Swatzells keep dobro tradition alive

Each day Bertha Swatzell and Mary Nell Swatzell Eidson open the doors of the Dobrotorium at the 34th Annual National Old Time Country, Bluegrass and Folk Music Festival to a steady stream of performers.

More than likely, many performances will include a dobro, also known as a slide or acoustical guitar.

That instrument is near and dear to the hearts of the two women.

(Sentinel photo by Beverly Van Buskirk) Bertha Swatzell (standing) and her daughter Mary Nell (Swatzell) Eidson, display some of Tom Swatzell's dobros in the Dobrotorium at the 34th Annual National Old Time Country, Bluegrass and Folk Music Festival at the fairgrounds. Their late husband and father, Tom Swatzell, has often been called the "King of the Dobro" for his efforts in reviving interest in the instrument. [Click to enlarge]

The late Tom Swatzell, Bertha's husband and Mary's father, played the dobro, and even wrote a method book that is still highly regarded today for learning to play the instrument.

"Tom is credited with getting the dobro back on the market, teaching and demonstrating it," said Bertha. "That's why we're here at the festival."

Dobro is actually a trademark brand name, but has turned into the name to identify the resonator guitar.

The Dopera family developed the dobro in the 1920s, adding three wide, shallow aluminum cones inside the guitar to magnify the sound.

Later they designed a less expensive model, with a wooden body, one large resonator and a perforated metal coverplate to let the sound through.

The instrument is played face up, using a steel bar.

The name dobro came about by combining the words Dopera Brothers.

Production of dobros was stopped during World War II due to the need for metal in the war effort.

By the late 1950s, the instrument was once again being manufactured, although under several different names. The Dobro line was owned by Mosrite of California in the 1960s.

Four members of the Dopera family founded the Original Musical Instrument (OMI) company in 1967 and began making the resonator guitars under the Hound Dog label. The Dopera family regained rights to the Dobro name in 1970.

Among the instruments made by OMI was the "Tom Swatzell" special dobro.

OMI became a division of Gibson Musical Instruments in 1993.

Bertha bought her husband's first dobro, which she found in the attic of a store in Chicago.

Tom had been involved in music from an early age, and had even taught music lessons on the guitar and banjo.

He also played with a group of musicians around Alabama.

Tom met Ed Dopera, one of the brothers, and a bond was formed.

"Daddy was a big help to bring back the popularity of the dobro by playing a lot of styles in different venues," Mary said.

The Doperas found they needed a way to have people learn how to play the dobro.

Tom, who formerly taught music, got down to business and wrote a step-by-step instruction book for dobro players.

Mary uses that book, published by Mel Bay Publishing, for her workshops, giving beginning dobro lessons during the festival.

"Daddy liked playing this festival," Mary said of the National Old Time Country, Bluegrass and Folk Music Festival.

"This was his favorite fest and he liked working with Bob (Everhart)," she continued.

"It's a reunion for people and gives us a chance to teach and talk about the dobro," she added.

Bertha pointed out the display they have in the Dobrotorium at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds.

The Swatzells have accumulated quite a collection of dobros and related items through the years, Bertha said.

Among the items on display is the Tom Swatzell Model Dobro. A sign on the table states "Tom was the first Dobro artist honored by OMI and Gibson with a signature model in recognition of his contributions to the advancement and preservation of the Dobro instrument and its music."

One of Tom's limited edition signature dobros is in the Shrine to Music Museum in Vermillion, S.D., which Mary toured for the first time last year while at the festival in Le Mars.

At 82, Bertha still enjoys the festivals and sharing the history of the dobro.

"My plans are to have a dobro museum," Bertha said. "We have a lot of the history."

Bertha's hopeful she can establish that museum in Decatur, Ala., Tom's hometown. Bertha makes her home in Huntsville, Ala., while Mary lives at Glenview, Ill.

Bertha and Mary have been asked to bring Tom's instrument collection for a display to the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, of which Tom is a member.

He's sometimes referred to as the "King of the Dobro," Bertha said.