Joe Spann

Joseph Edward Spann was born in 1958 and began formal training on the piano at age six. Joe had studied that instrument for about 7 years when he saw a PBS program on Bluegrass music that featured the 5-string banjo. After taking a few banjo lessons, Joe began teaching himself to play by studying the recordings of Earl Scruggs, Don Reno, Doug Dillard, and Ben Eldridge .

Joe took part in several short-lived local groups before joining up with Carl and Hazel Young in "Boggy Creek Bluegrass" in 1979. Boggy Creek played the extensive bluegrass festival circuit around Florida as well as being semi-regulars at Allen's Cafe.

In 1980, with the help of studio owner and engineer, Len Walls, Spann recorded an album of original banjo music at Central Sound Studio in Auburndale. His LP, "Joe Spann and the Joe Spann Band", was selected by Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine as their first "Album of the Month", in the January 1981 edition.

Choppin'
Blue Bell

Although Joe gained quite a reputation as a country guitarist during the eighties, he never lost his love for bluegrass. Along with Carl & Nancy Chambers, Joe spent the late-80s working at the Circus World and Boardwalk and Boardwalk theme parks playing a mix of country and bluegrass in the group the Dizzy Rambler Band.

In the early nineties Joe once again became a regular visitor to the stage at Allen's Cafe and quite often set the standard by which both professional and wanna-be banjo players were judged. Unfortunately, his progressive style alienated many of the local "hardcore bluegrass traditionalists" and his efforts often went somewhat unrewarded.