Anderson-Strickland

Crooked Road Luthiers & Musicians

Gerald Anderson and Spencer Strickland have made names for themselves. Anderson apprenticed under Wayne Henderson and Strickland is apprenticing under Anderson. The artisanship due their pedigree is beautiful, impressive and of great compliment to their tutor.

The instrument-making duo harvests Red Spruce found on Whitetop Mountain, Virginia's second highest elevation, for their instruments. Exotic materials are also incorporated into the finished piece, as is the luthier's signature - his last name inlaid with mother of pearl.

Anderson has created more than two hundred instruments in his nearly thirty-year career. His mandolins are fashioned after the 1920s Gibson-Loar line. Strickland is next in this line of luthier legacy, and is definitely learning from the best. His apprenticeship under Anderson was awarded by The Virginia Folklife Program, an initiative to match young people to master craftsmen in an effort to preserve the traditional arts of Virginia.

Aside from the handcrafted string instruments they're known for, Anderson-Strickland is also a recording act. Their debut CD "Headin South" was released in April 2005 and they are wrapping up a second that is part of the Crooked Road Series produced by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities.

Individually, both Anderson and Strickland have garnered musicianship awards. Gerald Anderson was recognized as "Best Guitar Player" at the 2003 Galax Fiddlers Convention, his most prestigious award among more than 200 competition ribbons. Spencer Strickland was likewise heralded in Galax - "Best All-Around Performer" in 2004 - and also won the mandolin competition at Merlefest in 2005. Check 'em out at www.andersonstrickland.com!