Before Breakfast, Uncle Dudy, Star of the County Down, And the Tide Came Rising, Money in Both Pockets/June Apple, Gabriel, Balleydesmond Polka, The Shearing, The L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore/None But One, Brother Eph

Available on CD or cassette. Contact me for ordering information.

Links to Folk Music Resources on the Internet
Use the drop-down menu to select the area of interest.

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