WAYNE COUNTY, PA  — Steve Jacobi was inducted into the North American Fiddler’s Hall of Fame after three decades of practice, passion and sharing his art with audiences. The gifted musician picked up the string instrument at age 22; he has since graced countless stages across the county and continues teaching the younger generation.

In 1978, Jacobi left school to pursue a career at his cousin’s dairy farm. The farm’s feed salesman was Fred Williams, a local fiddling legend. Though Jacobi initially sought to play the steel guitar, the music-orientated farmer couldn’t pass up an opportunity to learn from the master. 

“I invited him up to the Farmhouse back in ‘78 and heard him play with his friend Frank Tyler, who was on guitar. Honestly, when I heard him play, I thought it was so cool. The music he was making and all the different sounds a fiddle can make was amazing to me,” Jacobi recalled. The following day, Jacobi purchased his first fiddle. 

Jacobi had an unwavering passion for country music. Throughout his career, he played for bands such as Country Breakdown, Swiftwater, Fiddlin’ Around and the Old Time Fiddlers. 

On a trip to Vermont in 1981 for a contest, Jacobi had the opportunity to hear a musician who became his biggest inspiration. Graham Townsend, a Canadian native, was fluent in the mandolin, piano and fiddle. Townsend was inducted into the Canadian National Fiddling Hall of Fame in 1998.

“He changed my life. It was incredibly exciting, so from that moment, he was my biggest influence. Once I heard him, things really took off for me wanting to become better [on the fiddle],” Jacobi said. 

Though he draws on inspiration from talented musicians like Townsend, the uniqueness of fiddle playing relies on having a personal sound and connection with the instrument. Determined to excel in the instrument, Jacobi established his own style and put his own creative spin on classic tunes. 

He demonstrates his style as well as the fundamentals of fiddle playing for the younger generation to learn. Although the musician is based in a rural area, Jacobi utilizes the internet to his advantage. His YouTube channel, Lizacreek, has nearly 700 subscribers and provides instructional videos for newcomers. The accessibility of social media allows anyone to pick up an instrument and learn, which Jacobi believes will keep the fiddle community thriving for generations to come. 

“Years and years ago, I always thought to myself that when I started teaching, even if I taught one person how to play the fiddle, they could continue on. Maybe then they would teach a person. Then you’re doing your part in keeping the music alive,” he said. 

This summer, Jacobi took a long-awaited trip to the National Oldtime Fiddling Contest in Weiser, ID. Entering in the senior division, he played alongside 20 talented fiddlers from across the country. The 2,500-mile journey paid off when Jacobi took home the second-place title in his division. 

A mere two weeks later, Jacobi received a call from his friend Graham Shephard. Before departing on his trip to Idaho, he and Shephard had spoken about a possible nomination to the North American Fiddler’s Hall of Fame. 

Jacobi confessed that he didn’t believe that he deserved to be amongst some of the greatest fiddlers of all time. 

“I don’t feel like I’m good enough to be in the Fiddler’s Hall of Fame. That’s where all of my fiddle idols are and I don’t really rank with them when it comes to playing,” he confessed to Shephard. 

Shephard reminded his friend that music is more than what you play, but how you inspire others.

In addition to his YouTube channel, Jacobi created a Facebook page in April of 2018—Fizzle Tune Video Library. Online groups can post instructional videos or personal pieces to the page for audiences to view. The videos give fiddlers exposure and confidence to play for listeners without getting in front of a large crowd. Five years since its establishment, the page has gained almost 11,000 followers. 

Jacobi’s nomination, as Shephard reminded him, was not solely based on his incredible talent, but his dedication to continue the fiddling legacy. The Fizzle Facebook page reaches across the globe to countries like the Netherlands, Canada and France. 

“All we can do is just try. We go out and play and hopefully, somebody will like it and they’ll come up to you and say that they’d really like to learn how to play. That’s all you want, that’s all you can ask for,” he said. 

Jacobi was inducted into the North American Fiddler’s Hall of Fame on July 30.