Herb Lambert and Drexel Barbershop

[Russ Jordan]

Herb Lambert is a veteran and very talented NC mandolin player Herb has taught a lot of folks to play--Dempsey Young frequently credited Herb with helping him when he was learning to play mandolin.

Herb played for years with LW Lambert and The Blue River Boys--this band even played Carnegie Hall. Herb has also been a longtime fixture at the Saturday jams at the Drexel Barber Shop near Morganton NC. There is a new dvd documentary on the Drexel Barbershop Jam that includes footage of Herb Lambert. If you want to see a trailer of the dvd that includes a bit of Herb's playing, visit http://www.bigmikeramsey.com/?mpf=frame&

[f5loar]

I would ride the bus from Salisbury to Statesville on Sat. mornings when I was 12 (didn't tell my folks where I was) just to see LW and take a few banjo/guitar lessons at the pawn shop he worked at. I think LW still calls on Herb when he gets the band together for shows. LW is picking as good as ever and from what I heard of Herb on Daybreak in Dixie on that clip he's not lost it either. And I was in a band with Jo-Jo Patten too way back. Sounds like I need to get in on that jam session. Herb use to pick a really nice 50's Gibson F5. Do you know what he plays now? Send me a PM on how to get there and when.

[Michael Ramsey]

Tom,

The jam usually starts up on Saturday mornings about 10-11ish and depending on how diligent the players are, it can go till 5 or 5:30 at times. Two weeks ago, when I last attended, it ended about 4. Herbie was there then. I'm thinking about taking my bass over there today.

He's playing a Carl Spann mandolin in the video. It has been his main axe for about the last 15-20 years. He don't go anywhere without it, unless he's gone fishing on the lake. This is one of the best mandolins I've EVER heard, period. And it's not just from Herb's playing, Aaron (my son) has played it and come to the same conclusion.

Thanks, Russ, for posting a link about the documentary. It's a killer one. UNC-TV needs to pick this one up and plug in in somewhere one night.

[Michael Ramsey]

Oh, sorry. Directions. Tom if you come west on I-40, take exit 107 and turn right at the end of the ramp. Drive about 1-1.5 miles and got thru the light, where you intersect HWY 70.

You'll then pass the Drexel Cemetary on your left and go up a hill. There used to be a caution light at the top of the hill, maybe it's still there, maybe it's a regular traffic light.

Just keep going straight, cross the hill, down the other side, and the barber shop is on the left, just before you cross the railroad tracks. Maybe 2.5 miles from I-40, total.