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February 24, 2008

Banjoist Garrett Arb latest Share America scholarship designee

Submitted by Share America Foundation

Share America Foundation, Inc. recently honored Garrett Arb, 15, of Varnell, who started playing at banjo at the age of 9. Arb will receive the Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship special Dottie Rambo Award when he attends college.

He began his love of music when his grandfather, John Arb, shared with him an older Ode banjo.

Within a couple of years, he was sitting in the audience at the Wink Theatre in Dalton at a concert featuring million selling banjo stylist Raymond Fairchild and it was then and there, Arb was hooked for sure.

“It was depth of his originality on the instrument,” he said. “I like the twang and clarity of his notes. That’s why I like him so much.”

Arb soon began devouring the Fairchild catalog playing all of his most noted tunes and eventually began performing on stage as a guest with the musician he idolized.

Some of his favorite tunes include "Rueben, " Whoa Mule," and "Great Speckled Bird."

In the process of his learning, he expanded his talents to guitar, both bluegrass and classical styles, and the piano.

Since 2003, he also added some other musicians to his list of stylist to aspire to Don Reno, Earl Scruggs, and Jens Kruger and even songwriter and vocalist Dottie Rambo.

Even during the interview in the background on the telephone, Arb is picking out licks with a pick given to him by Rambo.

How did Dottie Rambo become part of banjo players list of favorite performers, it began as what was to be a brief appearance with Randall Franks as the feature youth for Share America Foundation’s kick off concert in April 2007.

When Dottie met Garrett backstage, she asked him if he thought she could play with her on one of her songs.

“She is the sweetest woman you could meet,” he said. “I never heard the song before but they had a tape and I listened to it. It wasn’t very complicated.”

Randall and Garrett joined her on stage for that song and then:

“I took a couple breaks then instead of going off stage she kept me up there for rest of show — one hour and 30 minutes,” he said.

Meeting her for the first time that night, Garrett said he did not realize what a big music legend Dottie is and what a big star she is around the world.

“I never imagined getting to do something like that — playing with someone that is such a legend,” he said. “She has really written some authentically inspired songs. She has a tremendous gift. Her music serves as a good minister to me.

“It was so kind of Dottie to encourage me in the way she did as well as ask the audience for support of my future ministry,” he said.

Her request started a scholarship currently valued at $710, according to Franks, Share America Foundation president.

A ninth grader at Northwest High School in Tunnel Hill, he said he wants to attend Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn. to study composing, directing and church ministry. His parents are Lisa and David Arb of Varnell.

“I know when the time comes that I begin college the Dottie Rambo Award from the Share America Foundation will be a great help," he said. “Music is something that is really fun. I think music to me — it’s just a gift from God and very worth pursing. It doesn’t matter to what level you advance there is always something you can do to improve.”

For more information about Share America Foundation, Inc., visit myspace.com/shareamerica.

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