Case Brothers?

**Turlagh** · Jan-10-2017, 11:55am

I don't know where else to go with this, but if anyone can answer this question it would have to be someone here.

Many years ago I saw a guitar/mandolin/vocals duo at Musikfest in Bethlehem PA.

I believe they called themselves the Case Brothers (Martin and Gibson Case) and they played mostly Monroe Brothers style music. They even had the period correct clothing.

I was very impressed by them.

Doing a search for "Martin and Gibson Case" turns up a lot of stringed instument cases but not too many "brothers"

Does anyone know these guys? or what happened to them?

**Willie Poole** · Jan-10-2017, 11:58am

Sounds like a "catchy" name for two pickers...I have never heard of them myself...

Willie

**Turlagh** · Jan-10-2017, 12:02pm

Well I just tried another search and the first hit was an obituary on Bluegrass Today for "Gibson" dated a few years ago. So sad.

Edit: his real name was Bob Mavian.

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...RIP-Bob-Mavian

**Jim Garber** · Jan-10-2017, 3:56pm

Bob Mavian was a neighbor (or at least lived in the next town over) and an avid BG picker. He was also a veterinarian. I do remember his duo playing locally.

**AlanN** · Jan-10-2017, 4:08pm

Them boys were Bob Mavian and Dick Bowden. Their 'thing' was to evoke the old-time duet brother-style harmony and pick guitar and mandolin, which they did terrifically. Bob indeed passed a few years ago. He played a Loar. I was at many a-pickin' party with him over the years. A more gentle and kind person you could not find. I believe Bob played the Opry decades ago, as a banjo man with a name act. I saw Dick at IBMA a couple of years ago. We talked of the old days and jammed a bit. He knows hundreds of songs, has forgotten even more. He is a regular contributor to BU.

**Andy B** · Jan-10-2017, 11:02pm

The Case Brothers played a lot of the festivals in the northeast back in the 90s and made at least two recordings back then. The first was cassette only (I think), and the second was a CD that recreated the songs, jokes, and banter in the style of an old time radio show. They featured a lot of brother tunes and Acuff material as well as some very nice original compositions in the brother style. They had that old time sound and look and were a lot of fun to see in character on stage. Wonderful musicians and very nice folks too.