Eddie Peabody
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Edwin Ellsworth Peabody (Feb.19, 1902 - November, 7 1970) was a musician, most notable for his accomplished playing of the plectrum banjo. He was also known professionally as "Eddie," "Little Eddie," "King of the Banjo," and "Happiness Boy".
Early Career
He entered the U.S. Navy in March of 1916 at age fourteen after lying about his age. He began playing the violin, mandolin, guitar and banjo while serving in World War I on an S-14 submarine. It was during this period that he earned the nickname "Happiness Boy." After his discharge from the Navy in 1921 he went on to have a career in vaudeville, orginally as a violinist, but eventually as a banjo player. He also produced records and appeared in films. He was regarded by some as the most popular banjo player of his generation.Major Accomplishments
He developed, with the Vega Banjo Company of Boston, a new type of four string banjo called the Vegavox, based on the zither banjo. The Vegavox has been produced mainly in 4 string plectrum (22 frets) and tenor (19 frets) models, however some 5-string models were created and sold as special orders.Eddie also developed a special type of electric guitar, first with the Fender Company and then with Rickenbacker, called the Banjoline tuned as a plectrum banjo. Nowadays The Banjoline is a very rare and highly priced collector's item, seldom used in live performance. [[Citing sources citation needed]]
At some point in the 1920s, a music critic nicknamed him "The King of the Banjo" because of his frenetic playing style, which made some listeners think he was playing two banjos at once.[[Citing sources citation needed]] The nickname stuck for the rest of his life.
During his career Eddie played for Kings, Queens, potentates, Dukes, Duchesses and Presidents. [[Citing sources citation needed]] President Eisenhower gave him a distinguished "People to People" Award for meritorious service in both the military and show business.[[Citing sources citation needed]]
Personal Life
During the 1930s he married Maude Kelly, his business manager at the time, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1939. In 1940, he married Ragna Kaupanger, a Norweigian-American nurse and stewardess for United Airlines. Eddie and Ragna had two children, Eddie Jr., and George. They remained married until his death in 1970 at age 68.
He continued to play live until his death from a brain hemmorage he suffered while on stage in Covington, Kentucky. His wife, Ragna Peabody, died in 2002.
Bibliography
The Eddie Peabody Story by Lowell H. Schreyer
Other useful information by Eddie Peabody III, grandson of Eddie Peabody (nitgub@gmail.com)
External links
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