CD songs | Banjo Rehab Center, Banjo Restoration

Springtime in the Ozarks & more

April 15, 2023

With March winds and April showers, our Spring season in the Heartland has been wet and blustery. Despite cool and rainy days, the neighborhood daffodils and tulips have bloomed, trees are leafing-out in the countryside, and turtles have re-surfaced in the lake behind the BRC workshop. This week, temperatures surprisingly crept up into the low 80’s, and our Wednesday afternoon jam session in a village nestled in the foothills of the Ozarks was convened at an outdoor pavilion in the township`s municipal park. Although a very breezy day, bluegrass pickers and singers cheerfully gathered as the sun spilled down around us. School kids merrily romped in the adjacent playground while fitness walkers paused to enjoy the music, dance with our clogger, and sing-along to familiar gospel tunes.

It looks likely that the pavilion and its lively greening environs will become our regular jam session venue for the months to come.

Between 2004 and 2006, the BRC craftsman wrote and recorded 4 solo CDs of original music. Three of the discs benefitted our local Children`s Hospital, and one disc was in support of Health Volunteers Overseas, a medical philanthropic international organization.

Three young sisters, all grandnieces of the BRC songsmith, provided back-up vocals for the author`s tunes.

The foursome was reunited recently in Chicago at a reception for the BRC founder`s eldest daughter who was having a book-launch celebration.

From the BRC: All good wishes to you for sunny days of music and song as summer draws nearer, and have a happy Earth Day on April 22nd.

Art Shows, CD songs

A Banjo Myth Dispelled

February 13, 2021

In the year 1320, Dante finished his colossal poem the Divine Commedia (Divine Comedy) which depicts his vision of the afterlife. This three-part narrative poem contains over 14K lines describing the soul`s journey through the Inferno (hell), Purgatorio (purgatory), and Paradisio (heaven). For the inaugural juried art show of 2021, the local art league tasked its members with fashioning works based on Dante`s classic literary trilogy.

Because of the allusion to “banjo hell” in many contemporary cartoons as seen below, the BRC founder studied Dante`s 9 Circles of Hell described in the Inferno verses. Misdeeds such as lust, gluttony, greed, heresy, violence, and fraud are each assigned a separate Circle in the descent into Hades, but the banjo appears nowhere in the catalogued strata of wrongdoings. Where did the satanic 5-string myth begin? Traditional fiddle tunes include such mysterious titles as “Hell Among the Yearlings” and “Devil in the Strawstack.” In the old-time fiddle favorite “Hell Broke Loose in Georgia” recorded in 1929 by Gid Tanner and His Skillet Lickers, the banjo is barely detectable.

Is the aforesaid infernal habitat of the banjo a misplaced appellation? To challenge this cultural and puzzling injustice to the 5-stringer, the BRC founder designed an instrument entitled “Devil`s Dream” which was accepted and exhibited in the Divine Comedy art show.

Devil`s Dream is a spritely fiddle tune of unknown origin which has been adapted to the banjo because of the melodic flurry of notes in its up-tempo theme. The BRC banjo builder first heard the instrumental performed by clawhammer banjoist Michael Cooney on an LP of sea chanteys recorded in 1973 by the National Geographic Society. In Ireland and Scotland, this old reel is known as “Devil Among the Tailors.”

The satanic mother of pearl imagery and molten brimstone of crushed opal on the peg head, fingerboard, and heel speak for themselves. Studying the fretboard cavalcade of skulls, a gallery visitor remarked, “Alas, poor York! I knew him…” (from Hamlet, Act 5, Scene 1).

The Devil`s Dream 5-stringer hangs amidst a field of 62 watercolor and oil paintings, sketches, sculptures, and multi-media works.

To acknowledge the misguided myth of demonizing the banjo, the ninth mother of pearl inlay traditionally stationed at the 19th fretspace on this banjo neck was treacherously moved up to the 20th fretspace on the fingerboard (above). The Ninth Circle of Hell is treachery. The heel of the banjo, a BRC signature site for a mother of pearl inlay for the eyes only of the musician, displays a skull with fiery opal eyes gazing at the banjoist (below).

In a facebook online video tour of the juried show, the art critic who judged the entries commented that the BRC craftsman was “famous” for his banjos. The art league executive director predicted this “rock `n roll” 5-stringer would sell promptly.

(Ed. Note: Is there a banjo heaven?)

A few years back, the BRC founder penned a ballad he called the “Fiddler`s Hymn” to nostalgically honor an elderly old-time fiddler who had passed away. This tune appeared on his first BRC album to benefit the Children`s Hospital.

The song was broadcasted on the radio as background music for a public service announcement about the pediatric medical center. Enjoy the above sound file. All music and vocals are by the author (copyright 2004).

From the BRC: Don`t fiddle around- wear a mask, practice social distancing and hand hygiene.

CD songs, G&F Band

A Bluegrass Valentine

January 31, 2021

February is the special month when we share our warmest affections with loved ones, extended family, and favorite friends. The BRC founder is blessed to be surrounded by a throng of devout Bluegrass pickers and singers who dedicate their music and song to benefit the Children’s Hospital. With heartfelt gratitude, their images are shared below.

The BRC banjo builder authored a song entitled “Old Mexico” for his first CD in 2004 to benefit the pediatric medical center. It is a tale of an aged cowboy who reflects on a long lost love from his distant youth, and he undertakes a final determined journey to find and reconnect with his beloved of yesteryear. The chorus contains the nostalgic refrain, “If I could be young one more time…” which our senior pickers sing in hearty unison at jam sessions and performances. Enjoy the below sound file. All music and vocals are by the author..(copyright 2004).

From the BRC: Happy Valentine`s Day to All our readers. Be safe, be well, be loved.

CD songs, G&F Band

Home for the Holidays…

December 19, 2020

Hunkering down for the holidays? Anyone a stranger to sheltering in place? Readying for your next video call or zoom connection while hibernating?

Gainor & Friends have been performing benefit gigs for the Childrens Hospital weekly at the Broadway Brewery for more than a decade, but the pandemic has kept us off the bandstand for the last 9 months. Over the years, the family-friendly brewpub has hosted us most graciously. We initially performed in a cozy corner alcove by the steps descending down from the street to the front entrance. The acoustics there were surprisingly good.

During our Sunday afternoon jam sessions, the band has been treated to abundant left-over brunch snacks and take-home when it goes on break. Since our early beginnings in 1995, donations to the Children’s Hospital have exceeded $26K. With fingers crossed for luck, we hope to step-up on the bandstand once again sometime soon in 2021. Maybe, by Valentine`s Day or later…? Till then, we will all be “Hanging in the Air” while looking ahead for an off-ramp to exit from this pandemic alternate reality. Check-out the below sound file for a song with a lyrically suspended theme from the BRC founder`s second CD to benefit the Children`s Hospital. All music and vocals are by the author. Enjoy.

BTW, last month, the BRC website search engine hits topped 1.27M since our beginnings in April of 2011. We are grateful to all our faithful readers who visit us regularly. Have a restful and happy Holiday Season.

From the BRC: Be safe, be well, be joyful.

CD songs, G&F Band

At the Artisan

December 5, 2020

Over the years, the BRC founder`s band has donated all tips to the Children`s Hospital while calling themselves initially the “Bluegrass Jammers” and later the “Moonshyne Reunion.” When the music scene in McBaine dried-up, the BRC banjo-builder began to perform weekly solo gigs at the new Artisan coffee house near the University, a campus that bears the traditional nickname of Mizzou. As the months passed, fellow musicians increasingly began to join him each week on stage, and soon his solo act morphed into what became the “Gainor & Friends” band.

The G&F musicians would wear the Mizzou school colors of black and gold when jamming on the eve of a football game, and the band would perform on holidays in the lobby of the University Hospital to entertain patients, visitors, and staff.

At a benefit gig to collect donations for the Children`s Hospital, nurses join the G&F musicians onstage (above) waving small hand-held logos of the Children’s Miracle Network foundation. While regularly appearing at the Artisan, Gainor & Friends were pleasantly surprised one weekend to discover that they were ranked among the top eight live bands “to stalk” in town per an article (below) in the entertainment section of the local newspaper.

During the jam band’s tenure at the coffee house, the BRC banjo-builder compiled and produced his third and final CD for the Children`s Hospital entitled “Bonesetter`s Best & Bonuses.”

From the BRC: be safe, be well, and follow hygiene rules.

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