The "Orthophonic Joy" Of Corbin Hayslett

I remember a cold Saturday October morning last fall when I showed up for the early entertainment at the Home Craft Days in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. I wanted to catch my newly found 19 year-old Banjo teacher when he took the stage under the smaller of the two entertainment tents at the festival.

There he was. Corbin Hayslett, looking like a pack mule and carrying one each, guitar, fiddle, mandolin and two banjos(a resonator and clawhammer), ready for his 10:30 AM set. Did I say, he was only 19 years old?

Mid-way through his set, I remember saying to Joey O'Quinn, who was the MC for the tent, how does one person get all of the talent, and mortals like us spend a lifetime trying to find it? I could see this kid was special, and I was going to take Scruggs-Style banjo lessons from him.

For weeks, The FaceBook Page for The Birth of Country Music Museum in Bristol had encouraged Musicians from all around the world to enter The Orthophonic Joy Music Contest by submitting a recording of an original song from the legendary 1927 Bristol Sessions.

The winner of the grand prize would go to Nashville and perform his, or her song on the album set to commemorate the 1927 Sessions. You can read all about the lineup for the album by visiting http://www.cybergrass.com/node/3876 .

I was able to sit down with Corbin a couple of days after the announcement at the 10th Annual Mountain Music School, and get to better know this talented youngster.

Corbin is from Brookneal, Virginia, south of Lynchburg and seemed to be born into music. His mother was a concert pianist and his dad was a big fan of Bluegrass, and Old Time Mountain Music. His dad pushed the Old Time, and when he plays, you can tell how much he loves the history, and the music of Appalachia.

He got his first banjo for Christmas in 2003, and was able to train with Mike Seeger and Jim Lloyd. He studied fiddle under Jim Robertson, and Old Time training from Charley Bradner. When he reached the 10th grade he studied under Woody McKenzie.

I asked Corbin which instrument was his favorite, and answered all of them, but he said it all depended on what kind of mood he was in when he decided to play. He indicated his favorite style of music included Doc Watson because of it's clean lines.

As a student at The University of Virginia at Wise, Corbin is in his Senior year. He is majoring in History, and Appalachian Studies. He plans to move on after graduating, to Appalachia State in Boone, North Carolina to get his Masters Degree Appalachian Studies, and History.

Corbin Hayslett has a big dream. He wants to perform on the stage at The Grand Ole Opry. He has already made it to Nashville and will be on Orthohnic Joy with the likes of Marty Stuart, Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Dolly Parton and more.

If you listen to Corbin's rendition of "Darlin Cory" you will have to agree, that spot on the stage at the Opry is waiting, and soon to follow.