Does the name Bruce Piephoff rings a bell? Probably you have heard about it since the name is closely associated with the music scene especially in Greensboro, NC, his native town. A singer and a songwriter, Bruce Piephoff started playing guitar at 18 years of age while a student at UNC – Chapel Hill. Although somewhat late, that doesn’t stop him from creating beautiful music.
His penchant for music was triggered by his father who exposed him to folk music of artists such as Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie and the Weavers. A shade-tree guitarist, his father even owned a collection of original albums of these artists which Piephoff now owns along with the old man’s Martin D – 35.
Though exposed to music at such a young age, his career as a performer only took off at the Chapel Hill college music scene playing at the small stages of various coffeehouses. He knows how to give justice to songs of Bob Dylan and Hank Williams, Lightnin’ and Hopkins, the Carter Family, John Prince, Townes Van Zandt, Tom Waits and Elizabeth Cotten. While he is known to deliver the songs of these artists with such talent, he also writes and performs his original material.
Since he is doing great in the music scene, he became too busy that he drop out of college during his sophomore year and pursue a career in music. Through this, his performance venues went beyond Greensboro and was given the opportunity to perform at New York City and Nashville. But despite his hectic music career, he still managed to return to school and earn his B.A in English and M.F.A in creative writing at UNCG Greensboro, the same campus where he studied poetry along with distinguished writers Fred Chappell and Robert Watson. It is also during this time that he began to separate pure poetry from song lyrics in his own compositions.
It was the year 1986 when he was given a break that allows him to perform throughout North Carolina, not just in the larger towns. This opportunity is given by the North Carolina Visiting Artist Program, a program that supports local performers in old-time music and jazz genres. Consequently, the Southeastern Community College designate him the visiting artist position in the remote town called Whiteville. The designation lasted for one year and provides him with salary and health benefits.
Though the position was not the easiest way to gain popularity all over the world, Piephoff untiringly carried out his responsibilities that include performances in schools, churches and non-profit group meetings all around the community. Visiting artist program also allows exchanges with other artists thus his postings in Brunswick County near the beach, Valencia Community College in Orlando, FL, back to North Carolina at Anson Community College and then finally at Cleveland Community College in Shelby, NC.
A favorite place is Payhembury in the UK. A quaint English village which includes a green surrounded by old houses, church and pub.
His stint at the Visiting Artist Program ended in 2001 when government funding can no longer support the program. He went back to relying to his performances and recorded releases to survive.