Robert Shafer has played guitar professionally since graduating high school in 1981. He is a two-time winner of the National Flatpicking Championship held annually at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. He has also held state guitar championships in Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio and Alabama. Shafer has appeared on the Grand Ole Opry, Mountain Stage, and BBC, and has worked with Mark O’Connor, Mike Snider, Kenny Baker, Josh Graves and many others. He is also an electric guitarist and has received rave reviews for his guitar playing from Guitar Player Magazine, The Washington Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Vintage Guitar Magazine and other publications. He currently resides near Charleston, WV.