From Wood to Singing Guitar is an Appalshop documentary film showcasing Wayne C. Henderson, the master musician and master luthier from the small town of Rugby, Virginia near the foot of Mount Rogers (the highest point in Virginia).  A skilled craftsman & respected musician by his teens, Wayne was taught and encouraged by those around him including the folk hero E.C. Ball and the kind & generous fiddle maker, Albert Hash.  Learning much more than just guitar building and playing, Wayne continues to do the same for the younger generations by sharing the craft with others like Gerald Anderson, who is passing it onto Spencer Strickland, and encourages any young musician to play with him and his friends such as Doc Watson, Steve Kilby, Herb Key, Jeff Little, Sammy Shelor, Roni Stoneman, Robin Kessinger, The Kruger Brothers, and the list goes on.


Wayne's favorite tool
Using a square, Wayne measures the neck angle with his eyes
Production team capturing Wayne playing one his guitars

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From Wood to Singing Guitar: 6 minute sample


Towards the end of August 2008, with nearly everything shot and in the can, this 6 minute video is a short trailer edited for an Appalshop documentary film about Wayne Henderson.

Slideshow of Wayne in the Shop




Wayne Henderson lives in a town with a population of eight – two more than the number of strings on the guitars made in his red brick rectangle of a workshop a few feet from his red brick house in Southwest Virginia. I came to know about Wayne a few days ago when I was hired by the Appalshop to take some photographs for their documentary on the world-class luthier and guitar finger-picker. Click Here for the full article by Shawn Poynter.


Wayne Henderson Jams

Every year, Wayne Henderson, with the Christmas spirit in him, invites people from all over the country to his home in Rugby, Virginia where he has a Christmas Party filled with music, jamming, food, laughs, and good company. At the 2007 Christmas Party, many special guests came for the occasion, including Doc Watson, Roni Stoneman, Jeff Little, Sammy Shelor, Steve Kilby, and the list goes on. Several young musicians play along side these masters for a once in a lifetime experience. A large crowd of friends and guitar connoisseurs watch as a large jam session, playing Bye Bye Blues, takes place in Waynes living room

This was shot as part of the Appalshop documentary film, From Wood to Singing Guitar, about Wayne Henderson (the master musician and master luthier from the small town of Rugby, Virginia near the foot of Mount Rogers, which is the highest point in Virginia). Please visit www.appalshop.org/henderson for more information.

Wayne Henderson Christmas Party Jam
runtime : 3:24

Doc Watson & Jeff Little playing
Old, Old House

runtime : 3:27


Other Wayne Tunes

Wayne Henderson & Friends Playing
Sweet Georgia Brown

runtime : 5:39

The Virginia Humanities Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts celebrated the National Heritage Award Winners living in Virginia. On July 22, 2007, a concert was held in Grayson County Virginia featuring persons from Virginia designated as "national treasures" for their skills in performing traditional music. This is Sweet Georgia Brown documented from Wayne Hendersons time on stage. Wayne was playing with his talented friends, including: Jeff Little, Herb Key, and Jimmy Edmonds.


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