Biography
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Born
21 February 1927
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Born In
Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States
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Died
16 October 1984 (aged 57)
Don Reno secured his place in history as the world-renowned bluegrass banjo virtuoso of Reno and Smiley fame. Bluegrass experts and fans alike agree that Don's lightning-fast banjo riffs heavily influenced bluegrass music as we know it today. Don Reno's dexterity, timing, and wonderful musical talents set a standard for banjo pickin' that will last forever. Although known more for his banjo work, Reno was equally as talented on the guitar, hence the nickname "King of the Flat-Picking Guitarists." Reno died in 1984 at age 57, but today his three sons, Ronnie, Dale, and Don Wayne, continue the esteemed Reno musical tradition as successful bluegrass musicians.
Born February 21, 1927 in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Don Reno grew up on a farm in Haywood County, North Carolina. His father, Zebulon Reno, gave him his first guitar at age 9, and by age 12 Reno was playing on local radio. At 14, he took a musical apprenticeship with the Morris Brothers at WSPA in Spartanburg, where he also worked with Arthur Smith and His Crackerjacks. The Morris Brothers introduced Reno to mountain music, a subgenre of bluegrass quickly gaining popularity in the Carolinas at the time. While under Smith, Reno learned everything from country to big band music. Reno would later renew his partnership with Smith in 1955 with the famous duet, Feuding Banjos.
Between 1944 and 1946 Reno entered the service, fighting on the front line in Burma with the unit known as Merrill's Marauders. When he returned to the States, he immediately resumed his musical career. Before the war, Reno caught the eye of Bill Monroe, and he asked Reno to become a regular with his band. Opting instead to serve his country, Reno turned down the offer. Upon his return home, Reno searched for Monroe and found him in Taylorsville, North Carolina without a banjo picker. One night as Monroe performed, Reno strapped on his banjo and walked right onto the stage. A surprised, but delighted Bill Monroe exclaimed "Where you been boy! I've been looking for you!"
While with Monroe, Reno had the opportunity to hone his guitar skills as well as his banjo style. On the banjo he popularized the three finger roll technique originated by Snuffy Jenkins in the 1930's. As a guitarist, he quickly made a name for himself, and at just over 20 years old Reno became the "King of the Flat-Picking Guitarists." Not only did Reno play with the best in the business, he became the best, pioneering a style that many artists emulate even today.
Reno spent the next decade playing as the banjo half of the famed duo, Reno and Smiley.
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