Reardan banjoist brings talent to state

REARDAN - The banjo is an intriguing instrument. Its twangy, bright and almost metallic sound can't be ignored, especially when in the hands of local 17-year-old junior Liam Hamilton.

Hamilton was introduced to the banjo at age 10 when he heard a song by Earl Scruggs on the radio. Shortly thereafter, his parents Andy and Bernadette purchased one off eBay.

Before Scruggs made the banjo popular with his 1949 hit "Foggy Mountain Breakdown," the five-string instrument was played primarily in traveling minstrel and ragtime shows.

Thanks to the inspiration of Scruggs and hours of practice, Hamilton has become proficient at playing bluegrass and waltzes. At the beginning of the school year, he played for the staff at their orientation and is frequently heard noodling on his instrument in the halls of Reardan High School.

"It was a fantastic start to our school year when Liam played for our staff," superintendent Eric Sobotta said. "He is not only extremely talented, but is also a great guy."

Hamilton competed in the Idaho Bluegrass Association Banjo Competition in Weiser, Idaho at age 12. He made it to the finals and placed third out of 10 competitors, all in their 50s and 60s. They awarded him a third-place trophy and a pie.

"He was most excited about winning the pie," Bernadette Hamilton said.

Hamilton practices the banjo about an hour a day and receives weekly instruction from his virtual teacher, who lives in Denver, Colorado.

"I'm working on my tempo and fingering," he said. "If they are not precise, the mistakes are obvious to the listener. Though it's a difficult instrument to play, I love it because it makes me feel happy and it makes other people feel happy too."

Hamilton took part in the regional WIAA Solo and Ensemble Contest at Ridgeline High School in Liberty Lake in January. He performed "Up 18 North'' by the Kruger Brothers and defeated 15 guitarists to win first place and a trip to the state competition.

He competed against 14 guitarists at the state competition in Ellensburg but did not place in the top three April 27.

"I felt like a cat at a dog show," he quipped.

Several years ago, Hamilton and his family visited Nashville, Tennessee and purchased a "one-of-a kind, 100-year-old Fender banjo" from world famous Gruhn Guitars, Inc. The store would not divulge the name of the banjo's previous owner, but acknowledged that he was a famous musician.

"In Nashville, it was normal to see banjos on the streets," Hamilton said.

He realized that his ability was comparable to the musicians there. He believes that with additional work, he is "not that far off from becoming a professional."

"It would be awesome if I could play at The Grand Old Opry someday," he said.

Besides his interest in music, Hamilton plays center on the Screaming Eagles' football team. After graduation, he hopes to study music production in college and be the long snapper on the football team.

Long snapping guru Chris Rubio has ranked Hamilton as one of the top three long snappers in the Pacific Northwest. Hamilton has taken part in Rubio's football camps and has been called upon to entertain the coaches and other campers with his banjo.

"When Liam comes to my camps, he dominates with his great personality," Rubio said. "I think his ability to play the banjo has helped him immensely in football. To be a good long snapper, you have to be good with your fingers and be able to concentrate on multiple things at once. In banjo competitions, he has proven that he can handle pressure. He is strong mentally and is driven to succeed."

For now, Hamilton has his sights set on football in the fall and the state solo competition in the spring.

"Next year I plan on winning it," he said.