In this episode: Uwe and Jens Kruger sit down for an interview at the 2021 MerleFest autograph tent.
Uwe and Jens were born and raised Germany and Switzerland. They began singing and playing instruments at a very young age, as music was an important part of their family’s life. At ages eleven and twelve years old they were already performing regularly after debuting publicly in the spring of 1973.
In 1979, Jens and Uwe left home and worked as a performing duo on the streets throughout
European cities; with Uwe playing guitar, and Jens playing the banjo. In 1981 they received a
CBS recording contract with their band Rocky Road. In 1982 Uwe and Jens split up, with Uwe
becoming the leader of a country music band. Jens came to American and was granted the
opportunity with Bill Monroe to become the first European banjo player to be featured on the
Grand Ole Opry. Jens returned to Switzerland and began working in the local music scene as a
banjo player, while Uwe became the band leader for many country music singers throughout
Europe. In 1988 they reunited and began to focus on their fundamental love of American roots music.
In 1989 the two brothers met up with Joel Landsberg, a native from New York City, whom had recently moved to Switzerland. Joel is a classically and jazz trained bassist, who had been performing since the early 1970’s as well. Jens and Uwe began hiring Joel to perform with them in a variety of bands, playing over 200 shows a year on average. In 1995, Joel became an integral part of the group and it was from that point forward the group decided to focus exclusively on performing as the Kruger Brothers.
In 1997, the Kruger Brothers made their debut in America playing for audiences at MerleFest,
the Wilkesboro festival named in honor of Doc Watson’s son, Merle. They were big fans of Doc Watson’s music, and they felt at home in the mountains of North Carolina. The trio moved to the United States in 2003.
The traditional style of music that once dominated their performances slowly gave way to more of their own compositions. They increasingly incorporated elements of European folk and classical music into their performances, molding it into a unique one-of-a-kind style. Since then, the Kruger Brothers have performed at countless music festivals and performing arts venues throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe. They have performed with symphony orchestras all over the world, often debuting original classical compositions that Jens has been commissioned to write by the National Endowment of the Arts, Chamber Music America, the Banff Center of Canada, among several others. They have been honored with numerous national and international awards and have been inducted into various music Hall of Fames.
They have performed with the likes of Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, Willie Nelson, Ricky Scaggs, and many more. In addition to their performances at MerleFest, they have brought much recognition to Wilkes County through their annual festival, Carolina in the Fall, named after one of their songs, which has hosted some of the best of North Carolina's folk, bluegrass, roots, and acoustic bands. The Kruger Brothers host an annual Music Academy in Wilkes County that draws participants from all over the world who enjoy musical instruction and amazing interactions with these highly sought after professionals. The Kruger Brothers are ambassadors of the music
This program is sponsored by Wilkes EDC. Situated in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Wilkes County serves as the pivotal hub connecting businesses, communities, and opportunities throughout the region. Visit https://wilkesedc.com/ for more info or to connect.
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