Where do they come from?

The way I've always heard it, the dobro guitar was invented by the Doperjya Brothers in the late 20's, and was adapted for use by Hawaiian style players, probably Portugese cowboys soon thereafter. When they first came out, many people played Dobros Spanish style (like a regular roundneck guitar). Supposedly there was a fellow, Frank Ferrara, who was combing his hair while playing his guitar (go figure!) when the comb slid down the strings, giving him the idea to play with a slide. I'd imagine that he figured out fairly quickly to drop the comb and raise the strings up a little bit.

There were several other old-timey style dobro players, like Bashful Brother Oswald, and Shot Jackson, but it was Burkett "Uncle Josh" Graves who brought the dobro guitar to bluegrass music when he played it with Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, and the Foggy Mountain Boys. Josh is truly the father of bluegrass dobro, spawning a generation of players, like Ferrel Stowe, Harley Gabbard, and Fairley Sparks. Contemporary dobro stylists include Jerry Douglas, Rob Ickes, Mike Auldrige, Junior Barber, and others. 

Jerry Douglas has been the most popular innovator of the dobro for the last 30-odd years. He is widely regarded as one of the best musicians on the planet, having brought the dobro to mainstream music as a featured virtuoustic instrument. Douglas is one of the most prolific American musicians, having participated in virtually every important musical project of second generation bluegrass and country music since the late 70's.  Circle Album II, Strength in Numbers, now AKUS...yow!!! Check out Jerry's great site at www.jerrydouglas.com.

 One of the greatest, though lesser known exponents of the dobro guitar is my father-the Washington State dobro Champion-Fairley Sparks, or "Pa" as I like to call him...If you see him at the bus station talking to his shoelaces, please show him the way home.

Click here to see a photo of "Pa".

With the great diversity and large number of new players discovering this wonderful instrument, combined with the talents of the fantastic crop of fine builders, we can truly say that we are in the "Golden Age of the dobro Guitar".  How fortunate we are indeed!

Tab Tabscott