Music and a Hair Cut

Whenever I see the Norman Rockwell print, Shuffleton's Barber Shop it always brings a smile to my face. The reason is simply because for the last eight or ten years, me, my son and several of our friends who also play bluegrass music have been having a jam in my youngest son's barbershop. Our weekly jam affords us to get together to play our music for an eclectic group of men many who enjoy the music as they read the magazines or talk sports and politic while they wait their turn in the barbers chair.

Most of us who play are casual musicians who never expect to take our musical abilities any further than those four walls. Music in barber shops has been around for years and not limited to the South. My son's barbershop is unique in the fact there are two jams during the week. The first was started over 20 years ago and many who began then still come to play on Thursday mornings. Much of their equipment such as microphones and amplifiers are stored in the shop and there are dozens of photographs on the walls of musicians who have played there over the years. The Thursday crowd likes the old standard country western music while my son play bluegrass in our Saturday morning jam.

Some years ago Bill Geist came to Hendersonville on assignment for some 60 Minutes segment and needed a haircut. He came to Helm's Barbershop for the haircut and it just happened to be on Thursday. His visit soon prompted a special segment which aired on the 60 minutes program a short time later. A subsequent story was later done that aired worldwide by another news agency.

Playing in the barbershop is fun and the patrons waiting for a hair cut seem to enjoy the music.