Max Wareham

Whether on archaeological digs or translating medieval
poetry, the past has always been a north star for banjo
player, songwriter, and author Max Wareham. Max, who
learned his trade from banjo masters Bill Keith and Tony
Trischka, is a member of the Peter Rowan Bluegrass
Band and was featured on the Grammy-nominated album
“Calling You From My Mountain.”

After two years of touring nationally with Peter, Max
recorded his debut album, Daggomit!. The album features
Chris Eldridge and David Grier on guitar, Laura Orshaw
on fiddle, Chris Henry on mandolin, Mike Bub on bass,
Larry Atamanuik on snare drum, and guest singer and
producer Peter Rowan. Recorded by multi-Grammy
winning engineer Sean Sullivan, Wareham’s commitment
to early innovators of the instrument shines on this
forthcoming record of soulful original songs, highlighted
by the hard-driving chemistry of Nashville’s preeminent
bluegrass stars.

Wareham’s interest in history extends also to his
writing. His first book, “Rudy Lyle: The Unsung Hero of
the Five String Banjo” chronicles the life and music of
early bluegrass banjo master Rudy Lyle by presenting
exhaustive and largely never-before-published
transcriptions and analyses of every break Lyle recorded
with Bill Monroe, the “father of bluegrass.” Lyle’s
historical significance is explored in interviews with banjo
legends and members of Rudy’s family. Portraits of each
interviewee are included alongside several never-before-
published photos of Lyle himself.