Two of the most celebrated joys ushered in by the holiday season are the comforts of music and time spent with family. For many families around the world, the holidays are a time best spent together, playing music and performing. Growing up in a musical household, that was often the case for Grammy Award-winning musician, ten-time IBMA “Guitarist of the Year,” and ArtistWorks bluegrass guitar instructor, Bryan Sutton.

In this week’s episode of the ArtistWorks Music Series podcast, Bryan Sutton sits down to interview his father and fellow guitar guru, Jerry Sutton, for a special holiday feature. Together, they explore their family’s musical heritage, Jerry’s first musical experiences that drew him to the guitar, and Bryan’s childhood surrounded by stringed instruments and bluegrass music. The show is available wherever you listen to podcasts, or you can listen here at ArtistWorks.

“My father, your grandfather, was a fiddle player. So, we always had all sorts of instruments around the house,” Jerry explains to Bryan. “In high school, I started learning to play the electric guitar and that eventually inspired me to pick up your grandfather’s old Martin 0-17.”

One of the many beauties of the holidays, in addition to music and family, is the spirit of gift-giving and sharing with one another. Like many other musical families around the world, the Suttons have a legacy of doing just that—passing down the gift of music from one generation to the next.

“The bluegrass scene in our hometown of Ashville, NC is really valuable and is still there today,” Bryan explains when reminiscing about his childhood. “I’m fortunate to have grown up in that and feel a sense of responsibility to reference Asheville when people ask. I always mention the combination of growing up in a musical household and a supportive community full of consistent opportunity.”

To learn more about the lives of Jerry and Bryan Sutton and the experiences of their musical family, listen to the full podcast here:

If you’re interested in studying bluegrass guitar and learning more about Bryan’s unique approach to flatpicking, check out his online guitar lessons right here at ArtistWorks!

ABOUT THE ARTISTWORKS MUSIC SERIES:

On the ArtistWorks Music Series, CEO Patricia Butler speaks with master musicians across all genres who teach at ArtistWorks. Join them as they dive deep into topics like becoming a musician, playing at all skill levels, and the journey of learning music.

Looking to dive into more music podcasts? You’ve come to the right place. Investigate previous episodes where plenty of topics are explored with fantastic, hand-selected, and knowledgeable guests.

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