Chuck Levy's Bio
Chuck Levy has earned the title of Florida's Old-Time Banjo Champion, as well as being a prize-winning Florida fiddler. He is equally at home on 5 and 6 string banjos (five strings plus a short string), whether fretted or fretless, playing clawhammer and minstrel styles. Chuck is also a respected banjo scholar who has visited Senegal and Gambia to investigate the African roots of the banjo. He learned to play the akonting (ekonting), a 3-string banjo ancestor, with Jola master musicians Remi Diatta, and Ekona Diatta. Chuck’s mastery has been recognized by Gold Tone, which has developed a 6 string banjo, the OT-6, to Chuck’s specifications ( http://www.goldtone.com/products/details/w/instrument/373/OT-6 ) . Chuck is a past president of both the Florida Banjo Society and the Florida State Fiddlers Association, and co-directs the Suwannee Banjo Camp with Ken Perlman, and the Suwanne Old-Time weekend with Jim Strickland. Chuck is also active with the Center for Arts in Healthcare, Research And Education at the University of Florida as Chair of the Board of Directors http://www.arts.ufl.edu/CAHRE/senegambia.asp . In 2009, Chuck was honored to receive the Thelma Boltin Award at the Florida Old-Time Music Championships. This annual award is given to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to traditional music in Florida. Chuck leads the string bands "Physical Medicine" and "Fear No Weevil and teaches fiddle and banjo in Gainesville, Florida, and directs the Suwannee Old-Time Weekend http://www.fotmc.org/ and the Suwannee Banjo Camp www.suwanneebanjocamp.com Chuck is featured in videos regarding the akonting/ekonting at http://shipsofthesea.org/video
Competitions:
o 2008: Longleaf String Band contest: 1st place: Florida State Fiddle Contest: 2nd Place
o 2007: Florida State Fiddlers Convention String Band Contest: 1st Place
o 2006: Florida State Fiddle Contest; 2nd Place
o 2005; Florida Old-Time Music Championships Banjo Contest 1st Place: Florida State Banjo Contest 2005: 1st Place Southeast Pickin' & Fiddlin'Contest: Old-Time Banjo 2nd Place: Southeast Pickin' & Fiddlin'Contest: Old-Time Fiddle 3rd Place:
o 2004: Florida State Fiddlers Association Annual String Band Contest (Fiddle) 1st Place: Florida State Fiddle Contest 2nd Place: Florida Old-Time Music Championships Banjo; 4th Place: Florida State Banjo Contest 3rd Place:
o 2001: Florida State Fiddlers Association Annual String Band Contest (Fiddle) 1st Place:
o 2000: Florida State Fiddlers Association Annual String Band Contest (Banjo) 2nd Place
Fear No Weevil is an old-time string-band featuring David Forbes, Chuck Levy, and Vic Call. David has made his mark as the lead fiddler of the legendary Bucksnort Barndance Band. Based in Gainesville, the Bucksnorts were known throughout the Southeast for driving rhythms and their collaboration with the Cross Creek Cloggers, perennial favorites at regional fiddle conventions and dance competitions. David is also known for constructing nearly 50 banjos in the style of Kyle Creed. These banjos, featuring 12-inch rims, are still sought out today for their superior craftsmanship and rich tone and playability. David is currently a world renowned bowmaker.
Vic Call is a guitarist who plays with unusual drive and enthusiasm. This has caused him to be sought out by multiple bands including Irrational Exuberance and Physical Medicine. Vic also plays Piano, whistle, and fiddle, and composes original music on all of them.
Diane Shaw is expert in many forms of dance ranging from the British Isles, to flat-foot clogging of the southern United States. She dances with impeccable timing rhythm, timing and form. She inspires the band to play its best, and dazzles the audience with her verve and energy.