‘A type of legacy’

By Liz Barry

Published: August 13, 2008

When Robbie Wells became a father to twin sons in 1988, a band was born.

In the cradle, the twins would teethe on the horsehair of fiddle bows. In elementary school, they would wake up their father with the screech of early morning fiddle practice. It was music to Robbie’s ears.

Robbie and his sons, Corey and Jesse, soon became The Wells Clan. Robbie specializes in the fiddle, but can play just about anything with strings. Corey has found his niche with the guitar, while Jesse plays the fiddle, mandolin and penny whistle.

The three developed a repertoire of jazz, old time, bluegrass, Irish and country music, and became regulars on the church and wedding circuits, and at bluegrass festivals.

Now the twins are 20, taller than Dad, and have lives of their own at college. Yet The Wells Clan plays on.

Music is at the center of this Lynchburg family. It’s a paycheck, a passion, a way of life. In the past year and a half, music has provided a way to heal when times gets tough.

Last year, the Wellses took in Robbie’s mother, who had cancer, for her last six months of life. The experience was physically and mentally draining, Robbie says.

“I could never have made it without my music.”

In the spring, cancer struck the family again. This time it was Robbie, and the diagnosis was prostate cancer.

Like many artists and musicians, Robbie doesn’t have health insurance. Coming up with $60,000 for treatment was virtually impossible on his own.

The local music community rallied to Robbie’s support. Friends and family organized benefit concerts, and pooled money for his cancer fund.

“It’s like I’ve had a whole army of musicians come to my aid,” Robbie says. “It’s amazing and almost overwhelming.”

Support has come from as far as Blowing Rock, N.C., where a cadre of young musicians played in the streets last month to raise money for Robbie, who was their teacher at The Walker Family Band’s acoustic workshop. The kids would play on street corners and in front of the ice cream shop. At the end of the week, they surprised Robbie with more than $800.

“As I told them in North Carolina, if love could heal, I’d already be healed,” Robbie says.

Robbie began playing music when he was about 10, about the time he moved from Eastern Kentucky to Lynchburg. At 16, he discovered the fiddle, and it’s been his No. 1 instrument ever since. To Robbie, it’s the “king of all instruments.”

Though his parents are not musical, Robbie was motivated by his two older brothers, also musicians and bluegrass lovers. After high school, he took classes at Central Virginia Community College, but never finished his degree. He was determined to make a living from his music.

In 1993, Robbie tried to make it big in Nashville. He auditioned for Trisha Yearwood’s band, but didn’t make the cut. After a year, he returned to Lynchburg full-time, and made a name for himself teaching and playing music.

In his 35-year career, Robbie has released four albums and has been featured as a soloist by the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra. He also has touched the lives of countless students.
In the beginning, he taught lessons to supplement his income. It soon became a passion.

“I’ve learned that one of the most important things about music is to share it with others,” Robbie says.

Robbie teaches students young and old. They are like family to him. And when he gets them in a lesson, “something magical happens.”

Barbara Phaup of Amherst has seen Robbie work magic on three of her daughters, ages 9, 11 and 16.

“There are a lot of people out there who can teach music, but there’s a rare individual that can develop a love of music with your kids to the point where they want to practice,” Phaup says.

Last fall, 11-year-old Mattie Sullivan began taking violin lessons from Robbie. She says he’s her favorite music teacher, and that he inspires her to practice.

“Some teachers, they really stress you out with the music. He just makes it fun,” Mattie says.

Though money has been tight at times, Robbie doesn’t regret making music his life. He considers himself lucky to be able to a make a career doing something he loves.

“I’ve got everything I need. It’s been a struggle, but I’m not starving.”

As for his sons, Corey and Jesse are entering their junior year at the University of Richmond this fall. Corey is a music major; Jesse is still undecided. But they both know one thing for certain: Music will always have a place in their lives.

“It’s starting to become almost a type of legacy,” Jesse says.

if you’re going
—WHAT: Benefit concert for Robbie Wells
—WHEN: 2 to 7 p.m. Aug. 16
—WHERE: The Ellington
—DONATION: $20 suggested; at the door only
—INFO: Groups will include Lisa Vogel and Heartfelt, Blu’ Lonesum, The Train Robbers, Reno Harrell & Reno, The Irish Jam Band, with a special appearance by The Wells Clan. Plus, food, a raffle and a silent auction. For more on Robbie Wells and The Wells Clan, visit http://www.robbiewells.com.