Clifton Hicks

Clifton Hicks is a banjo player, archaeologist, and Iraq War veteran known for his work in traditional music. He was raised in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina before settling in Tennessee. His musical performances and teaching often emphasize the early American origins of the banjo. Clifton is an accomplished folk artist and luthier, having built dozens of banjos based on historical examples. All of his builds are handmade, using only locally sourced hardwood, bone, and other materials. In 2002 at the age of seventeen he enlisted in U.S. Army, serving as a tank driver and machine gunner in Iraq. In 2013, Hicks graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in anthropology.