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Bio, G&F Band

TJ the Tiger and Congrats

April 9, 2018

The BRC founder`s band, featuring 3 fiddlers, performed last weekend at the annual  springtime Children`s Hospital fund-raising dinner which teemed with guests and pediatric health care staff.20180407_183224

 

The hospital mascot “TJ the Tiger” joined the festive event mixing with patients, parents, and a banjo picker whose band sang “You are My Sunshine” in four part harmony for a young guest.20180407_181539

 

 

After the gala reception, the musicians convened at a local restaurant for their yearly family meal together.

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The pickers were congratulated for their generosity to faithfully entertain at this annual fund-raiser for the last ten years.

 

Art Shows

Stranger than Fiction?

March 17, 2018

The community art gallery recently challenged members and non members to enter works into a juried exhibition entitled “Stranger Than Fiction” as its theme.  What could be more intimidating than submitting a banjo into such a competition along side of water color and oil paintings of freakish landscapes, surreal wood and metal sculptures, bizarre fabric wall hangings, and unearthly ceramic pieces and glassworks? With some trepidation, the BRC founder entered a 5-stringer entitled “The Unicorn” to be judged amidst this eclectic field of unconventional works. A bewildering outcome to this venture, his open back banjo was accepted and hung for display at the gala opening reception.download

The BRC founder and his wife happily babysit grandchildren twice a week, and all the grandkids have a BRC 5-stringer residing in their homes. Despite no fewer than 10 banjos strategically positioned around the grandparents`  house, including in grandma`s art studio, the youngest grandchild is showing focused interest in his granddad`s mandolin.

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Every musical instrument has its own sonic signature, a unique voice. Every musician (present or future) has a favorite singer- be it stringed, woodwind, or brass.  Incredibly, both grandparents won ribbons at the exhibit awards ceremony for works they submitted to the art show. Truth is always more mystifying than fiction.

P.S. Check-out the `Open back 5 string BRC TimberWolf banjo` on eBay April 1-8.

Jamming

Wildflowers and a March Hare

March 2, 2018

Each mid week, the BRC founder journeys to a jam session at the McD`s burger shop in a rural village located south of the Missouri River and near the sprawling Lake of the Ozarks. En route, Highway 54 winds through the small roadside town of Brazitio which is home to the Missouri Wildflowers Nursery. This cultivated and natural Show-Me garden was the source of the moniker for the “Wildflowers Trio” who were inducted into the BRC Hall of Fame last month.download (2)

 

This threesome of women specializes in sweet gospel harmonies. Lisa picks the guitar and mandolin, Becky fiddles, and Angie is a clogger who teaches youngsters how to dance to Bluegrass music.

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At the most recent jam session, the pickers graciously provided some birthday festivities for the BRC founder to celebrate his yearly calendar milestone, as he is a March Hare. Or is it March Heir? Springtime cannot be far away.

G&F Singers

Quartet, Duo, Trio

February 13, 2018

Three members of the BRC founder`s band teamed-up with a powerhouse dobro player (seated right in photo) to perform at the weekly community Farmer`s Market last weekend. While the patrons busily shopped for organically grown local produce, gluten-free baked goods, and free range meats and eggs, they were entertained by an eclectic array of genre-crossing music including traditional fiddle tunes, bouncy blues songs,  and some rollicking vintage hard rock.  Fifty percent of the tips were donated to the local Children`s Hospital.FullSizeRender

 

A few days later, the BRC founder`s singing group the “G&F Quartet” was scheduled for its annual pre-Valentine`s Day songfest on the pediatric ward of the Children`s Hospital, but winter storm road conditions reduced the singers from 4 to only 2 voices.

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Shortly into the gig, however, we discovered that the mother of a patient was a ready and capable harmony singer. The mom stepped-up per our invitation, and the G&F Duo was promptly upgraded to a Trio with her alto assistance. During the sing alongs, festive surgeon`s caps sewn by seamstress nurses were distributed to the kids. For a lark, the Trio boldly finished up the performance by experimenting with a famous children`s song from a Broadway musical/movie. This impromptu finale came off without a hitch, and the tune was added to the permanent G&F repertoire. Our  guest vocalist was thanked for her gracious and timely participation in the proceedings.

Art Shows

Food for Thought

January 31, 2018

This month a local art gallery hosted a juried exhibit entitled “Indulge” which studies the art of eating and the culture of food. How could a banjo be linked into this theme and win the approval of a discerning art instructor from a nearby campus who would be adjucating the entries? To meet this vexing challenge, the BRC founder fashioned an open back 5 stringer entitled “Country BBQ” hoping its sizzling mother of pearl flames would fire the imagination and approbation of the judge. Alas, no such luck.IMG_5355

 

The gallery staff, however, were charmed by the banjo and invited the builder to “showcase” the instrument in an anteroom at the “Indulge” opening reception. A teeming throng of patrons crowded the gala event and spilled over into the anteroom during the awards ceremony. While one potential banjo buyer paused briefly to observe the ceremonial distribution of ribbons and cash prizes, another patron quietly purchased the banjo and prepared to take it home. As a courtesy, the BRC builder demonstrated the musicality of the instrument for the new owner by playing a familiar Grammy-award winning 5 string theme on it.IMG_5448 - Version 2

He then offered a wink and the advice that in the event of an energy crisis, this was a dual purpose instrument which could also be used as firewood to barbecue a meal.

P.S. Best Wishes to all for a Happy Groundhog Day.