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Alan Munde is one of the most highly respected and best-loved banjo players in the world. A master of both melodic and traditional Scruggs styles, Alan has played and taught music professionally for over 40 years.
If you know the history of country rock and second-generation bluegrass greats, you no doubt have heard Munde’s name. Alan has been an integral part of both those music genres since the late ‘60s.
Born in Norman, Oklahoma, Munde learned banjo from a well-regarded Oklahoman banjo player, Ed Shelton. He first met and jammed with, the legendary fiddle player Byron Berline while both were attending the University of Oklahoma.
After graduating from college Munde moved to Kentucky to play with Wayne Stewart and a teenage Sam Bush in a group called Poor Richard's Almanac. Munde joined the legendary bluegrass musician Jimmy Martin as one of the Sunny Mountain Boys in 1969.
In 1972, Munde briefly became a member of the Flying Burrito Brothers, performing with his old friend Byron Berline. When the Burritos split up in 1973, Munde joined Country Gazette (formed by Berline after the split). The original Country Gazette consisted of Munde on banjo, Roger Bush on bass, Kenny Wertz on guitar, and Berline on the fiddle. Country Gazette went on to record their first album Traitor In Our Midst in 1972. For the next twenty years, Alan remained a central figure in Country Gazette, playing with notable musicians such as Roland White, Clarence White, Joe Carr, and Gene Wooten.
In 1977, Alan Munde and mandolinist Sam Bush recorded Together Again for the First Time with Roland White, Curtis Burch, and John Cowan (both members of legendary New Grass Revival with Sam Bush).
Alan taught full-time in the Bluegrass and Country Music Program at South Plains College from 1986 to May 2007 and is still a major influence (and instructor) for the school’s music camps.
Munde wrote and hosted a monthly 5 string Banjo column for Frets Magazine during the 1980s and has been part of some 29 recording sessions which produced albums.
In 2021 Munde won the prestigious Steve Martin Banjo Award. He will be inducted into the American Banjo Hall of Fame in 2022.
Munde, now 75 years old, resides in Springfield with his wife Kitty Ledbetter. Alan and Kitty (upright bass) play music together and are close friends of the Acoustic Shoppe staff. Alan is also an instructor at the Acoustic Shoppe Academy’s Ozark Music Camp.
We recently sat down with Alan Munde for “Seven Quick Questions.” Enjoy.
DM: Congratulations on winning the 2021 Steve Martin award and being named to the Banjo Hall of Fame. What is the significance of these two prestigious awards for you personally and the body of work you have created?
AM: Well, it certainly makes me feel good, but you know, if I had never gotten any of that I would be fine in a sense that all I have ever wanted to do was play music. I’ve gotten to do that and that is the biggest reward possible. I’ve lived a very fortunate life. I’m overwhelmed to receive those awards.
DM: What made you want to be a musician and who were your musical influences?
AM: Well, I started in the late ‘50s, early ‘60s and the first banjo player that attracted me to the instrument was Pete Seeger and the folk music scene that was going on at that time. But I was always aware of this bluegrass thing. A childhood friend of mine gave me a Flatt and Scruggs record for Christmas. The record was Foggy Mountain Banjo. That was sort of the seminal banjo recording. That really fired me up. Not long after that a group came along called the Dillards which featured Doug Dillard on the banjo. So, I guess my early influences would be in that order. Pete Seeger, Earl Scruggs, and Doug Dillard. Byron Berline, although not a banjo player, was extremely influential on my musical journey.
DM: You live in Springfield, MO now. How did that become a thing?
AM: My wife, Kitty Ledbetter, is originally from Springfield, and about a year ago she retired from Texas State University, and we decided to move to Springfield. Back to her hometown. I miss Texas, but I really like Springfield. It has been a wonderful move.
DM: You are highly regarded as both a player and instructor. What do you like about each, and do you prefer one ever the other?
AM: I love to play music. I enjoy teaching but playing is what I really love to do.
DM: Your history is intertwined with the history of multiple genres of music. Was that by design or simply a twist of fate?
AM: Like everything in life, you just sort of follow the path in front of you. You meet people, doors open, choices are made. You know, you just need to be there, and things happen. You go to a jam or go see somebody play. You meet someone and then you meet someone else, and you just play the music. It’s all just a matter of life and one thing leading to another. You just put your shoes on and head out the door. Life happens. Just make sure you are there.
DM: Which qualities do you think make a great musician?
AM: I think it’s probably the ability to make a piece of music your own. I know people who are not great technical players, but they are great music makers. It’s in their soul and they own it. Everybody has the same notes available but putting them together with your own flair is the thing. It takes a certain amount of technical skill, but more and understanding of what the music is.
DM: How would you like to be remembered?
AM: Well, although I am 75 I feel like I’m in my mid-career. Mark Twain was once asked what would you like people to say about you in 100 years. His response was “my doesn’t he look good for his age.” But seriously, I want people to just remember me for the music. I have tried to play some music that is attractive to the ear. A pretty sound. I hope people find that my music making was good. Just to have some little bit of something I have done mean something to somebody. It’s that simple.
The Acoustic Shoppe is proud to carry on the tradition of producing and promoting live, and taped, music featuring local and national musicians from our Springfield, MO sound stages. Be sure to watch our television show Ozark Music Shoppe and follow us on our social media channels.
For more information, give us a call at 417-720-1223, shoot us an email at info@theacousticshoppe.com, or stop by our showroom at 1913 E
Seminole St. in Springfield, Missouri.
