From Busch Gardens to the World Stage: Victor Wooten's Early Career

Did you know five-time Grammy-award-winning musician Victor Wooten once performed at Busch Gardens Williamsburg?

When their military family was stationed in Hawaii, Victor’s brothers started a band and selected him to play bass guitar. His family moved to Newport News in 1972, and Victor and his brothers worked at nearby Busch Gardens: The Old Country (now Busch Gardens Williamsburg) in the 80s. Victor Wooten’s bio states that the brothers “rapidly became staple figures and star attractions at the park throughout the 1980s, working in the German, Italian, Country and Bluegrass, and Americana shows.”

Wooten playing his headless bass guitar known as his "Sitar Bass" at the Belly Up in San Diego 2006. Photo by Jason Mouratides on Flickr.

Victor Wooten played fiddle and bass in the Good Time Country Show at the theme park. In 1980 and 1981, The Wooten Brothers performed overseas for troops for the Busch Gardens USO show. While playing overseas, Wooten played the banjo between shows, and one of his friends said he sounded like “Baylor Fleck.” In 1987, Victor and his friend traveled to Nashville, Tennessee, to meet Béla Fleck. The rest is history.

Thanks to Master Blaster on YouTube for posting two videos of The Wooten Brothers performing in 1986 at Busch Gardens: The Old Country.

Nic Beery on YouTube also shared a special 10-minute soundboard recording of The Wooten Brothers performing at the theme park in 1981.