Beech Tree News Network

Collin Coots is a lanky six-footer with the natural confidence of a person that has a grip on life.  The 19-year-old youngster is a Butler County resident who lives in Aberdeen, attends to Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College, holds down a job, and plays some fanciful banjo music. Along with the fiddle, the banjo is the mainstay of Bluegrass and Gospel music, and Collin’s picking and singing will make your feet tap, and your eyes tear up when he plays with his band, The Blue Diamond Band.

Collin, who is your musical inspiration?
I’ve had a lot of people that have inspired me. I was weaned on the first generation of Bluegrass musicians like Flatt and Scruggs, the Stanley Brothers, and Bill Monroe. These men are the rock upon which Bluegrass was founded, and they were the best in my opinion. My biggest inspiration on the banjo is Earl Scruggs.

What styles of music do you play?
The old traditional mountain, bluegrass music, along with gospel music is what I play. When I started out, that's all I had heard, and all I knew and didn't care to know anything else. There are a lot of folks playing more progressive Bluegrass, which I’ve had to learn, but the old fashion music is still my favorite to hear and play.

What’s a regular day look like for you?
I get up and go to the college where I major in Resource Management, work my job, come home to do homework and maybe practice my music some. Spend some time with the family and start over again the next day.

Do you have any other interests?
I love the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing, which I learned from my dad. My dad taught me all I know about it, and I enjoy getting out and doing all that with him. Now I'm trying to teach him how to pick a banjo.  Collin is the son of Vic and JoAnn Coots.

What are your plans for the future?
As far as what my future holds, whether it be in music or in something else, I couldn't tell you, but the Lord knows His plans for me, so I'll just leave it to Him to show me where to go.