Elliot Silberman, is the grand poo-ba and instigater of de Elliot Bros. music. I began playing the guitar, banjo, mandolin, and autoharp back in 1962-63, learning and playing Folk songs. At this time I also started hearing about Jugband Music, also called Poor Mans Jazz. Jugband music began in the poor areas of the south, close to the turn of the century. What made this sound unique was, home made instruments, like the washtub bass, washboards, kazoo's, spoons, anything that could produce unique sounds; including the traditional instruments like guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle etc. Since this time, I have had all these instruments around the house. When visitors came by, little did they know that I would involve them in playing the washtub with me. Little did they know, that they could play them and have fun too. Since then I have been writing, performing and recording music, usually including humor in original tunes, with a vaudville attitude. All CD's may be purchased at: www.elliotbrothers.com.
An event I have sponsored, called Duluth's Annual Battle of the Jugbands, has been going strong for fifteen years. It is held Memorial weekend Sunday, and draws 6-10 bands from the region, and runs for seven hours. It is a celebration of old tyme string band music of days gone by. Other sponsors are, Icehouse Studio, Coho Handcream for Men, Lucy's Hat Shop, Bobs Spawn-bags And More, and Teds(do whatcha do well) Bar-b-que, and Gabbys Genuine Candied Lutefisk. The grand prize is the Coveted Yid-wegian Krumkake Iron.
For a living, I have been drawing 5 minute PORTRAITS for almost 35 years, at Art and Craft Festivals, Renaissance Festivals and various celebrations around the region. Born in Duluth, I graduated from the Mpls. College of Art in 1966 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Printmaking, Sculpture, Drawing and Painting. I also offer Fine-Art Prints from my Original Paintings, also available directly from my web site at: www.elliotbrothers.com
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