Pete Wernick
Pete Wernick, born Peter Wernick on February 25, 1946, in New York City, is an
American banjo player known for his contributions to bluegrass music. He began
playing the banjo at age 14 and pursued studies at Columbia University, where he
hosted a bluegrass radio program and earned a Ph.D. in sociology. In 1970,
Wernick formed Country Cooking in Ithaca, New York. In 1976, Wernick moved to
Niwot, Colorado, and released his solo album Dr. Banjo Steps Out in 1977. He
then formed Hot Rize in January 1978 with Tim O'Brien, Charles Sawtelle, and
Mike Scap (later replaced by Nick Forste...
