Greg Deering learned woodworking from his father and, at the age of 12, purchased his first banjo and learned to play the music of the Kingston Trio. Deering went on to make his first banjo as an industrial arts major at San Diego State College and, in 1970, joined other enterprising young college students at the American Dream Co-Op doing instrument repairs and building banjos. The American dream became the theme of Greg’s life when he and Janet started the Deering Banjo Company in 1975. More than 40 years later, the Deering Banjo Company has seen many a milestone including the launch of the Goodtime Series in 1997. In its 40 years of existence, Deering has delivered hand-built American instruments to more than 100,000 musicians, including the Avett Brothers, Béla Fleck, Mumford and Sons, Dom Flemons, and Ashley Campbell.

Inducted into the 2016 American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame.