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G&F Band

G&F Band, Jamming

Lucy the Barmaid

November 7, 2020

Not long after the unfortunate demise and closure of the “Country Club” jam locale, a restaurant cook named Lucy decided to move back to the rural township of McBaine for her retirement years and open a pub in an empty storefront. She promptly invited our Sunday jam session to move-in, and we so did gratefully. The pub was just a stone’s throw from the defunct Missouri-Kansas-Texas railroad line that had been converted into a bike trail. A replica whistle stop station nearby provided a panel of archival photos from the days when a steam-engine locomotive shuttled a daily train of rural folks to and from the neighboring university town. A banjo picker and bassist frequently bike the MKT or “Katy” Trail that parallels the Missouri River.

Because of the proximity of “Lucy’s” pub to the university town, the School of Journalism students took interest in the jam session site. YouTube enthusiasts videotaped the musicians. Links to YouTube jam clips are below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67j4l1ue5QY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_tIbrexWgM

Although the Missouri River Flood of 2005 submerged Lucy’s pub under 5 feet of water, the proprietor afterwards restored the premises for patrons and pickers while she readied to fully retire. As a special thank-you for her generosity to us and our listeners, the BRC founder penned the farewell tune “Sweet Lucy.” One Sunday afternoon when her girlfriends stopped-by the pub for tea time, Lucy requested the writer who gladly agreed to perform the song for them. The tune brought smiles all around. A few years later, he attended Lucy`s funeral along with her many, many admiring friends.

On the below “Sweet Lucy” sound file, all music and vocals are performed by the author as recorded on his 2005 CD “Songs about the Heartland” which benefitted the Children’s Hospital. Enjoy.

 

From the BRC: Be safe, follow hygiene rules, and keep on picking.

Banjo Kid Pledge, G&F Band

The Banjo Kid Pledge

February 27, 2020

During our Sunday afternoon benefit performances at the local brewpub, parents often bring their children to the bandstand to see and hear live music up close.

In between songs, the BRC founder will step down from the mini stage to greet the families and encourage the kids to freely strum his banjo. When the child becomes acquainted with the instrument and the parents have photoed the fun interaction, he then offers the youngsters to take “The Banjo Kid Pledge.” With their right hands raised, the children are invited to recite, ” I promise to always do what my Mom and Dad say.” The new inductees are then instructed, “You are now a Banjo Kid forever.”

Although non binding, this oath extends into adulthood and can be renewed on any Sunday afternoon. The above siblings recently returned with their parents to the brewpub brunch to reprise their recitation of the aforesaid vow. As they posed for the above ceremonial picture, a woman dining at the adjacent table pleasantly surprised us with her fashionable banjo earrings, and she took a photo of the kids` pledge reenactment. She then made a generous donation to the Children`s Hospital in the open banjo case stationed for tips in front of the G&F bandstand.

G&F Band

Thanks Again

February 13, 2020

Almost a quarter century ago, the BRC founder and a crew of Bluegrass jam session musicians performed a benefit gig at an outdoor festival and donated all tips to our local Children`s Hospital. An archival photograph of that era depicts the jammers making music at a sunny farm fest in a Missouri River bottomland township.

Over the years, Gainor & Friends has received many gracious notes of appreciation from the Children`s Miracle Network.

We are grateful to a host of faithful musicians, some pictured above at a recent radio station gig, who have shared their time and talent with the G&F band. This month, we surpassed $26K in collections for the Children`s Hospital. Of these monies, 70% has been donated by generous patrons at a family-friendly brewpub which has supported and housed our weekly benefit performances since 2009.

From the BRC, a very Happy Valentine`s Day to each and everyone.

G&F Band

184/mo+1.07M=Thx x2

December 2, 2019

Ten years ago this month, the Gainor & Friends band began performing regularly at the famly-friendly Broadway Brewery on behalf of the Children’s Hospital. The staff and patrons have been generous in their support of our weekly Sunday afternoon benefit jam sessions. In the last year, our tip donations to the Children’s Miracle Network have averaged a remarkable $184 per month. Eight years ago, the Banjo Rehabilitation Center was established and went online, and website search engine hits have passed well beyond the 1M mark. The BRC founder and the G&F Bluegrass band thank our supporters for their year-round friendship and generosity.

Seated next to the BRC founder with her cello in the above group photo is a welcomed guest musician who occasionally joins our jam sessions. All assembled wish each and everyone of you a joyous Holiday Season filled with music. With the approaching New Year, take a few moments to check-out the below link connecting to a website profiling the “Banjo Rehab Center” which was constructed last month as a project by four university Journalism School students. Enjoy. https://nreijmer2.wixsite.com/banjocenter

 

G&F Band

Hearts of Gold

November 4, 2019

Each summer for more than a dozen years, Jeanne has organized a sprawling parking lot festival for kids at the Harley Davidson dealership to benefit our Children’s Hospital. To entertain these crowds, she would invite musicians, dancers, popular university athletes, and set-up games of family fun like dunk-the-doctor for wanna-be baseball pitchers. Parents, patients, and hospital staff would attend the street party. In the springtime, Jeanne would organize a gala dinner with a Roast-a-Doc evening extravaganza on behalf of the Children’s Hospital. Families and staff would attended to watch nurses and doctors gently poke fun at a favorite physician.

Last month, however, Jeanne announced her retirement. As always, Gainor & Friends performed Bluegrass music welcoming arriving attendees to her final fund-raiser, a farewell dinner dance party. She holds a bouquet of flowers in the center of our above band photo.

After our pre-dinner performance, the band adjourned to a nearby restaurant for our annual family and guests meal together.

During the yearly repast, we reflected on Jeanne`s generosity of spirit and boundless energy. All will miss her precious heart of gold.

For as many years, the G&F Singers have entertained quarterly on the pediatric ward. A few days before the above festivities, the quartet performed an autumn fun-filled songfest in the play room to the enjoyment of kids, parents, grandparents, and staff.

Thank-you ladies, for your heartfelt and golden group vocals.