Andy Flynn's Gibson Brothers book
Donation protected
Author Andy Flynn , of Saranac Lake, New York, is working with Eric and Leigh Gibson to produce an authorized biography of the Gibson Brothers bluegrass band called “Breakthrough: The Gibson Brothers Story.”
This is the story of the American dream, how it took two boys 20 years to make a thousand-mile journey from their dairy farm near Ellenburg Depot, New York, to the Grand Ole Opry stage in Nashville, Tennessee. The Gibson Brothers are two-time International Bluegrass Music Association Entertainers of the Year.
The time is right to tell their underdog story.
This is an important book, as it shows our younger generations that with talent, hard work and determination, they can dream big and be successful in life. Eric and Leigh Gibson are bona fide role models for our youth, especially the next generation of bluegrassers.
Andy is working hard to compile interviews and write an accurate, honest and compelling biography.
"Bluegrass started in Kentucky," North Carolina singer/songwriter Joe Newberry told Andy at the 2015 Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival , "but the Gibsons are a great example of the fact that it belongs everywhere."
BOOK IDEA
The idea for a Gibson Brothers biography came a couple months before they were named 2012 IBMA Entertainers of the Year. As he watched the band perform during a July 2012 concert at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts in Lake Placid, New York , Andy said to himself, "There's a great story here about how two local guys made it to the big time."
In April 2013, Andy approached Eric and Leigh about writing the book, and Leigh said, "We're not as big as you think." It didn't matter. Their star was still rising, and Andy could see a compelling story, one that had to be told. A month later, Andy was in Old Forge, New York, covering his first Gibson Brothers concert for the book, a story that was published on the Bluegrass Today website .
ENTERTAINERS
There was one thing that struck Andy about the Old Forge performance, and every one since; the way the brothers entertain the crowd from the beginning to the end, especially with friendly sibling jokes.
Leigh: “We’re getting the banjo back out. I hear you like the banjo here in Old Forge. Is that true? I best not make fun of Eric for playing it. He’s a champion, you know. He won the Craftsbury Banjo Contest twice when he was in his teens. I don’t remember splitting the purse with me. Did you give me anything for that? I helped you out.”
Eric: “I split it. …”
Leigh: “You split it with me? Fifty dollars. I don’t remember that, but I have to take you on your word now. It was 20 years ago.”
Eric: “Thirty years ago.”
Leigh: “Do you still have the trophy?”
Eric: “Yup.”
Leigh: “I figured you would. I won a fiddle contest one time. I’m a champion, too. I won the Jericho, New York, junior division championships on the fiddle. …The competition was myself and nobody. It was just me, but I did get the trophy. They had it already made up, so I have it.”
FUNDING NEEDS
With three years of research under Andy's belt, and no revenue source to write the book, the bills are mounting for travel/research and production costs. Andy is trying to have the book published in late 2017 or early 2018.
If you are eager to read the Gibson Brothers book, please donate what you can to help with costs for travel/research, production and printing.
SUPPORT REWARDS (see below)
As a thank-you, Andy’s publishing company, Hungry Bear Publishing , will be giving donors copies of his previously published books on Adirondack Park history, and at least 1 copy of the Gibson Brothers book when it is published.
(Andy Flynn is currently the editor of the Lake Placid News and a correspondent for North Country Public Radio in Canton, New York. He is an award-winning journalist and was named New York Press Association Writer of the Year in 1996 for newspapers with less than 10,000 circulation. He is the author of nine books on Adirondack Park history.)
Andy Flynn and the Gibson Brothers at the 2013 Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival. From left are Mike Barber, Andy, Jesse Brock, Leigh Gibson, Eric Gibson and Clayton Campbell.
This is the story of the American dream, how it took two boys 20 years to make a thousand-mile journey from their dairy farm near Ellenburg Depot, New York, to the Grand Ole Opry stage in Nashville, Tennessee. The Gibson Brothers are two-time International Bluegrass Music Association Entertainers of the Year.
The time is right to tell their underdog story.
This is an important book, as it shows our younger generations that with talent, hard work and determination, they can dream big and be successful in life. Eric and Leigh Gibson are bona fide role models for our youth, especially the next generation of bluegrassers.
Andy is working hard to compile interviews and write an accurate, honest and compelling biography.
"Bluegrass started in Kentucky," North Carolina singer/songwriter Joe Newberry told Andy at the 2015 Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival , "but the Gibsons are a great example of the fact that it belongs everywhere."
BOOK IDEA
The idea for a Gibson Brothers biography came a couple months before they were named 2012 IBMA Entertainers of the Year. As he watched the band perform during a July 2012 concert at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts in Lake Placid, New York , Andy said to himself, "There's a great story here about how two local guys made it to the big time."
In April 2013, Andy approached Eric and Leigh about writing the book, and Leigh said, "We're not as big as you think." It didn't matter. Their star was still rising, and Andy could see a compelling story, one that had to be told. A month later, Andy was in Old Forge, New York, covering his first Gibson Brothers concert for the book, a story that was published on the Bluegrass Today website .
ENTERTAINERS
There was one thing that struck Andy about the Old Forge performance, and every one since; the way the brothers entertain the crowd from the beginning to the end, especially with friendly sibling jokes.
Leigh: “We’re getting the banjo back out. I hear you like the banjo here in Old Forge. Is that true? I best not make fun of Eric for playing it. He’s a champion, you know. He won the Craftsbury Banjo Contest twice when he was in his teens. I don’t remember splitting the purse with me. Did you give me anything for that? I helped you out.”
Eric: “I split it. …”
Leigh: “You split it with me? Fifty dollars. I don’t remember that, but I have to take you on your word now. It was 20 years ago.”
Eric: “Thirty years ago.”
Leigh: “Do you still have the trophy?”
Eric: “Yup.”
Leigh: “I figured you would. I won a fiddle contest one time. I’m a champion, too. I won the Jericho, New York, junior division championships on the fiddle. …The competition was myself and nobody. It was just me, but I did get the trophy. They had it already made up, so I have it.”
FUNDING NEEDS
With three years of research under Andy's belt, and no revenue source to write the book, the bills are mounting for travel/research and production costs. Andy is trying to have the book published in late 2017 or early 2018.
If you are eager to read the Gibson Brothers book, please donate what you can to help with costs for travel/research, production and printing.
SUPPORT REWARDS (see below)
As a thank-you, Andy’s publishing company, Hungry Bear Publishing , will be giving donors copies of his previously published books on Adirondack Park history, and at least 1 copy of the Gibson Brothers book when it is published.
(Andy Flynn is currently the editor of the Lake Placid News and a correspondent for North Country Public Radio in Canton, New York. He is an award-winning journalist and was named New York Press Association Writer of the Year in 1996 for newspapers with less than 10,000 circulation. He is the author of nine books on Adirondack Park history.)
Andy Flynn and the Gibson Brothers at the 2013 Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival. From left are Mike Barber, Andy, Jesse Brock, Leigh Gibson, Eric Gibson and Clayton Campbell.
Organizer
Andy Flynn
Organizer
Saranac Lake, NY