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Cell Perches & HVO

BRC Activities, Cell Perches & HVO, G&F Singers

A Belated Thanks

July 27, 2024

For a numbers of years in the pre-Covid days, the BRC craftsman and the G&F Singers entertained patients, siblings, and parents at the local Children’s Hospital. Two of the most devoted vocalists in these quarterly concerts were ladies from the weekly Lake of the Ozarks jam session. As a trio, we entertained in the pediatric ward playroom and in the private rooms of bedfast patients.

As a belated thank-you to these two women who volunteered their time and voices for these songfests, the BRC craftsman constructed cell phone perches for them in between banjo projects. One of the vocalists (right) is also a clogger who had performed at a nearby regional theme park as a young girl. Her cell perch below depicts a songbird and two dancers.

In addition, this singer is also a student of the harmonica which is represented on the base of her smartphone stand.

Our other singer (left) is a well-accomplished picker on the guitar and mandolin. These instruments are displayed on the front of her cellphone perch (below) along with a songbird.

As this multi-instrumentalist has been a key figure in getting our weekly Ozark jam session relocated to the township`s community center, her stellar advocacy skills and gifted musicianship are represented by a starry sky on the base of her smart phone stand seen below.

Both cellphone holders have identical blossoms inlayed (below) on the rear platform of each perch as a flowery representation of these two gracious and skillful back-up vocalists.

 

While cradling their belated thank-you gifts (arrows) in their hands, the two harmony-singing women are congratulated by the BRC banjoist for their generous years of time and spirit dedicated to entertaining the patients and families at our local Children`s Hospital.

From the BRC: It is a blessing to have such marvelous friends as these talented  ladies.

 

Cell Perches & HVO, G&F Band

Welcome Fiddler

December 9, 2023
Violinist and harmony singer Sara joined our band earlier this year. Although her background included classical training and membership in the string section of the civic orchestra, she was drawn to the Bluegrass music genre and our fun-filled Thursday evening jam sessions where she is seen below kneeling front right.
Sara devotedly studied and promptly mastered classic fiddle tunes while seamlessly merging into our ensemble with her songbird voice. As pictured below (far right), she has become a regular and valued performer on Sunday afternoons at our brewpub gigs benefiting the Children`s Hospital.
In recognition of her upbeat and skillful commitment to the G&F band and its musical endeavors, Sara was recently presented with a hand-crafted BRC workshop smartphone holder during one of our weekly evening jam sessions.
Our newest fiddler is seen below holding her gifted cell perch (arrow), and we are all grateful that she has brought her music and song to us and our listeners. Away from the band, she is a busy equestrian and falconry aficianando.
Stage center at the feet of her animal-loving master, Sara’s dog named “Peanut” rests quietly while the band performs a Sunday afternoon gig at the brewpub. Despite upbeat hoedown tunes, throaty group vocals, and rounds of solo musicianship, the canine dozed and was unmoved by the onstage hubbub.
From the BRC: Happy Holidays to all our readers and Best Wishes in 2024.
Art Shows, BRC Activities, Cell Perches & HVO

A Perch and Mailbox

August 5, 2023

The unique theme this year for the end-of-summer art show at the community gallery is “Bare.” Whether realistic or abstracted, the human form has challenged artists since the beginnings of time-  from cave wall drawings to modern day computer simulations. Vexed to design a banjo based on the unadorned human frame, the BRC craftsman instead designed a cell phone holder entitled  “The Bare Bones Cell Perch.”  For an almost fully retired orthopedic surgeon, this skeletal smartphone holder was an instinctive  project.

While the gala opening reception offered plenty of abstruse nude paintings, mysterious sketches, and the occasional puzzling sculpture, gallery visitors (below) closely studied the anatomically accurate features of the “Bares Bones” desktop implement.

From the BRC:  Whenever resolving a bone of contention, it is wisest to stick to the bare facts.

Recently From the BRC Mailbox:

Dear BRC: Hi. I bought what looks like a 1970s Vega banjo in Tokyo. It does not have C. F. Martin on the back and is quite plain. The pot has 0728 as a serial number carved into it. Also pasted inside is a handwritten note (below) that reads, “Original Martin made Vega Banjo neck is V-41 prototype. Martin inlaid the pearl in the peghead. The rest is inlaid & finished by Homer C. Ledford, Luthier.” My question:What is it? It plays fantastically by the way. Cheers, R.S.

From the BRC:
Dear R.S. : Thank you for your correspondence to the BRC mailbox.  Per the existing website/Wikipedia, Homer C. Ledford (1927-2006) was a respected luthier and musician in Kentucky. According to my data, C.F. Martin made twenty-eight model V-41 five string banjos, but the serial number 0728 does not correspond with anything in my files. In the 1971 Martin price list, the V-41 listed for $850 by special order only. The V-41 model appears in the 1972 and 1976 Vega Martin catalogues. The last V-41 banjo parts that C.F. Martin manufactured were shipped to Japan in mid 1977 for assembly. Martin acquired the Vega franchise in 1970 and sold it overseas in 1979. You are welcome to send me photos of the instrument to see if anything might be learned from its hybrid features. Most importantly, however, is that it plays well. Thanks for your query. From the BRC, Barry
From the BRC: Dear R.S.- Thanks for the photos. The inlay on the fretboard appears to be a flawless reproduction. The pot looks like Martin woodwork but seems deeper than usual. Happy picking from the BRC. With much appreciation,  Barry

 

BRC Activities, Cell Perches & HVO

Small Things Count

March 11, 2023

Each March, the local art league stages it “Tiny Things” juried competition in which all entries must measure no more than 8 x 8 inches. This restriction compels artists to condense their expressive aspirations into a cramped and challenging format. As any banjo is too outsized for this exhibit, the BRC craftsman frequently uses left-over fretboard inlays from past 5-string projects to decorate a desktop smartphone holder which he enters into the show. This creative strategy is based on the belief that very few people have much use for a banjo, but nearly everyone could use a cell phone perch. Most BRC tabletop stands are thematically ornamented for select family members and friends and then gifted to them.

Pictured above, “The Artful Charger Cell Perch” is destined for a neighbor who is a classic oil-on-canvas painter. He frequently exchanges creative ideas and mutual critiques with the BRC craftsman’s spouse who is an award-winning artist and art league instructor.

As all BRC banjos have a small inlay on the heel of the neck which is for the eyes only of the musician, the base of this smartphone holder displays a unicorn on its undersurface to signify the vital roles of fantasy and imagination in painting.

The “Music is the best medicine for the mind and soul” cell perch (above) was recently gifted in thanks to the BRC craftsman`s older brother who guided the former into the realm of music many decades ago. The inlays on this smartphone holder were inherited from the “Inside Bluegrass” banjo depicted on the May 14, 2022, BRC posting.  “The Inside Story” can be accessed by entering the word “inside” in the our homepage search engine. Enjoy.

Each year, the Tiny Things art show occurs simultaneously in March with a sprawling weekend film festival in our university community. This allows curious out-of-town film buffs attending the 20th annual movie fest to visit the gallery, study the wares, and carry away their purchases.

From the BRC: Wondrous things come in small packages.

P.S. Have a grand St. Paddy`s Day.

BRC Activities, Cell Perches & HVO, Jamming

A Jam Endures

December 17, 2022

About 40 years ago, a weekly jam session was inaugurated on Thursday evenings in the basement of local hardware store that was owned by an avid Bluegrass guitar/mandolin picker. Attendance at this soon popular year round musical get-together was by invitation only, and the included participants showed-up faithfully regardless of rain, ice, sleet, or snow. The musicians came from different walks of life and embraced diverse sociopolitical agendas,  but the respectful climate of the jam was friendly interaction and tolerant camaraderie. Because of the shared love of Bluegrass music, the meeting succeeded as a mini societal model of mutual acceptance. In the below photo, the gracious jam host Windell is standing (second row) far left. It was not unknown for Mitch Jayne, the bass player for the Dillards, to stop-by on occasion and enjoy the fun and music.

As many years past-by, and some members aged-out, relocated to another state, or passed away. The jam session endured for decades until host Windell sadly passed away earlier this year. Two of the jam regulars, however (blue shirts far left front row), have continued the rich  tradition of this special Thursday night picking session by convening it on an alternating week schedule between their two nearby homes. Participation is still by invitation only, and the jam session has survived the covid pandemic. To celebrate the continued success of the cheerful climate orginally cultivated by store owner Windell, the BRC founder (holding banjo) crafted the “Fiddlin` Bill Cell Perch” for his teammate Bill (blue plaid shirt) as a thank-you gesture signifying their successful partnership in sustaining this enduring jam tradition.

The sturdy red oak smartphone holder bears treble clef signatures, stars, fiddles, and guitars. The heavenly star-swooshes represent musicians who have passed away with the years, and the small mother of pearl stars represent the current active members. On the top of the center post is a slight larger star that represents a nonagenarian original jam session senior member (green vest front row center group photo) who still plays music with us regularly.

The underside of the cell perch is a signature location for a BRC inlay. A hand saw and claw hammer signify that the original site of the jam session was the basement of Windell`s hardware store.

Fiddlin` Bill received his cell perch at the weekly jam session with much gratitude and has stationed the desktop implement in his home recording studio as seen above. We are privileged to continue this weekly jam legacy.

Combining musicians from all three local jam sessions,  a recent festive Seasonal gig at the local brewpub was filled with Holiday sing-alongs enjoyed by the audience and performers alike. As usual, all tip money was donated to the nearby Children`s Hospital.

From the BRC: Happy Holidays to all BRC readers from all of us.