Artist profile: Concert to benefit luthier John Rollins

John Rollins, a longtime Bellingham luthier who has built lutes, Baroque guitars and other instruments in his Bellingham workshop for about 40 years, suffered a workplace accident last January that required the amputation of his left leg just below the knee.

Among his musical friends is Bellingham guitar-builder George Thomas. Thomas is helping to organize a benefit concert for Rollins at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, at Fairhaven Library. Suggested donation is $15, with the proceeds going to Rollins’ medical expenses. The event include a silent auction of donated musical instruments.

Here’s more about Rollins, who moved to Bellingham in 1954 when his father retired from the Navy. He graduated from Bellingham High School in 1965.

Question: What instruments do you create?

Answer: I primarily build Renaissance and Baroque lutes and early guitars. I play most of the instruments I build. I don’t play as much as I use to, but you have to have a rudimentary knowledge of the instrument and the music played on the instrument.

My customers are primarily professional musicians, students and amateur enthusiasts. Most of my instruments are custom orders. I love creating something out of wood and seeing the finished product.

Question: When did become seriously interested in music?

Answer: My love for Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque music developed when going to Skagit Valley College. I studied classical guitar and the pieces I played were mostly lute music. Since there weren’t many lutes available then, I developed an interest in building a lute.

I had no experience in woodworking, so I struggled building my first two lutes.

My mentor was, and is still, Ray Nurse in Vancouver, B.C., an enormously talented lute builder, musician, vocalist and teacher. I visited his workshop frequently.

I have a very strong interest in history and part of that interest is bringing musical instruments to life from the 15th, 16th and 17th century.

Question: How did the accident happen?

Answer: In January, I dropped my belt and disc sander on my toe. The infection eventually got worse and worse until I had to go to the hospital and have my left leg amputated 6 inches below the knee. As an undiagnosed type-2 diabetic, I didn’t understand what was happening to me.

After 10 days in the hospital and two months in a care center, I went home April 1. Since then I have a prosthesis and the progress has been slow. Currently, I am borderline diabetic and have made good progress in my diabetic needs in my diet. I still need to overcome some large medical bills.

Question: Who will play at Sunday’s concert?

Answer: In addition to George Thomas, who’s organizing the event and will play slack-key guitar, performers include the five-member Klassen family from the Seattle area on Baroque and classical guitar, lute, violin and cello; classical guitarists Mark Wilson, Hanh Nguyen and David Feingold; Bob Clifton and Vedad on flamenco guitar; guitarist Walt Burkett, who plays Brazilian-influenced songs; and Randy Mohr on hurdy-gurdy, accordion and concertina, plus soprano Linda Strandberg. Most of the performers I have known for many years and will be playing on instruments I’ve made.

This story was originally published November 10, 2015 at 11:00 PM with the headline "Artist profile: Concert to benefit luthier John Rollins."