Bio & Discography

Rolf Sieker was one of the first 5-string banjo players in Europe. Now living in Texas he works as a studio musician and songwriter, plays live music and teaches banjo. Rolf became Texas State Banjo Champion of 2001. Rolf's band The Sieker Band recorded 6 albums in Nashville and Berlin and played countless concerts, tv and radio shows in Europe and in the US. From 2006 to 2014 Rolf was part of Bob Schneider's Texas Bluegrass Massacre which was named Best Performing Bluegrass Band at the 2008 and 2009 Austin Music Awards and also performed at Austin City Limits tv show.

Rolf's way of playing the banjo is highly influenced by the blues melodic style of Bobby Thompson, one of the most requested studio musicians in the 60s, 70s and 80s in Nashville. The two were close friends and Rolf received Bobby's banjo in 1996.

Rolf was featured artist in Banjo Newsletter in the November 2002 issue and became the Texas representative for OME Banjos in 2004.

In 1975 his band Bluegrass Express recorded the very first bluegrass album in Germany. In Europe Rolf toured with Bill Monroe and played shows with Byron Berline, Dan Crary, Mark O'Connor, Dave Dudley, Bill Clifton, Red Rector and many more.

Rolf has been playing the banjo since 1968. His mentors are Bobby Thompson and Earl Scruggs. Still living in Berlin, Germany he taught banjo at the Berlin School of Music. Here in Texas he was invited by Alan Munde to teach banjo in Levelland, TX at South Plains College bluegrass camp in 2002 and 2018. He gave numerous banjo workshops at bluegrass festivals. For Rolf it has always been important to do both, teach and perform.

Rolf Sieker - Discography

Rolf recorded lots of studio sessions and can be heard on:

Asleep At The Wheel - Reinventing The Wheel

Ray Benson - I'm Drunk

Kelly Willis - Easy

Bruce Robison - The New World

Bill & Bonnie Hearne - Live At The La Fonda

Lantana - Unbridled

Rick Cavender - New Sunrise

Trace Atkins - The Ballad Of Hank Hill

Rod Moag - Bluegrass From The Heart

Rod Moag - Remember Me

Julie Chadbourne - Save Me

Emsland Hillbillies - Endlich

Hermann Lammers-Meyer - 1961-A Love Song

Hermann Lammers-Meyer - Nashville Is Rough On The Living

Aunty E - Rockstar Princess

Manchaca All Stars - First Attempt

Joel Finnesgard - Sound Of Freedom

Ulli Moehring - Memories

Gueno Van Leyen - Naess Ow Hart

Gueno Van Leyen - No Boawe Den Bleck

Seymour - Many Faces

Shadebull - Waiting For The Rain

Rolf Gehrung - Drinking Poems

Dale Watson

Steve Pack

Malford Milligan

Texas String Drive

Western Union

Brenda Cohn

Mark Rubin & The Atomic Duo

The Carper Family

Bob Schneider's TBM

Ben Buecker

Larry Barnes

Jimmy Ruggiere

Hermann Lammers Meyer - What Comes Next

Dubbilly

and many others

Rolf also recorded several albums with The Sieker Band:

The Siekers - Songs From The Fatherland (2015)

The Siekers - Bears In Texas/35 Years Bear Family Records (2010)

Best Of - The Siekers (2009)

The Siekers - Live At The 2009 Kerrville Folk Festival

The Siekers - Texas (2006)

Rolf Sieker - Fiddle Tunes For The Banjo (2004) DVD

The Siekers - Nashville Cat (1996)

Sieker Band - Bluegrass State Of Mind (1992)

Sieker Band - Appaloosa (1990) LP

Sieker, Ross & Sieker - Headed For The Fatherland (1989) LP

Rolf Sieker - Banjo Hayride/Banjonality (1987) 45

Bluegrass Express (1975) LP

For mp3s and videos please go to www.siekerband.com