2020 Hall of Fame Inductees Announced
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American Banjo Museum Quarterly Spring 2020 2020 Hall of Fame Inductees Announced Inside . 2020 Hall of Fame Inductees Announced Gary "Biscuit" Davis Ed Erickson Don Reno Geoff Stelling Roger Sprung Five-String Four-String Historical Design & Instruction & Performance Performance Manufacture Education From the Director Each year since 1998 has afforded categories to all types of banjos. With Pied Picker puppet the American Banjo Museum the this move the American Banjo Museum show at the ABM opportunity to honor the best of the best Hall of Fame was established. in the banjo world with induction into the Krewe de Banjo American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame. With each passing year, the American Mardi Gras Party Originally established as The National Banjo Museum Hall of Fame grows Four-String Banjo Hall of Fame, early in acceptance and stature among Lucas travels to honorees were jazz age four-string banjo the worldwide banjo community. The Ghana pioneers as well as the contemporary inclusive nature of its mission is seen artists, educators, manufacturers and through its honoring of a diverse body The American Banjo Museum and promoters who carried on the traditions of banjo notables. From iconic names COVID-19 of their predecessors. In its infancy, the such as Earl Scruggs, Steve Martin and museum itself was an extension of the Belá Fleck to little known – yet equally New Staff at the Hall of Fame. important – contributors to the art or American Banjo industry of the banjo, the American Museum In the years preceding 2014, more Banjo Museum Hall of Fame continues than 70 individuals and entities in the to recognize those who have shaped Letter from the four-string banjo world whose career the banjo’s colorful past, exciting Board accomplishments might have otherwise present and unlimited future. Like past gone unrecognized were recognized by recipients, honorees for 2020 have ABM Membership the Hall of Fame. As time passed and each displayed a lifelong commitment the museum grew to embrace all types to the banjo in one of five categories. Upcoming Events of banjos and playing styles, it became The American Banjo Museum Hall of clear that the Hall of Fame must evolve Fame inductees for 2020 are: as well. As such, in 2013, the ABM Board of Directors voted to establish an GARY “BISCUIT” DAVIS - Five-String annual performance category to honor Performance - Davis began playing all styles of five-string banjo playing as banjo at age 10. He was Tennessee well as opening the other previously four- State Champion by the age of twelve string banjo exclusive non-performance and since then he has been two-time Continued on page 3 FROM THE DIRECTOR HALL OF FAME in its history via our Internet banjo playing stands proudly as expanding the acceptable banjo programming, nothing compares Hall of Fame one of the most innovative and repertoire to include swing, with an “in person” experience at Continued from page 1 recognizable five-string banjo ragtime, pop and classical styles the American Banjo Museum. So, styles of all time. Influenced by old- as well. Credited with introducing hoping we can offer that experience Kentucky State Champion, four- time banjo player, Snuffy Jenkins, bluegrass banjo techniques to the again - sooner than later - we time Alabama State Champion and Reno developed his own three- folk music world, Roger’s eclectic thank you for your continued belief National Banjo Champion on four finger "single-string" style that musical influence is reflected today and support. During this trying separate occasions...first in 1979 allowed him to play scales and in players such as Bela Fleck economic time, one touching at age 16 – then again in 1988, complicated fiddle tunes note-for- while Sprung himself continues to 9 East Sheridan Ave. donation came in accompanied by 1996 and 2012. Davis began note. As a member of Bill Monroe’s explore new and exciting musical Oklahoma City, OK 73104 a simple message: “Keep going!” playing professionally at age 13 in Bluegrass Boys and the banjoist possibilities for the banjo. 405-604-2793 Chattanooga and later he moved who brought the iconic Dueling www.AmericanBanjoMuseum.com We plan to do just that! Johnny Baier to Pigeon Forge in 1988 where Banjos to life, the name Don Reno Gary Davis, Ed Erickson, Don he joined Jim and Charlie Smith‘s will be forever tied to innovative Reno, Geoff Stelling and Roger MISSION Executive Director Southstar Band and Dollywood. and musical banjo playing. Sprung will be inducted into the The mission of the American There he evolved to be the band Banjo Museum is to preserve American Banjo Museum Hall of In the short time since our last leader and record producer for and promote the banjo while GEOFF STELLING – Design & Fame during gala ceremonies to newsletter the world has become Dolly Parton. Davis currently expanding appreciation and Manufacture - Since 1959, while be held on Friday, September 11th, performs daily at Dolly’s Dixie understanding of its history and a different place and, as of this still in high school, Geoff Stelling 2020 in Oklahoma City as part of the music. writing, where all the “chips will Stampede Dinner Theater while has been either playing the banjo American Banjo Museum’s BANJO fall” remains uncertain. What is teaching private banjo and guitar or trying to improve on its design. FEST weekend. In addition to the lessons and traveling to host banjo STAFF certain, however, is that the future His Stelling Banjo Works was Hall of Fame gala, BANJO FEST instruction clinics and concerts Johnny Baier, Executive Director will come and we all need to be as established in 1974 while Geoff will include informal performances, throughout the year. Margie Smith-Robbins, Assistant prepared as possible to embrace was at a Naval Base in San Diego. jamming, parties and a very special Administrator the new normal. For the American As a semi-professional banjoist in BANJO FEST concert. With details ED “FAST EDDIE” ERICKSON various bluegrass bands since the Rachel Reichert, Sales & Banjo Museum that means that of this fun-filled weekend still in the - Four-String Performance - mid-60’s, Geoff developed an ear works, save the dates of September Marketing our mission endures. As our staff "Fast Eddie" Erickson began his for banjo tone and experimented 10-12, 2020 for BANJO FEST 2020 Sherril Mitchell, Reception works through the unsettling sight banjo/guitar career in the San with the mechanics of banjo in Oklahoma City. Ellie Burns, Administrative and sound of a quiet facility which Visit Us on Jose, California area in the mid construction until he patented Assistant is normally lively and vibrant, we 1960s performing at Capone's Lucas Ross, Community Outreach have embraced Internet technology the revolutionary designs which In Memory of Social Media! Warehouse and Disneyland. From & Promotion Coordinator to share the Museum’s treasures his banjos are famous for today. there Ed went to the Walt Disney Eddy Davis with a worldwide audience of BanjoMuseum Included among Stelling’s World Resort in Orlando where he innovations are his wedge-fitted pot BOARD OF DIRECTORS virtual visitors. Concurrently we was featured in the Class of '27 assembly, the “pivot-pin” tailpiece, Doug Parsons, Board President are preparing to roll out the new show, starred in the Banjo Kings in and compensated bridges and Waynesville, OH Women of the Banjo exhibit as well @banjomuseum the Magic Kingdom and, from 1978 nut assemblies. Combined with Lester Cowden, Jr., Oklahoma City, as continuing plans for our BANJO FEST celebration in September. to 1983, led the Riverboat Rascals the simple elegance of Stelling’s OK show band on board Disney's Hopefully, these and other activities visual dynamic, his contributions to Juston Givens, Oklahoma City, OK Empress Lilly Showboat in Lake which are keeping us very busy American.Banjo.Museum sound and playability make Geoff Jens Kruger, N. Wilkesboro, NC Buena Vista, Florida. A beloved (what a great time to get the carpet Stelling’s banjos internationally Michael Mason, O'Fallon, MO musician/entertainer in the classic cleaned!) will find us ready to hit revered. John Mumford, Centennial, CO jazz world, Erickson continues the ground running when we are Jack Murphy, Oklahoma City, OK AmericanBanjoMuseum to be a featured performer at able to open our doors again to our ROGER SPRUNG - Instruction Brian Newsom, Milford, MI countless jazz festivals, parties, treasured and missed guests. It & Education - An argument could Two-Time Hall of Fame Paul Poirier, Seekonk, MA and concerts around the world. be made that Roger Sprung was is interesting to note that in times Virtual Tours and Videos can Danny Rubio, New Orleans, LA the first progressive five-string Member such as this, appreciation for music Devin Tower, Palm Beach be viewed on the Museum's DON RENO - Historical - A banjoist. While his contemporaries and the arts seems to soar. While Inducted 2006 - Banjo Gardens, FL product of the North Carolina in the bluegrass world were we are delighted to do our part in Facebook Page or Website Promotion concentration of bluegrass experimenting with swing in the helping our country get through americanbanjomuseum.com Inducted 2015 - Four banjo pioneers, Don Reno’s 1940s and 50s, Sprung was one of the most difficult chapters String Performance AMERICAN BANJO MUSEUM 2 AMERICAN BANJO MUSEUM 3 EVENTS COMMUNITY OUTREACH Pied Picker puppet show at the ABM Lucas travels to Ghana On March 7th and 8th David In January I traveled with my wife Stephens’ presented his puppet- and her team to visit the Village of filled banjo show THE PIED Hope in Ghana Africa. PICKER to an audience of kids and adults. The one-man show told In addition to bringing medical the story about a banjo player who supplies, and volunteers to build encountered a town with an influx needed resources, I was asked by of puppet roaches, fun characters, director Fred Asaré and his team to original songs, and a post-show teach a banjo music and art class.