A mild-mannered computer programmer by day, Jon fills his nights, weekends, and vacations with vintage hillbillly music. He has been collecting, singing, playing banjo and generally obsessing about the music since childhood. A random chance brought a Doc Watson recording home at a tender age, and “Shady Grove” changed his life for good. A New York native, his family took their vacations at bluegrass festivals in the Blue Ridge Mountains. His parents didn’t quite understand it all, but they were very supportive! It was great luck that he got to see most of the “first generation” artists. His first banjo lessons were with Susan Warner at the Syosset (NY) Community Park, of all places. Jon spent ten years living in Nashville exploring the music scene around middle Tennessee. When in college at Vanderbilt University, he hosted the “91 Bluegrass” show on WRVU for four years… for a time, it was the only bluegrass show in Nashville! As an adult, having a day job in Nashville was ideal… you throw some burgers on the grill at night, and you can have instant music parties. The original “Dixie Butterhounds” started in Nashville, and had one heck of a time in the back room of the Station Inn every Sunday night. That jam is still going on! But it’s much different now. A newer and more old-timey Dixie Butterhounds coalesced in Boston in the mid-90’s, and have been going strong ever since. Never academic, always just fun! Planet Banjo is a catch-all byline for Jon… that’s the name of his home, website, and a revolving string band that arises upon demand. He is thrilled to be able to share his musical collection with you on the Dixie Bee Line, Saturday nights from 9:00 till midnight, on WUMB.