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G&F Band

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.”

On the disc is one of his favorite self-styled country tunes “Broken Angel” in which the author performs all vocals and music including the keyboard parts. Enjoy the below sound file (Copyright 2006).

 

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

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