“I never thought my severe neck injury would lead to a new

invention that would help other people”

In 1979 I began suffering from chronic neck pain. The pain was a result
of my new hobby: playing 5-string banjo in a bluegrass band. The average
5-string banjo weighs about 13 pounds. My banjo was a top tension, which
added 2 lbs to the total weight. Standing 4 hours a day with a banjo strapped
over my shoulder pulled my neck, back muscles, and tendons out of balance.

This imbalance over the years manifested itself into a debilitating condition
called a reverse curve of the neck. The condition became so bad I walked
into the Doctor’s office holding my head up only with the support
of my hands. The Doctor’s diagnoses was simple, “You need
to play banjo sitting down or play a different type of instrument.”
Anyone that has seen a live bluegrass band can contest that most musicians
stand while entertaining. Therefore, I began work on the No-Strap™
(patent pending). After years of research and development there now is
a strap designed to relieve tired shoulders and place instrument weight
on the hips.

Solution to the neck problem:

Find a leather craftsman that could make a new strap for me. I found a leather artesian
with a good sense of humor. He tolerated my whim of making a waist strap to hold up
my 15 lb banjo. We worked on the strap as I continued to play full time in the band
I would visit the leather worker’s bench weekly for adjustments on the strap until it
was working smoothly.

Patenting? Marketing?

Working full time left no energy or time to patent and market this new invention. That is,
until I met my business partner, Chad. He helped me to realize that patenting and distributing
the No-Strap would help many other musicians with the same neck and back problems.

Naming the company:

Bill Monroe, father of American Bluegrass Music, designed the first bluegrass band. After
various combinations of instrumentation, he decided that the fifth and final addition to his
invention would be the 5-string banjo. He later commented that the banjo was the fifth child
of bluegrass. Since the 5-string banjo instigated my injury, it seems only true to call this company

Fifth Child Music©.

Thank you,

Kim T.