Th Everything We’Ve Ever Mother-Of-Pearl Inlays
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THE olk musician Pete Seeger knew fi rsthand the power of the banjo. On the head of his fi ve-string instrument, he inscribed these famous words: “This machine surrounds hate and forces it Fto surrender.” What Seeger didn’t realize is that the banjo can also kill zombies — at least in the world of the 2009 fi lm Zombieland. Greg Deering wasn’t aware of the banjo’s power against the undead until a couple of years ago — even though his business, the Deering Banjo Company, is North America’s largest banjo manufacturer and has turned out more than 100,000 banjos since 1975. Fortunately, the Distinguished Eagle Scout is the Scoutmaster of Troop 355 in Spring Valley, Calif. At an annual New Year’s MR. SCOUTMASTER Eve breakfast for his patrol leaders’ council, reg Deering has served as Scoutmaster of Troop Deering’s Scouts were happy to educate him. G355 since 1987. Following the example of his own One took out his smartphone and showed Scoutmaster, Bob Lawrence, he encourages Scouts him a clip of Woody Harrelson using a banjo to run their own program. “The boys do a good job,” to attract — and then kill — zombies in a he says, “and most of the time the adults have a lot grocery store. of really wonderful fellowship all on our own.” “All of a sudden, it dawned on me that we Deering has also been active on the San Diego- should do a Zombie Killer banjo,” Deering Imperial Council’s executive board, high-adventure says. “Right there at the breakfast, I’m team and Eagle Scout alumni association. He served drawing pictures of the Zombie Killer banjo as jamboree Scoutmaster in 1993 and 1997 and as on my napkin. By the National Association the council’s jamboree contingent liaison in 2001. For the 2010 National Jamboree, he coordinated trans- of Music Merchants show three weeks later, portation for the council’s fi ve-troop contingent, even I had a prototype. It went over really well, driving an equipment truck cross-country. and we’ve sold hundreds of them already.” Deering’s wife, Janet, is a Scouter in her own right. The couple has served together on the council’s A START IN SCOUTING Strategic Planning Committee and hiked together at The Zombie Killer, which was introduced in Philmont Scout Ranch. (Janet took along a banjo, which January 2013 and retails for $1,013, is just the they played in camp each night.) Their son, Jeremiah, is latest example of how Scouting has infl uenced an Eagle Scout; their daughter, Jamie, is vice presi- Deering’s career. He credits the program with dent of public service and outreach at Deering Banjo. launching his interest in the banjo. For his Scouting service, Greg Deering has A er joining San Diego Troop 170 in the received numerous honors, including the Silver Beaver, the Bronze Pelican and the early 1960s, Deering became close friends Scoutmaster Award of Merit. In 2011, he was with Chris Bailey, a Scout he knew from named a Distinguished Eagle Scout. junior-high band. One day, Bailey played him a Kingston Trio album and picked up a guitar and started playing along with the music. 14 EAGLES’ CALL GregDeeringBanjos.indd 14 5/19/15 8:55 AM By Mark Ray / Photographs by W. Garth Dowling THE MUIntroducing the EagleSIC Scout behind America’s MAN largest banjo company olk musician Pete Seeger knew fi rsthand the power of the banjo. On the head of his fi ve-string instrument, he inscribed these famous words: “This machine surrounds hate and forces it Fto surrender.” What Seeger didn’t realize is that the banjo can also kill zombies — at least in the world of the 2009 fi lm Zombieland. Greg Deering wasn’t aware of the banjo’s power against the undead until a couple of years ago — even though his business, the Deering Banjo Company, is North America’s largest banjo manufacturer and has turned out more than 100,000 banjos since 1975. Fortunately, the Distinguished Eagle Scout is the Scoutmaster of Troop 355 in Spring Valley, Calif. At an annual New Year’s Eve breakfast for his patrol leaders’ council, The skilled hands of Jack Causey, a Deering Banjo Company Deering’s Scouts were happy to educate him. craftsman, above, place the notches on a Goodtime Zombie Killer banjo (left), designed by Eagle Scout Greg Deering. One took out his smartphone and showed The creative musician operates the Deering Banjo Company him a clip of Woody Harrelson using a banjo with his wife, Janet (below). to attract — and then kill — zombies in a grocery store. BUILDING A COMPANY “All of a sudden, it dawned on me that we Deering moved from picking to produc- should do a Zombie Killer banjo,” Deering tion while studying industrial arts at San says. “Right there at the breakfast, I’m Diego State University. He wanted a nicer drawing pictures of the Zombie Killer banjo banjo than he could a ord, so he built his on my napkin. By the National Association own. Then he built another and another, of Music Merchants show three weeks later, and before he knew it, he was in the banjo I had a prototype. It went over really well, business. “I’m still working on making that and we’ve sold hundreds of them already.” banjo that everybody can a ord,” he says. In the early 1970s, Deering worked at A START IN SCOUTING the American Dream in Lemon Grove, The Zombie Killer, which was introduced in “I thought I’d died and gone to heaven,” Calif., a shop that spawned at least three January 2013 and retails for $1,013, is just the Deering says. He looked at his friend, other instrument companies. In 1975 — 40 latest example of how Scouting has infl uenced looked at the photo on the album cover years ago this summer — Deering and his Deering’s career. He credits the program with and decided he had to get a banjo, the wife, Janet, founded their own company. launching his interest in the banjo. other instrument the Kingston Trio fea- He was 25, she was 21, and they had a con- A er joining San Diego Troop 170 in the tured. “At 13 years old, I spent a whole tract to build instruments for Stelling Banjo. early 1960s, Deering became close friends month’s worth of paper-route money and That deal fell apart, so the couple moved with Chris Bailey, a Scout he knew from bought a banjo,” he says. “There’s a good their equipment into their home garage junior-high band. One day, Bailey played him likelihood that I would have never become and began building banjos under their own a Kingston Trio album and picked up a guitar a banjo person without having been in the name. “By the summer of 1978, we were dis- and started playing along with the music. Boy Scout troop with Chris.” playing our banjos at the big national trade SUMMER 2015 15 GregDeeringBanjos.indd 15 5/27/15 1:40 PM MUSICIANS Artists ranging from country, bluegrass, rock and pop appreciate the quality, style and crafts- manship of Deering banjos. The Eagle Scout musician never imagined that his designs would be played by artists including (clockwise from left) Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, Steve Martin, Bela Fleck, Kacey Musgraves, Rod Stewart and John Hartford. MORE LESSONS FROM SCOUTING Deering relishes the challenge of compet- ing with overseas manufacturers, which perhaps stems from another experience he had in Scouting. When he first became show in Chicago,” Deering says. 2014. The company keeps its 48 employees The banjo-making process involves many skilled a patrol leader, his patrol wanted to win The first year, the Deerings (who added busy, but it’s no sweatshop. Eagle Scout craftsmen, including (clockwise from left) Lido a camporee, which meant beating other an employee late in the year) produced Mike Lo Vecchio, a former Deering Armando, who bonds together the “pot” of the banjo. patrols in fire building, log hauling and Chuck Neitzel carves small holes in the banjo neck, as about 280 instruments. Janet delivered employee who now works on the BSA’s Jon Ford fits the tone ring to the instrument. Andrew more. After practicing, Deering and his many of them to retailers throughout Content Management Team, says, “You Unden finishes and tunes a banjo in the assembling fellow Scouts realized they needed to California, mostly so they could get paid didn’t go to work; you went to fun. room. Bending the maple of the “pot” takes Gary work smarter, not harder. For each com- quicker and avoid bouncing any checks. “It Everybody is friendly, cooperative, helpful. Clapp’s full attention. Glen Mayes uses a lathe to give petition, Scouts took on specific roles and took a lot of determination for us to make It’s amazing. It’s a good place to work.” shape to the banjo rim. worked in harmony. it through those beginning years,” Deering Deering says that’s partly because his “We won every single event, and we says. “It wasn’t always certain that we’d employees understand the company is won the camporee,” Deering recalls. “It have enough money to put food on the really selling magic, not musical instru- City. Other prominent customers have was not that we were special or better table every week.” ments. “Everybody here knows that we’re included Steve Martin, Bela Fleck, Taylor than anybody else; we were just fortunate Deering economized by making some doing more than just sanding a piece of Swift, the Elton John Band, Winston enough to have hit upon a formula on of his own machinery, using skills he had wood and making it look pretty,” he says.