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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

A Perch for a Pickin` Pal

May 19, 2024

The G&F jam band has a valuable member who works as a computer skills instructor for the local school district, and he is imminently approaching his retirement date. While in between banjo projects, the BRC craftsman fashioned a cell phone holder gift for this musician`s special occasion.

The front of the cell perch displays a computer screen surmounted by two banjos, and the shooting stars in the foreground signify this picker`s stellar role as the coordinator of our nursing home performances.

As our pending retiree is a devoted and lifelong bicyclist, the back of the smartphone stand (above) features two inlayed bicycle sprockets.

All BRC banjos have a special inlay on the heel of the neck for the eyes only of the musician. Hence, the undersurface of this cell phone stand has a unique composite inlay reminding its new owner that he is the king of keyboard and fretboard digitalization.

In a Thursday night jam at the BRC domicile seen above, the soon-to-be retired computer guy holds his newly acquired cell phone perch (white arrow).

From the BRC: BTW, there is no retirement age for picking Bluegrass music.

 

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.