Bela Fleck

Bela Fleck was born in 1958 in New York City. He was named after two classical music composers, but was attracted to the banjo as a child and became one of the best banjo players in history. When he graduated from high school, he moved to Boston and played there, but eventually moved to Nashville.

He is most famous for playing all kinds of music proficiently on the banjo. He also went to Africa, at one point, to play music with Africans and to explore the origins of the banjo, which is originally an African instrument. His band, the Flecktones, tours aggressively and constantly, and his concerts are considered masterpieces of banjo skill and quality. In 2007, he married Abigail Washburn, who is also a banjo player, and their son is often referred to as the Holy Banjo Emperor because of the assumption that he would receive banjo skills from both parents. Abigail Washburn had been famous in her own right, having brought the banjo to China.

___ 1. What can we say is Bela Fleck's occupation?
a. classical music composer
b. musician
c. mayor of New York City
d. historian

___ 2. What was one of the reasons he went to Africa?
a. to learn where the banjo came from
b. to tour with his band in the major cities
c. to change the nature of the banjo
d. to make his style more African in nature

___ 3. What is the Holy Banjo Emperor?
a. the world leader of all banjo players
b. a nickname given to Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn's son
c. a name you get when you are extremely good at the banjo
d. an indication that banjo is a religious instrument