I couldn't avoid it, had I wished to. I'm sixth- generation in the southern Appalachians (East Tennessee), and grew up on a small farm where three generations shared a house. Both my grandparents played and sang, and my parents too. I began with an old Silvertone guitar, but for the past 35 years I have been a banjo picker. I am just struggling with learning to read notes. In our family there was always music, and I'm mighty thankful for it.