Gérard De Smaele

In 1966, at the tender age of 15, Gérard De Smaele discovered the five-string banjo. This was to be the start of a long story, which would take him from Belgium to the United States to meet his masters: Pete Seeger, the New Lost City Ramblers, Roger Sprung, Kyle Creed, Tommy Jarrell, Reed Martin… Now a professional musician, he was regularly invited to share his passion on the RTBF radio. Author of several books, he was – in 2003-2004 – the promoter of a memorable exhibition at the Brussels Musical Instruments Museum.