Kara Martinez Bachman
The late Sonny Osborne – a beloved member of The Osborne Brothers – said he had a rugged, sometimes annoying little guy living in his banjo. It started as a joke, but the banjo company that this silly, longtime kidding spawned – including creative work by Greg Rich, the legendary and charismatic figure of Gibson Banjo fame – is no joke whatsoever. It’s the real deal. Heavily involved in the company is Sonny’s widow Judy. She co-owns Krako Banjos along with Lincoln Hensley, who owns – and still plays – the banjo referred to as “Krako #1.” It was the first Krako baby born in 2019 when Osborne called Hensley – then a recent college graduate – to come on over and play an instrument he’d assembled from parts in his garage. Osborne mentored Hensley and gave him 18
