Young buskers entertain at Leader

By Joan Janzen

It may have been a first for the town of Leader when two young buskers entertained while people shopped at the Young Entrepreneurs Market on Monday, August 21. Fifteen-year-old Grady Dale and his 12-year-old brother Colden provided instrumental music from 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Kyla McCallum said she enjoyed their music while helping her daughter at the market. “They played real jamming tunes all ages can enjoy. They played classic rock and were really good!” Kyla said.

Brothers Grady and Colden Dale busked at the Young Entrepreneurs Market at Leader on Monday, August 21. Photo by Kyla McCallum

The boy’s mom, Felisha Dale, said both boys have been taking piano lessons for a long time since they were five or six years old but started playing guitar more recently. Colden started playing guitar a year ago, and Grady has been playing guitar for almost two years. They both play the instrument by ear.

As well as playing the piano, both boys play the ukulele, and Colden plays bass, while Grady plays acoustic and electric guitar, banjo and drums. Grady said his dad plays guitar and encouraged him to start. “I started on the ukulele about three years ago, got a ukulele banjo, stepped up to a guitar, and just kept going,” Grady explained.

The young buskers played some classic rock and a couple of country songs during the market. “We basically went all over the map,” Grady said. “People really liked it.”

But he hasn’t considered pursuing music as a career. “It’s certainly a hobby,” he said but did admit they each acquired $41 in tips while busking.

Grady’s brother Colden said he taught himself to play guitar, along with some help from his dad. “I did watch a few YouTube videos to learn a couple of songs, but after you learn the notes, you can figure it out slowly,” he explained.

He said people were very generous, and they ended up making more money than they had expected. Although Colden admitted he doesn’t really like playing in front of people, he had fun busking.

His mom said, “People were just milling around, so it wasn’t just all eyes on them, so it made it a little easier.”

The boys also share their musical talent at the Leader Alliance Church, where they play on Sunday mornings. Grady has played there for three years, and Colden started helping out seven months ago.

And they both belong to a guitar club at their school, where they can have fun and learn from their teacher. But the brothers stick closely to their instruments. “We both prefer not to sing,” Colden explained.

However, if they have another opportunity, you can be sure you’ll hear these two buskers again, sharing their musical talent at the Leader Market or wherever they are invited.