MARTIN, JACKIE & COYOTE ("Martin & Friends")

Martin Garrish (guitar), Jackie Willis (bass),Marcy Brenner (mandolin) and Lou Castro (dobro) perform “old-time” and “classic” bluegrass-, country- and rock-flavored songs by Bill Monroe, Flat/Scruggs, Willy Nelson, Bob Wills, Jimmie Rogers, Hank Williams and many more.   They appear regularly at Ocracoke restaurants (Jolly Roger, Howard’s Pub and the Sargasso Grill) and also at the Ocrafolk Opry, Outer Banks Opry, private celebrations and special events all over the Outer Banks.  Their foot-tapping music is lively, fun and sure to put a smile on the face of every listener.

Some History about Ocracoke Music
The original “Graveyard Band” on Ocracoke Island was a revolving group of island natives who gathered up on the hill by the graveyard.  Some tell it that Danny Garrish named the band.

Excerpt From “Ocracokers” by Alton Balance:

“Most of Ocracoke’s musicians were influenced by family members who passed along their talent to the next generation, who continued providing music until another generation came along.  One early fiddle player was William “Wid” Williams, whose son, Sam Keech Williams, also played the fiddle and tap-danced.  After Wid Williams, another fiddle player, Tom Neal (O’Neal), took his place.
During Tom Neal’s fiddling days, a larger group of Ocracokers influenced by Jimmie Rodgers, formed a band known as “The Graveyard Band.”  The name stuck because most of the group were brothers and cousins from the Garrish family, who lived close to the Howard graveyard.

The Graveyard Band existed from the 1920s to the 1950s.  As the original members dropped out, others were added.  The Garrishes included Robert Lee, Jakie, Junior, Jule, Charlie and Powers.  Others were Ansley O’Neal, Willie Hunnings, Lawrence and Maurice Balance, Roy Parsons, and George Jackson.”
In the 1960s “The Cousins” were Martin Garrish, Jackie Willis, Ronnie O’Neal and Kenny Garrish (all cousins and Ocracoke Island natives) and they played classic rock at school and for dances.  When Ronnie went to college in 1969 they became the “Gallon Jug” band.  When Kenny went into the Army the remaining players began to call themselves the “Graveyard Band Revived” but then just the “Graveyard Band” when they played the Pub (then where the Sargasso is now) and ¾ Time (which is now the Community Center).  Martin and Clifton Garrish carry their family tradition with Tommy Hutcherson, Gary Mitchell and Lou Castro as the local favorite “Ocracoke Rockers.”  Aaron Caswell, 14, frequently appears with The Rockers and is clearly a member of the next generation of island musicians, among many other island youths.