He has been playing music since he was 10 years old, going from the ball field to bluegrass, “When I began playing, it was kind of a fluke thing” he says, “I played little league baseball and I wanted to be a big baseball star. That was my goal.” He began taking guitar and banjo lessons. Early on, his tutor recognized a true talent in Ethan; “I took six months of guitar and nine months of banjo. At the end of my nine months, the guy that was teaching me said, ‘This kid’s already better than I am.’ I’ve heard some people call me a protégé, but I just say I like to play music. I took a couple of lessons from Haskell McCormick; he played with Lester Flatt when Earl Scruggs had his car wreck. Ever since then it’s been a ‘go.’ I want music to be my career.”
Over the next few years, he performed with a couple of small bluegrass and gospel bands and worked his way up through the ranks, playing at numerous festivals and local competitions. He began writing songs and, eventually, formed his own bluegrass band named Hillside Express and a country band called Hillside Country.
At thirteen, Ethan, who was actively involved in 4H, was encouraged by one of his agents to send in a videotape of himself to the Country Music Hall of Fame, which was looking for talent. He submitted his video among 500 other hopefuls just from the state of Tennessee alone. Ethan and two others were asked to perform, “As far as I know, I’ve been the only 13 year old person to play in the rotunda of the Country Music Hall of Fame.”
He played an inexpensive banjo and enjoyed it, but always had a desire to play a banjo with a particular sound. The luthier that works on his acoustic instruments, Robin Smith of Heartland Banjo and Guitar in Hendersonville, TN, built a banjo of aged mahogany with a very plain design and called it a Barebones Banjo. Ethan had been looking for one for over a year. Then one evening after a show with Hillside Express (Mark and Sandy Tomlinson, Hannah Smith and her dad Harold Smith) Harold graciously gave Ethan the money for that very banjo. Ethan will always be grateful to Mr. Harold and his family.
Homeschooled since he was four years old, he graduated high school two weeks before he turned sixteen. For the past three years has worked his own lawn care service and as a foreman on local farms.
Ethan, who has been influenced by a wide range of musicians from Nickelback and AC/DC to Flatt & Scruggs and Allison Krauss & Union Station, dreams of one day performing on The Grand Ole Opry and in front of crowds of thousands. His dream might not be too far off. He is now continuing to write songs, as well as playing banjo and dobro with the bluegrass gospel group, The Chigger Hill Boys and Terri who are signed with Thoroughbred Records.
Ethan’s message to the world? “All I have to say is ‘Get Ready!’”
