Charlie Glenn

Born in 1945 in Watauga County’s Bethel community, Charlie learned how to make banjos and dulcimers from Stanley Hicks, a well-known instrument builder, musician, storyteller, and humorous character. Charlie first became fascinated with building instruments as a young boy when he visited a community barber, Willie Glenn, who made instruments in his basement. His grandfather had also made a banjo, which Charlie often admired as it hung on his grandmother’s wall.

Around 1968, Charlie made his first banjo with Stanley Hick’s help. The fretless mountain banjo that Stanley taught Charlie to make is a particular style that has been a long-standing tradition in Watauga County. After a few years, Charlie also began to make mountain lap dulcimers, an instrument that was quite popular with the folk revival. Years later, with the help of Ashe County luthier, Alfred Michels, Charlie made his first fiddle and has since made more than a handful.

Over the years Charlie has adapted his banjos adding frets to some of them, refining the neck to use less wood, and changing the angle between the banjo’s neck and head to increase the string pressure helping to keep the bridge from moving around while the banjo is played. In addition to his instruments, Charlie also spends time building wooden coffin cases for his fiddles and dulcimers. He has lined a few of the instrument cases with old Sears and Robuck catalog pages, adding to the old-timey feel. Charlie continues to challenge himself, talking with other luthiers to learn new tricks and refine his instruments. He is getting ready to build his first guitar.

Charlie was a plummer for 30 years, but now spends his free time making on instruments and working on old classic cars. He also plays banjo in an old-time up-picking style that was once more common in the area, but is now rarely played. Charlie lives in the Beech Creek Community with Shirley, his wife.

“I enjoy the music,” he says, “I enjoy the instruments. And I enjoy the people that I meet through this.”

Charlie Glenn
405 Wiley Harmon Rd.
Banner Elk, NC 28604
828-297-3432