Drew Walden has been immersed in music his entire life. Growing up in a bluegrass family in the Appalachian foothills, every gathering turned into an opportunity to play. His grandfather, Papaw Odell, began teaching him banjo in the fifth grade. Drew’s love for music truly took off in middle school when he joined the jazz band on bass at Lake Forest Middle School. That same year, he heard Nickel Creek’s first album, specifically Chris Thile’s mandolin on “Ode to a Butterfly”, and instantly fell in love with the instrument.
Since then, Drew has pursued both bass and mandolin. He earned a B.A. in Music from Lee University with a focus on bass, completing a senior thesis exploring Earl Scruggs’ revolutionary influence on banjo music. Today, he owns and operates Papaw Odell’s, a music store named in honor of his grandfather. The shop specializes in high-end acoustic instruments, expert repairs, and setups, continuing a multi-generational family legacy in traditional and bluegrass music.