Long time GHS Strings endorser and clawhammer banjo innovator Mark Johnson has been announced as the 2012 recipient of the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass, the 3rd annual honoree.

While a number of 3-finger banjo pickers have used a roll technique to play old time music, Johnson’s style is an interesting hybrid which utilizes the clawhammer/dropthumb method to play bluegrass songs.

Mark refers to his approach as Clawgrass, which he demonstrates in this arrangement of a classic Bill Monroe composition.

This award, endowed by the Steve Martin Charitable Foundation, includes a cash prize of $50,000 and a bronze sculpture by noted artist Eric Fischl, designed expressly for the prize.

Each year’s honoree is chosen by a board appointed for this purpose, which includes J.D Crowe, Pete Wernick, Tony Trischka, Anne Stringfield, Alison Brown, Neil V. Rosenberg, Béla Fleck and Steve Martin. The two previous recipients were Noam Pikelny and Sammy Shelor.

Mark is a New York native, now living in Florida, who has performed and recorded of late in a duo with Emory Lester. He has also recorded with The Rice Brothers and has a solo project under his name.

Congratulations Mark Johnson for this signal honor!