Steve Martin Banjo Prize recipient Bill Evans has been involved with the banjo for over forty-five years as a player, teacher, composer, writer and historian. Bill occupies a unique niche in the banjo world: he is celebrated worldwide for both his traditional and progressive bluegrass banjo styles and his innovative original compositions. He also enjoys a reputation as an outstanding instructor and music camp director as well as being an expert player of 19th and early 20th century minstrel and classic banjo styles. He has recorded four critically acclaimed solo projects, including "Things Are Simple" and "The Banjo in America," a DVD/CD set covering music from the 1780’s to the present day. He is the author of "Banjo For Dummies" and "Bluegrass Banjo For Dummies." He directs his own music camps in New Mexico and hosts five online instructional courses for Peghead Nation. He feels that his greatest accomplishment has been to bring people together through the banjo.