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Toby
Heller - Fiddling his way to the top!
This
article ran in the Summer 2005 Issue of the Bluegrass Journal
Written
by Sherri Chekal• All Rights Reserved by the Author, July
2005
Photography by Ruthie Spears• All Images Copyright by the
Photographer, July 2005
Reprint Rights Available by Contacting the Author or The
Bluegrass Journal Editor
It was late
one Saturday night at the EagleÕs club in Flat Rock, Michigan,
when I had the chance to hear legendary bluegrass fiddle great,
Bobby Hicks and his band, Hazel Creek. ItÕs been years since
I heard him last and the man has got to be one of the sweetest
sounding fiddlers around. It was a delight to sit and listen.
However, I was totally surprised when in the second set a young
man was brought up to the stage with his own fiddle and invited
to play with Mr. Hicks! I knew this was something that happened
at various shows and generally speaking, the young person would
be nervous and would do their best with stage fright and fumbling
fingers, though this was not the case. Toby Heller, age 12,
from Ortonville, Michigan, was that young fiddler brought up
to play. If he was nervous, he didnÕt show it. He played ÒOld
Joe ClarkÓ with Mr. Hicks like a seasoned pro. The house was
enthralled. His timing and intonation was exceptional. This
young man has quite a career before him if he sticks with it!
After the
show, Toby was given a DVD of Bobby HickÕs new teaching program
and everyone was all smiles. He certainly made a few new friends
and admirers that evening. And, I believe a few bands were considering
keeping their eye on him for the future! His proud mother, Margaret
Heller, was more than happy to tell us all about her boy and
his musical accomplishments. Toby has been playing the violin
for 7 years now, and has taken lessons from Hardy Keifer from
Germany and Neil Woodward, who teaches at Elderly Instruments
in Lansing. He enjoys playing at downtown OrtonvilleÕs Friendly
Folk JamminÕ Fridays jam session in the evening. His brother,
Lukas, joins in on the guitar. ItÕs clear to see that Toby Heller
is a talent to keep an eye on and encourage!
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