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Long Biography
Uncle Eddie & Robin
"What a neat couple!"
Uncle Eddie and Robin,
“Not Your Typical Old Folkies”, are a dynamic musical duet with a
taste of the old and a flair for the new. Their energy belies their
age, and the breadth of their life experience makes for a rich and
rewarding musical evening. This husband-wife team combines their
voices in stunning, tight harmonies on songs that pack a punch, and
their musical chemistry and sound is unmistakable. Ed “Uncle Eddie”
Mahonen, “Banjo Player, Raconteur, and All Around Old Dude” is an
icon
in the Appalachian music scene. His wildly imaginative
banjo playing, silky vocals, and intelligent, witty songwriting make
him a joy to listen to. His style incorporates elements of bluegrass
and folk, which he has shaped into a unique and original blend which
he terms, “plunk rock”. West Virginia’s “Graffiti” Magazine said Ed
has been “…a force in West Virginia music for over thirty years”.
Not just another folk 'n bluegrass musician, he applies his velvety
baritone voice to his original material, and has been known to "rap"
along with his more traditional renditions.
Ed “Uncle Eddie”
Mahonen was born and raised in a small town in Massachusetts, not
your usual breeding ground for bluegrass music. He began his musical
career in grade school with piano, later moving on to trumpet.
But one night, he found himself at what was then called, a
“hootenanny”, and was instantly drawn to the call of the banjo.
Despite the derision and snickering of his high school friends and
family, Ed practiced and persevered with his instrument, and has
honed it to the surprising sound you hear today. He is also
accomplished on guitar and bass, and dabbles with the tuba. His rich
velvety baritone voice completes his presentation in bluegrass,
folk, classic rock and other musical genres. After graduation, he
served in the Navy in San Francisco in the 60’s, where he was
influenced by the singer-songwriters and poets of the era. Following
his discharge, he spent a summer hitchhiking across Canada and the
US, with his banjo slung across his back. Passing through Wheeling,
West Virginia, he got into a jam session with some locals and
quickly fell into the young progressive bluegrass scene. Before
long, he became a fixture on the local scene, with the band “West
Virginia Grass”. “We were playing jamgrass in the early 70’s, before
the term had been invented. We were just doing what came naturally
to us.” He also made his first appearances on the legendary Wheeling
Jamboree. This period culminated with his participation in the band,
“Castlemen’s Run”. Throughout the 80’s, Ed played traditional
bluegrass with Pittsburgh’s “Beaver Creek” band, and recorded two
albums with them. Ed also played for over 30 years with “The Short
Crick Flatpickers”, one of West Virginia’s bluegrass bands, touring
statewide and regionally. “Uncle Eddie” was born when he was
appearing in the 90’s at the Wheeling Jamboree, and did solo spots
of bluegrass, novelty songs, jokes and funny stories. His easy going
demeanor and booming laugh made him a favorite with his audiences.
Ed met Robin, appropriately enough, at an open mike jam night
which Ed hosted in Wheeling. Their chemistry was immediate. Robin is
the daughter of the late Jimmy Knepper, Grammy nominated and internationally renowned
jazz trombonist, and Maxine Fields Knepper, a strong independent
woman who was already on the road with her trumpet at the age of 16,
before anyone had ever coined the term “feminist”. Robin was
listening to music from birth, and has fond memories of jam sessions
lasting late into the night as she drifted off to sleep as a little
girl. Her early musical influences were shaped by some of the most
influential jazz artists of the day. She played piano at age 8,
picked up her first guitar at age 14, and played her first
coffeehouses shortly thereafter. After a brief hiatus of twenty
years from music while she raised her four children as a single
mother, and pursued a career as a social worker in private practice,
she returns to the music scene with a vengeance. She brings her born
and bred musical ability and her deep understanding of pathos and
the human condition to her every note she sings. Imagine: a
bluegrass banjo player, and the daughter of a legendary jazz
musician- it’s unthinkable? Or is it???
More recently, Ed was associated with West Virginia’s premier jam
band, “The Recipe”, and his cutting edge explorations and signature
sound clearly comes through on their last CD, “Jubilee”. Joe
Prichard commented on Ed’s original song, “One Eye Laugh”, which
closed the CD, “Ed was able to say in one song what it took me a
whole album to say.” As the Recipe’s “Uncle Eddie”, he and Robin
became a fixture at summer
jam band festivals, and are much beloved by festival goers who seek
them out for a pat on the back, a shared joke, and, if desired, a
gentle bear hug.
Ed’s solo work, “My Own Words”, is a
compilation of ten original songs, including the often requested
“West Virginia Farm”, and “Let ‘Em Eat Cake”, and the amusing, yet
socially poignant “Plain White Rapper”, which leaves audiences
scratching their heads.
Uncle Eddie and Robin have just released their first joint CD
project of all new original material, titled, "When We're Together”.
The tracks range from straight bluegrass, to country, to a New Age-y
sound, and even to what the couple calls, "chant rapgrass". Ed uses
a variety of different types of banjos and displays several
different banjo styles, and the music is interwoven and coupled with
frequent instrumental guest artists and even tribal drumming on
several tracks. Stylistically, they are literally all over the map,
and yet they expertly craft their shows to the particular taste of
their listeners.
Uncle Eddie & Robin also operate a recording studio, ELM Cottage
Studio, out of their home, and are available to help aspiring young
musicians produce their own original music.
Uncle Eddie and
Robin are now available as a duet, or for small combo engagements.
They sometimes travel with an entourage of interesting musicians who
complete their ensemble. Ed is also available for guest
appearances with established bands for recording or special
performances.
Uncle Eddie and Robin have appeared this past
year at The Wheeling Jamboree, Nelson Ledges, The Highland Jam at
Pegasus Farm, among numerous local venues.
An evening with
Uncle Eddie and Robin is like sitting down with old friends. Kick
off your shoes, put up your feet, and open yourself to a musical
experience which will make you laugh and cry, and laugh again.
Uncle Eddie continues to be a force on the Appalachian music scene.
Through numerous appearances on the Wheeling Jamboree, the hard core
traditional bluegrass of the Short Crick Flatpickers, and The
Recipe, “He has respected and preserved the rich musical traditions
of the region while keeping it alive and evolving by taking it
to new and unexpected places.” (Graffiti Magazine) His latest
collaboration with Robin has added a new dimension and texture to an
already eclectic musician.
“One Eye Laugh, One Eye Cry.”
Instrumentation
"Uncle
Eddie & Robin" Duet
Ed 'Uncle Eddie' Mahonen - Lead and Harmony
Vocals,
Guitar, Banjo
Robin Mahonen - Lead and Harmony Vocals, Guitar
Small Combo includes:
Dan Morgan - Drums and/or Percussion
Wally Hoffman - Acoustic
Bass
Discography
When We're Together - Uncle Eddie & Robin
My
Own Words - Uncle Eddie
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