AIM FOR AFRICA GAMBIA

+ AIM for Africa Senegambia
+ View videos of the trip
+ Read more about Chuck Levy

In July, 2007, Chuck spent two weeks in Gambia, Africa, studying the akonting with Jola master musicians Remi Diatta, and Ekona Diatta, as well as with noted researcher and performer, Daniel Jatta. The akonting is an African 3-stringed instrument, similar in construction to the banjo, and has recently been recognized as one of the main forerunners of the banjo. To learn more about the akonting and the Jola people that play the akonting, visit www.myspace.com/akonting (highly recommended). This trip was sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Chuck Levy, Physician
Chuck is the Chief of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service for the North Florida Veterans Health System and an adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Florida. Chuck has numerous publications, awards, grants, has advised the Centers for Medicare and Medicade Services, testified before the Congress, etc. His interests include recovery from stroke, and traumatic brain injury, wheeled mobility, telehealth, prosthetics and orthotics, and the rare disorders transverse mylelits www.myelitis.org/sitemap.htm and fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva www.ifopa.org/. To learn about the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation, visit www.aapmr.org/condtreat.htm .

Chuck Levy, Musician
By winning the banjo contest at the Florida Folk Festival in 2005 and at the Florida Old-Time Music Championships in 2006 Levy has earned the title of Florida's Old-Time Banjo Champion. Originally from Ohio, has been playing old-time music in north central Florida since 1999. He is equally at home on 5 and 6 string banjos (five strings plus a short string), whether fretted or fretless, playing clawhammer and minstrel styles. Levy is also a prize-winning fiddler. He draws inspiration from the music of the Midwest, southern Appalachians, and most recently the flatlands of Florida. He leads the string bands "Physical Medicine" and "Fear No Weevil". He is the current president of the Florida Banjo Society and a past president of the Florida State Fiddlers Association. Chuck teaches fiddle and banjo in Gainesville, Florida, and directs the Suwannee Old-Time weekend and the Suwannee Banjo Camp. To learn more about Chuck and to hear the band “Fear No Weevil” check www.myspace.com/fiddlevy .

Organizational Responsibilities and Consulting
+ Founder and President of the Florida Banjo Society, 2006-2008
+ Director: Oldtime Banjo Contest at the Florida Folk Festival: 2005-present
+ Co-Director and instructor: Suwannee Banjo Camp: 2007-present www.suwanneebanjocamp.com
+ Director and Instructor: Suwannee Old-Time Weekend 2006-present www.folkfiddle.com/suwanneeweekend.htm . The Oldtime Camp presents national and Florida performers on guitar, voice, banjo and fiddle for a weekend of performance and instruction
+ Banjo Design Consultant to Goldtone: 2006-present www.goldtone.com . Goldtone manufactures musical instruments including banjos, guitars, and mandolins.
+ President of the Florida State Fiddlers Association: 2002-4 www.nettally.com/fiddler/ . The FSFA promotes traditiona fiddle music throughout Florida and holds a yearly convention with a string band contest and also conducts a fiddle contest at the Florida Folk Festival

Competitions
2006: 2nd Place: Florida State Fiddle Contest
2006: 1st Place Florida Old-Time Music Championships: Banjo
2005: 1st Place: Florida State Banjo Contest
2005: 2nd Place: Southeast Pickin’ & Fiddlin’Contest: Old-Time Banjo
2005: 3rd Place: Southeast Pickin’ & Fiddlin’Contest: Old-Time Fiddle
2004: 1st Place: Florida State Fiddlers Association Annual String Band Contest (Fiddle)
2004: 2nd Place: Florida State Fiddle Contest
2004: 4th Place Florida Old-Time Music Championships: Banjo
2004: 3rd Place: Florida State Banjo Contest
2004: 1st Place: Florida State Fiddlers Association Annual String Band Contest (Fiddle)
2001: 1st Place: Florida State Fiddlers Association Annual String Band Contest (Fiddle)
2001: 2nd Place: Florida State Fiddlers Association Annual String Band Contest (Banjo)
2000: 2nd Place: Florida State Fiddlers Association Annual String Band Contest (Banjo)

Management & Bookings
Chuck Levy
426 SW 43rd Terrace
Gainesville, FL 32607
web: www.oldtimecentral.com
email: levyce@aol.com

© 2007,
Chuck Levy. All rights reserved.