Andy Boarman

The Boarmans, under patriarch Major William Boarman (1630–1709), were among the original families to settle in the Colony of Maryland.

His great-grandfather Rear Admiral Charles Boarman (1795–1879) played a role in the succession of West Virginia and was later appointed to the U.S. Naval Board during the American Civil War.

Two of Admiral Boarman's sons-in-law, however, served in the Confederate Army; according to Andy, a family story claimed that famed Confederate general Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson visited the Boarman farm near Little Georgetown during the war and "was treated to a glass of wine".

Boarman attributed his early exposure to music largely to his mother's family.

Ada Lee Stump played clawhammer-style five-string banjo, upright bass, piano, and organ in a family band with three of Andy's uncles and two aunts.

Boarman's brothers William and Tony played banjo and guitar respectively.

Boarman's maternal uncle, Charles Cleveland "C.C."

Stump, was a classical banjo player and the person from whom Andy learned to build banjos.

Andy also credited his cousin Charles Boarman for introducing him to the autoharp, an instrument he would later become most associated with, as well as "a few pointers" from local Falling Waters musician Conley Hoover.

Boarman claimed that Charles was one of the finest fiddlers in the country but was so shy that he would only play with his cousin.

He was one of five children born to Ada Lee Stump (1877–1922) and William McGary Boarman (1877–1959).

Andrew Forrest Boarman (October 11, 1911 – August 26, 1999) was an American bluegrass and folk musician.

He was also well known as a banjo designer, luthier and repairman.

Andy Boarman was born on October 11, 1911, in Falling Waters, West Virginia, and spent much of his childhood in the "apple orchard country" of Berkeley County.

At one point, his family lived along the Potomac River.

When his mother died in 1922, Boarman was sent to live with C.C. and Minnie Stump.

He left his aunt and uncle's home at around age 16 and spent the next several years working in construction.

In his late teens, Boarman was encouraged by his Aunt Minnie to enter a banjo contest in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Boarman came in first place and won three hundred dollars, a small fortune at the time, which he gave to his aunt and uncle.

In 1929 and 1930, Boarman traveled with ukulele player Andy Jones and played the 5-string banjo and fiddle at square dances around Canowing and Peachbottom, Maryland.

Together they worked 55 hours a week and after paying for room and board had $11 between them.

They also played in the mountain communities.

According to Boarman, there "wasn't much money floating around then" and the audience would take up collections for the musicians.

Boarman received as much as $65 for one night's performance.

Boarman soon left construction work and moved to Vinton, Virginia, to live with his uncle C.C. Stump.

He learned the craft of building banjos and other instruments from his uncle.

He also spent time with Hagerstown, Maryland, violin maker Art Velardo who influenced Boarman's later designs.

Boarman also continued learning how to play the 5-string banjo from Stump and "Fiddlin'" Arthur Smith.

While living in Virginia, he had the opportunity to play with a number of string musicians including classical banjo players Fred Bacon and Fred Van Epps.

Around this time, Boarman began performing in a band with several cousins called The All Night Ramblers with Boarman playing autoharp and old-time banjo.

The group initially played for local barn and square dances traveling between gigs by "Model T, horse and buggy, or the 'shoe leather express'."

From 1962 to 1974, Boarman's Hedgesville barber shop, out of which he ran a music store and instrument workshop, was a popular hangout for musicians from throughout the Southeastern United States.

He subsequently became a full-time musician in the mid-1970s, releasing his first album in 1978, and was a popular performer at state fairs and music festivals across West Virginia.

Boarman was praised for his "old-time" banjo performances, particularly for his "unusual and intricate finger-style" banjo playing, as well as being one of the oldest living pioneers of the autoharp.

He frequently declined invitations from a number of musical groups to join them on national tours, preferring to remain in his native state.

Consequently, Boarman remained unknown as a performer outside of West Virginia.

Nevertheless, Boarman eventually gained national recognition being profiled by numerous publications including, most notably, Banjo Newsletter, Goldenseal, and Grit.

Bluegrass Unlimited called Boarman "the guru of the 5-string banjo".

He was also the subject of the 1987 documentary film Catching Up With Yesterday.

In 1991, Boarman received the Vandalia Award for his "lifetime contribution to West Virginia and its traditional culture."