Artist Spotlight – Ettore Buzzini

By: Marsha Channell

Many of us walk through the busy crowds at bluegrass festivals and/or SPBGMA (Society & Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America) and IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) conferences hoping to meet up with famous/known artists. Nowadays you might just be missing your chance to meet some of the most talented up-and-coming artists that are walking the same halls. Among those up-and-coming artists is Ettore Buzzini which has been getting his name known by many fans and fellow artists. Since Ettore may be new to many, join me in learning more about Ettore as I am spotlighting him for the next month.

Ettore was born on November 25^th and is from Mooresville, NC. Mooresville has earned the town nickname “Race City USA” by being best known as the home of many NASCAR and IndyCar race teams and drivers. If racing is not your thing, you can always check out Lake Norman State Park where you can take a scenic bike ride, play some lakeside volleyball, rent a boat and enjoy a day on the water whether its sunbathing or doing a little fishing.

As a young six-year-old, Ettore remembers feeling like he was struck by lightning when he first heard Earl Scruggs for the first time. Knowing that his grandfather had played banjo prior to becoming ill, Ettore knew that the love of pickin’ was in the family blood. By the age of nine, Ettore had started learning banjo and then wrote his first song within the next year or so. Ettore’s music developed over the years reflecting his mother’s love of Tennessee Smokey Mountains sounds and his father’s Swiss-Italian folk music.

Signing up and competing at competitions and conventions created the necessary motivation for practicing. Ettore stated that knowing you were competing against others, you wanted to practice harder and be prepared as much as possible. Being on stage was a lot of fun, comfortable and gave an unbelievable feeling all over him. The hardest thing about the competitions is that dreaded wait for the winner names. Congratulations to Ettore for winning the 2024 Fresh Grass Banjo competition. Practicing is important but Ettore has seen the importance of listening to others as well. He has found that listening can stimulate one enough to create new melodies.

Ettore may have been young when he picked up the banjo but ever since then he has always known that he belonged in the music world. At an IBMA conference a few years ago, Ettore was able to get a band together that included members all of his age and talent, that is when he was able to truly hear his original music come to life. Playing original music is always a plus but Ettore would love the chance to collaborate with Del McCoury and Danny Paisley. If he could step out of the bluegrass world, he wouldn’t mind doing a collaboration with artists like Jacob Collier.

Ettore’s dad was the one that taught him to be kind and patient while both of his parents have embraced the idea of him entering the bluegrass world. Bill Rippey was the only teacher that taught Ettore the banjo. Bill always inspired him to become a banjoist, just not a banjo picker. During free time, Ettore always enjoyed joining in on John Powell’s jam sessions after being invited for the first time when he was just a young’n. Tom Mindte’s (Patuxent Records) belief in Ettore was the extra push that he needed to make his first album at the young age of 14 years old.

The album titled “Eddie Ray” was under the label Patuxent Records. Ettore’s favorite song on the album was “Ragnarök” which he wrote at the age of 11 years old. The song was about the Norse version of “Armageddon”. It was told from the point of a young man going to war.

Along with creating an album, Ettore has many other moments that have been memorable in their each and own way. Winning Instrumental at Fresh Grass and youth competition at Galax were huge accomplishments that helped fuel his love for playing music. Having the opportunity to play at Merlefest and IBMA was an incredible experience and allowed him to get exposed to the larger crowds and other known artists. He also couldn’t resist saying how much he loves staying up till the crack of dawn with his pickin’ buddies at Galax where they all try to outdo each other doing crazy things.

As a young artist, it is hard getting people to pay attention and to recognize you as an artist, not just a young player. It’s also hard to get many fans to break away from the traditional bluegrass and accept the new styles of music. Working with Tom over the years, he would always say “You need to be good because you won’t always be a cute kid” and that always kept him motivated to be better. If Ettore was to give advice to another up-and-coming artist, he would share advice that he received from Bill – “To become great, listening is more important than playing”.

Rapid fire questions –

What is your favorite Holiday and why? Christmas because of the Holiday Season. The celebration of Jesus as well as the family traditions. I also like Thanksgiving because it’s my birthday and we always go back home to Tennessee to eat pumpkin pie and be with the family.

What is your favorite saying/quote? To become great, listening is more important than playing.

What is your favorite destination? My dream destination would be to go to Vienna or in Switzerland again.

What state has been your favorite to do a concert/event in? Virginia because of the rich history and beautiful scenery.

What is your favorite type of car? Any practical car

What your favorite kind of ice cream? Pumpkin

What is your favorite junk food? Chocolate

Do you have a hobby outside of music? I like to go on walks in the woods, studying geology and waterways, history, and working out.

What is your favorite book that you read or author that you like to read? My favorite author is probably C.S. Lewis with the Chronicles of Narnia because you really live in the world of Narnia and the symbolism is clever and great.

Announcements:

Record Label – Patuxent

Singles Released – Don’t Love Me

“Don’t Love Me” was written by Ettore Buzzini and Friedrich Ruckert.

Single coming out soon – Happy

Ettore has been working on a new album. His goal is to have many singles released throughout the year. The single “Don’t Love Me” released was from a German poem from the 1800s that Ettore had translated and adding his own music to it. His next single that will be released is “Happy”.

Make sure to check out Ettore’s website for music and merchandise – ettorebuzzini.com