First picking up an instrument at three years old, Maxwell tapped his toys like instruments and was mesmerized by music which he feels has become a second language for him. In fiddle class at the Suzuki Academy of Music School of Delaware, Maxwell learned to play Irish style music on the fiddle. But his first morsel of bluegrass was in a kid’s academy at the Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival. There, he met Andrew Vogts, his fiddle teacher, who introduced Maxwell to some influential people—like the manager of The Beach Boys.
“Opening up for The Beach Boys has probably been my favorite people to open for!” said Maxwell. “My fiddle teacher got me a gig at The Beach Boys’ manager’s house, and that led to me getting to open up for them. I didn’t know who they were then, but I definitely do now!”
In addition to opening for The Beach Boys at Wilmington Delaware’s Grand Opera House, Maxwell opened for Trout Fishing in America at Reading PA’s Miller Center for the Arts, bluegrass legends Del McCoury and David Grisman, and other notable performances.
“The Beach Boys were so memorable, but I loved opening up for Trout Fishing in America. I even got to sing a song on-stage with them at their show!” said Maxwell.