World's strongest mandolinist?

[Kevin Stueve]

Very short clip of a mandolinist on American Ninja Warrior tonight, forum member?

[Charles E.]

What clip?

[Kevin Stueve]

one of the competitors in Miami was apparently a college engineering student and a mandolinist he wasn't one of the "featured" competitors and went out on like the 3rd obstacle total tv time about 15 seconds

[Skip Kelley]

Yeah, I saw him too. He had a Collings mando. He wasn't there long.

[Kevin Stueve]

Guess this means practicing mandolin isn't the final answer to great grip strength.

[jesserules]

Bill Monroe spent a few years slinging oil drums around a refinery in Gary Indiana (or some similar beauty spot). I'd wager he was the strongest mandolin player of his time. Maybe ever ...

[sbhikes]

The most I ever squatted was 215lbs at 5'3", 145lbs, 52 years old, female. The most I ever deadlifted was 235lbs. Maybe I'm one of the strongest mandolinists.

[ElieCohen]

I just came across this so I felt compelled to make a profile and say hi. It is I, the Worlds Strongest Mandolinist himself. They only show a very small portion of what actually happened on TV so I’m pretty lucky to have gotten some screen time. The support I’ve received not just from fellow mandolinists but from the music community as a whole has been amazing, so thanks for watching and enjoying my antics.

As for the title of Worlds Strongest Mandolinist, I welcome (and encourage) all challengers but I have to warn you, I’m a pretty serious mandolinist and I can deadlift over 500 lbs unassisted and spend a lot of my time rock climbing and ninja training (That’s how I got cast on the show haha).

If you want proof, here’s a link to my submission video:

Also, im on Instagram at @thebluegrassninja if you want to check out more of my music and general goofiness.


I’d also be happy to answer any questions that anyone has
-Elie

[F-2 Dave]

Welcome Elie.

[JEStanek]

Welcome. I fixed your Youtube link.

Jamie

[banjoboy]

Monroe is still the strongest. He picked up all the members of his band, least that's the legend.

[roberto]

According with Jethro, John Duffey had muscles on his teeth.

[dan in va]

Pretty strong fellow and good picker for sure. Maybe he could've loaded wagons of cross ties by himself and driven the team of horses over mountains at age 16, picked up and carry a live 400 pig, carry the whole band, or carry a couch up a narrow stairway by himself that took two young men a long time to bring back down years later (all feats routine and well documented). But i wonder if the REAL test would be of the action on his mandolin -- is it as high as Mr. Monroe used to play?

Wasn't it Marty Stuart who quoted the great picker as saying something like, "It takes a real man to play my mandolin."