Artist Q&A with Doug Kershaw, Fiddler Q: How long have you been playing Barcus-Berry violins? DOUG: I have been using Barcus-Berry bridges since the 1970's. I first used the Barcus-Berry Vibrato Violin in January of 2010 and it is remarkable!
Q: The Barcus-Berry violin you play has a unique color. Does it attract more attention? DOUG: The Barcus-Berry Red-Berry Burst Violin is very unique in color and does without a doubt attract lots of attention. Q: How does the performance and sound of the violin compare to other violins you have played? DOUG: The Barcus-Berry Violin satisfies my need perfectly! Q: What kind of sound do you need from a violin when you are playing live? DOUG: I need to reproduce, as closely as possible, the same sounds I get when I sit down and play my acoustic violin.
Q: What are your overall impressions of Barcus-Berry? DOUG: All good!
Q: Do you have any recommendations for those interested in buying Barcus-Berry? DOUG: Yes. Remember that the violin is a very personal instrument. I should know because I'm very hard to please and my Barcus-Berry does it. Q: What tour or album do you have coming up? DOUG: I'm going to use my Barcus-Berry Violin for the first time in the studio on June 29th-30th and July 1st-2nd in Nashville, TN. The new album is The Clash of the Cultures (musical cultures).
Q: Do you have any other talents most people don't know about? DOUG: WOW!! Besides playing 28 other instruments, I can honestly say that I might have talents I don't know about myself. I'm just too lazy to explore any farther!
Q: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? DOUG: Everywhere online, including Youtube, Myspace and Rhapsody.com!
Q: Is there any expertise you can share for aspiring violinists out there? DOUG: Don't be afraid of the instrument!
About DOUG KERSHAW:Doug Kershaw, known as the Ragin’ Cajun, is considered by most to be the king of the fiddle players. He was born and raised on a houseboat, and since his early days on a Louisiana bayou, he still takes the fiddle beyond what most people think possible. With tremendous energy, he plays so incredibly fast and passionately, that his worldwide audiences are infused with foot stomping excitement. Having been self taught, Doug Kershaw has mastered over 20 instruments, and because of his signature style of music making and story telling, many of his peers consider him as the best musician, performer, singer, and songwriter to ever come out of Southwest Louisiana.
Starting at the age of 9, he has been captivating audiences with his live performances for 60 years. In addition, he has had a prolific television career with his first network television appearance coming on the “Johnny Cash Show.” Other appearances include: Ed Sullivan; Tonight Show with Johnny Carson; Mike Douglas; Music Country USA; Merv Griffin; Dinah Shore; Mary Tyler Moore Special; John Wayne Special; Midnight Special with Wolf-Man Jack; and a member of the Fiddlers Three with Itzhak Perlman and Jean-Luc Ponty. He wrote and recorded the title song for the movie Heaven’s Gate, the Mamou Two-Step, and had acting roles in the movies Zechariah, Days of Heaven, and Medicine Ball Caravan. He was instrumental in helping launch the careers of Jay Leno, Dolly Parton, Little Richard, Willie Nelson, Steve Martin, and others by encouraging management to book them for the opening act of many of his shows. Even though he does not read or write music, he has composed thousands of songs, having recorded 410 with labels such as Hickory Records, RCA, Columbia, and Warner Brothers Records. Songs such as Diggy, Diggy Lo, Cajun Joe, and Rita Put Your Black Shoes On, are familiar tunes to Doug Kershaw fans, but none of his works reached the fame of his 1961 autobiographical recording of Louisiana Man, which was the first song ever broadcast back to earth from the moon during the 1969 Apollo 12 Mission. Kershaw has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry for 20 years, and has also performed at the White House. He is a recent inductee to the Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame, in addition to being honored as the first inductee to the Cajun Zydeco Hall of Fame in Louisiana this past August 2007.
Kershaw has always taken his Cajun heritage seriously and is instrumental in continually promoting the Cajun Culture. Often he sings French lyrics and melodies that he learned during his childhood. He was instrumental in establishing the International Festival of the Acadians, which is a Louisiana organization dedicated to preserving and promoting French Cajun Culture. Because of his tireless efforts, the French Cajun language is being taught today in many schools. Kershaw proudly celebrates his heritage worldwide, and with his infectious style of performing, has made Cajun music as popular as many other forms of music.
People of all ages love the music and performance of Doug Kershaw. He spends enormous amounts of time with his fans, especially the young people. Liberally, Kershaw gives his time, inspiration, gifts, and encouragement to countless numbers from the younger generation. He is a wonderful role model, and has inspired many young people to become involved with their own musical expression. In his book, the great jazz violinist Mark O’Conner, stated that Doug Kershaw was one of the ten most influential people in his musical career.
Find out more about Doug Kershaw at his website. Do you have a question for DOUG KERSHAW? Please email usyour question and we will have an answer for you in an upcoming newsletter!
NEW ARTIST! Barcus-Berry has a NEW Endorser, Marie Saintonge, Flutist, Composer and Producer.
NEW PIANO BLACK VIOLIN Barcus-Berry is proud to present the newest addition to the Vibrato Violins, the Piano Black Vibrato Acoustic-Electric Violin (BAR-AEBK)! The Piano Black Vibrato Acoustic-Electric Violin is a traditional-style violin with an untraditional finish. All Barcus-Berry Vibrato Violins have a hand-rubbed lacquer finish and are crafted in Romania and installed with authentic Barcus-Berry electronics. They are now available in five different eye-catching colors with color-matching bow, including Natural Finish (V), Barcus-Berry Blue (B), Red-Berry Burst (R), Metallic Green Burst (G) and now Piano Black (BK). Barcus-Berry Vibrato Acoustic-Electric violins are made from fully-carved and graduated select seasoned Carpathian Maple and Spruce wood. Each is set up to MENC standards and includes Ebony fittings, Super Sensitive Red Label strings, four Wittner tuners and a Glasser bow. Comes in Barcus-Berry embroidered soft-shape case with detachable shoulder strap and full cake dark rosin.
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About Barcus-Berry Tradition of Innovation Over four decades of innovative leadership are deeply engrained in the history of Barcus-Berry. In 1963, experiments initiated by violinist John Berry and electronics visionary Les Barcus, gave birth to the first ever piezo crystal transducer for musical instruments.
This discovery ultimately led to Barcus-Berry's introduction of several "firsts" in the music industry, such as the first electric violin, the first successful piezo transducers for guitar, piano and concert harp, the first commercially marketed active direct box, the first combination strap button/output jack and the first "under saddle" piezo pickup.
Barcus-Berry has come to offer the best quality in acoustic-electric violins and transducers and preamps for guitars, brass and woodwind instruments, orchestral instruments, pianos and harps. Barcus-Berry products are favored by leading performers such as Jean Jeansonne (Rascal Flatts), Savion Glover (Grammy Award-winning dancer), Brendon Anthony (The Pat Green Band), Downs Thompson (Clay Walker Band), Dan Kelly (Alan Jackson and Faith Hill), David Pichette (Emerson Drive), Terry Hale (George Strait), Ronnie Milsap, Andy Garcia (Cinesone All Stars), Tracy Bonham and Daniel Willem.
Today, Barcus-Berry borrows from its illustrious heritage to bring the newest generation of products which allow musicians freedom of expression through true acoustic sound.
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Barcus-Berry has a NEW Endorser, 
