Robbie Fulks Talks About Life

About this episode

Robbie Fulks discusses his musical journey and influences in this interview.

Robbie Fulks is a native North Carolinian who has bluegrass and country as a default position, but also revels in many other musical styles. A stint at Columbia University in New York probably helped broaden his world view, but there's something of an auto didact about him, too. Music came naturally, as his father played guitar and his aunt banjo, which he started playing at age six. Skipping ahead, In 1987, he joined The Special Consensus Bluegrass Band, where he showcased his unique guitar flatpicking style. In the early 1990s he performed in the musical Woody Guthrie's American Song . Fulks writes some very funny songs that, as one critic noted, "subvert the country tropes," but his music also delves deep.

People in this episode

Host: Jim Motavalli

Guest: Robbie Fulks

Topics covered

• bluegrass
• country music
• musical styles
• songwriting
• interview

Keywords

• Robbie Fulks
• bluegrass
• country music
• guitar
• songwriting

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Columbia University, The Special Consensus Bluegrass Band

Books & works: Woody Guthrie's American Song

Places: North Carolina

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