20140912

The ROYS Welcome New Banjo Player!

Zachary CarterZachary (Pepper) Carter re-joins the ROYS!

After the recent notice from Daniel Patrick that he would be departing the band, The Roys have found his replacement! One they’ve known for several years, and who had played for them in the past!

I sent him (Pepper) a message to keep an eye and ears open for us, and I was very pleasantly surprised when he replied 'how about me?' Thinking he wouldn’t be able to tour due to his schooling, I was happy to hear it’s encouraged by ETSU” said Lee. “He’s like family so there’s no getting to know you phase” adds Lee. “We look forward to the next chapter and are excited to see Pepper on stage along side us again. He’s a great guy and a great picker. We enjoyed touring with him back in 2011” said Elaine. “We hate to see Daniel go but this is a perfect transition seeing as he (Zach) knows a lot of our material” adds Lee!

Zachary Carter grew up in Spartanburg, SC, an area well known for producing many prominent bluegrass artists such as Don Reno. At an early age he took interest in this rich bluegrass culture and spent many hours learning banjo and guitar while performing with his family band. After several years of developing his style and taking lessons with IBMA Banjo Player of the Year Kristen Scott Benson, he decided to pursue music seriously by attending East Tennessee State University in Fall 2010.

Zachary is now in his final year at ETSU, where he is working to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree in Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music Studies with a minor in Appalachian Studies. As banjo player for theprogram’s premier touring band, the ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band, he has performed on numerous albums and has appeared with artists that include Adam Steffey, Hunter Berry, and Ricky Skaggs. In June 2014, he performed with the university group in a countrywide, seventeen-day bluegrass tour of Japan.! 

Playing with this band is like coming back to something you have missed for some time. In the summer of 2011, I was given the opportunity to travel with the band for a short period in between college semesters at East Tennessee State University. The short time traveling with the band is what pushed me to join the group full time. Although that has been almost four years ago, it’s these memories that assure me that The Roys are a band I can be excited about performing with. From their straightforward candor to their energetic musical performances, this band makes me proud to be a part of it. I look forward to traveling and playing music at all times, but being with The Roys make the opportunity that much better.” Said Zach!

You can find Zachary on the web at www.facebook.com/zachary.p.carter

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