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Nancy Sluys has been playing traditional music since 1973 when she acquired a mandolin and started attending bluegrass festivals. In 1974 she happened upon the Galax Fiddler’s Convention in Virginia and discovered the haunting sounds of old time music. Taking up the clawhammer banjo she quickly mastered it and returned year after year to Galax eventually winning first place in 1995,2002 and 2004. She has also won prizes at most of the major fiddlers conventions in the south including 2nd at Clifftop and 1st at Elk Creek & Mount Airy. |
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While living in Florida she met her husband to be, Bill Sluys and started the Horsehair and Catgut String band. The only old time band in South Florida, at the time, Horsehair & Catgut played from 1979 to 1983. Nancy alternated on banjo and fiddle in the band while Bill brought up the bottom end on the washtub bass. While traveling to Virginia in the early 80s Bill whipped the bass competition at both the Mountain City and Independence fiddler’s conventions winning first place and beating out all the upright bass players with his washtub. In 1983 Nancy & Bill were married and soon moved to Greenville North Carolina where they joined the Too Wet to Plow String Band with fiddler Earl White and guitar player, Charlie Pickford. They played many concerts and dances in Eastern North Carolina and were the house band for the Green Grass Cloggers home team. In 1985 Bill and Nancy moved to the musically rich area of Mount Airy, NC and soon after formed the Pilot Mountain Bobcats with Nancy playing fiddle, Jacki Spector on banjo, Allin Cottrill on guitar and Bill playing an aluminum upright bass. The Bobcats have become well known in the area for their hard driving traditional style and danceable rhythm. The Bobcats have become standards at all the fiddler’s conventions taking the top five honors at Galax and Clifftop among others. Other festivals and music camps where the Bobcats have played include Augusta Dance Week and Old Time Week, Merlefest, Feet Retreat, the Eno Festival, Autumn Leaves Festival, Foot Mad, the Hometown Opry, the L.E.A.F Festival, Blue Ridge Music Center, Galax Leaf and Strings Festival. From 2000-2003, in addition to the Bobcats, Nancy and Bill were members of the progressive old time band, Man Alive! with Joe Thrift and David Long. Nancy took up the banjo duties with Bill on the bass. Nancy & Bill continue to play with the Pilot Mountain Bobcats. Bill has recently opened Minglewood Recording Studio and is currently working a new Bobcat recording as well as recording for other bands. Nancy recently completed a project in the studio called Best of Friends Volume One featuring a combination of musicians accompanying her clawhammer banjo playing. Nancy Sluys’ Discography** “The Pilot Mountain Bobcats” - Tape – Bobville Productions #BC94 Recorded 1994 “Galax 60th Annual Old Fiddler’s Convention” – Compilation, Nancy on Clawhammer Banjo ** ”Galax 68th Annual Old Fiddlers Convention” – Compilation, appearing with The Pilot Mountain Bobcats ** “Dance by the Light of the Moon” The Pilot Mountain Bobcats. Yodel-Ay-Hee # 026 recorded in 1999 “Two Traditions” Nancy guest stars on this progressive CD produced by percussionist Jim Roberts and also featuring the Horseflies. Recorded in 1997 & 1999 “Dandy Tunes & Banjo Friends” With fiddler Jerry Correll. Nancy guests on clawhammer banjo. Heritage Records HRC#1290 Recorded in 2000 **“Ever What You Want” Man Alive! Yodel-Ay-Hee #035 Recorded in 2001 “Les Pick” Wayne Henderson. Nancy is a guest banjo player. Hay Holler #HH-CD-1357 Recorded in 2002 ** “Best of Friends Volume One” Nancy Sluys with guests, Richard Bowman, Chester McMillian, Joe Thrift, Charlie Pickford, Bill Sluys & Michelle Belanger Yodel-Ay-Hee #056 recorded in 2005 ** “Lady of the Lake” The Pilot Mountain Bobcats. Yodel-ay-Hee #062 To be released in the spring of 2006 ** With Bill Sluys |
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