I’m Roger Ferguson, mandolin/fiddle player and National flatpick guitar champion. Here I’ll share some background and you can follow links for more details about my teaching, performing and recording.
I learned the old fashioned, traditional way – without tabs, music or the internet. My music came from living rooms and front porches, where I learned to play old-time and bluegrass music from my dad. Traditional music was passed down through my grandpas from Missouri and Nebraska, who were both traditional fiddlers.
Below – a picture of My dad’s band in 1946.
I started learning mandolin, guitar and fiddle from Dad when I was 12, and a few years later started performing with others at coffee houses and festivals around the Seattle area.
I was 21 when I won the National flatpick guitar championship in Winfield Kansas. Ever since, I’ve been fortunate to make a living teaching, performing, and recording the music I mostly love, which is acoustic string music in the Americana vein.
I’ve had the privilege of opening shows for Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, Doc Watson and others. I’ve performed everywhere from Billy Bob’s to the Disney World Hotel, Calgary Stampede and the Houston Astrodome. I’m off the road and enjoying staying close to home performing my music and being on-call with a few local bands.
While still a music major, I started teaching at a local music store. I was overjoyed when I realized I could actually make a living with music if I was dedicated and persistent. So, I’ve been teaching music since 1977. I’ve lead week-long seminars in the US and Canada, and have had many instruction articles published in Guitar Player Magazine.Â
Today, I am an emeritus professor of music from Olympic College, and continue to teach privately at my home studio in Poulsbo Washington. I am partnered with Lessons With Marcel for on-line instruction world-wide.
Over the years I’ve gotten to write and record on several soundtracks for nationally televised PBS documentaries. I’ve also recorded many cds with my various bands and appear as featured artist on other’s records and CDs. I currently record two to three projects a year.
