East Alabama Living Winter 2020

Photos by Tristan Cairns
Inspired by a band of gypsies one Saturday
night in November 2017, Web, Palmer, Hank
and Barrett began talking about music with
their father, Will Blackmon, after watching a
YouTube with bluegrass music. While their
father wanted to get instruments for the boys
at Christmas, Mom Melanie overruled, envisioning
the noise that would ensue throughout
the house.
Since the boys and the other children
enjoyed the music so much, Mom gave in. At
Christmas, there was a family gift for everyone
to enjoy, including a banjo, guitar, small
acoustic bass guitar, harmonicas and tambourines.
It was an immediate hit and the beginning
of a journey finding joy in music.
Web used his Christmas money that year
to purchase a mandolin. While Hank claimed
the guitar, Palmer was drawn to the bass.
Soon afterward an upright base, fiddle, more
guitars and a dulcimer were added to the
instruments. In the beginning, they explored
the various instruments and trading around
instruments.
A year later when their father was giving
golf lessons to a musician and music teacher,
Matt Holdren, he arranged for him to meet
with the boys. Matt guided them on how to
play songs as a group and sing. They learned
how to perform, practice and work together as
a group. The boys did not have formal lessons
and learned instrument skills by themselves.
They also watched classes online to expand
their talents.
Web, 15, soothes their songs with his frailing
banjo, often sitting on a stool with his
head bowed. Palmer, 14, is the bassist and
mandolinist, and Hank, 13, drives the rhythm
guitar and lonesome fiddle, while little brother
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