American Banjo Museum Quarterly Summer 2019 Inside . BANJO FEST and A three-day celebration of the banjo when world-renown banjo collector Jim ABM Hall of Fame known as BANJO FEST will again Bollman visits with museum guests and take place in Oklahoma City during does Q&A about his amazing collection. From the Director the weekend of September 5-7, 2019. With concerts, informal performances, The main event takes place on Friday Well known visitors parties, jams, and the American Banjo evening, September 6th as the 2019 Museum Hall of Fame Gala – all open inductees to the American Banjo Americana Fest to the public - BANJO FEST delights Museum Hall of Fame are honored 2019 locals while focusing the attention of the at VAST located in the Devon Tower banjo world on Oklahoma City. in downtown OKC. This year’s Hall of ABM welcomes Fame honorees have each displayed Jamie Herrera The BANJO FEST weekend begins lifelong commitments to the banjo and with a reception Thursday evening, changed the way the world sees and Bollman Collection September 5th at the American Banjo hears America’s instrument. This formal Museum. The evening will feature event is open to the public and will include Better Know a the grand opening of a new exhibit, a reception, dinner and ceremonies Board Member Reflections Of Our Past – The Jim honoring the 2019 inductees Alison Bollman Collection. With live music Brown, Jimmy Mazzy, John Hartford, Renew your provided by the Hall of Fame banjoists Bob Snow & Rosie O’Grady’s, Janet commitment Debbie Schreyer and Lee Floyd joined Davis and Johnny Baier. by four-time national five-string banjo ABM Membership champion, Gary “Biscuit” Davis, the ALISON BROWN - Five-String evening’s festivities will also include Performance - Born in Hartford, Upcoming Events the presentation of the prestigious Connecticut, Brown began playing American Banjo Museum Awards of banjo at the age of ten. After winning the Excellence. Canadian National Banjo Championship and appearing at the Grand Ole Opry, On Friday afternoon two very special she attended Harvard University and, in programs will take place at the 1987, was asked to join Union Station. American Banjo Museum. Banjoist Brown spent three years with Union Bob Carlin will present an intimate Station and was named the International memoir of renaissance musician, John Bluegrass Music Association “Banjo Hartford, based on his nearly 20-year Player of the Year” in 1991. The 1990 association with the iconic new Hall album I've Got That Old Feeling, which of Fame member. Following Carlin’s Brown played banjo on, won a Grammy presentation, an in-depth look at the and saw her gravitating toward a blend exhibit bearing his name will take place of bluegrass with jazz and folk idioms Continued on Page 3 From the Director truly refined collector of modern art masterpieces, when Steve Martin described our museum as “Fantastic!” it was a moment of pride which our board, staff and supporters could all share in having a hand in making happen. When a journey travels on a river, calm waters generally give way to rapids. 9 East Sheridan Ave. After a brief flurry of activity during Oklahoma City, OK 73104 our 4th annual AMERICANA FEST 405-604-2793 on June 22nd, we’re in the midst www.AmericanBanjoMuseum.com of the “calm water” of Summer in preparation for the approaching MISSION rapids we call BANJO FEST. The mission of the American During the weekend of September Banjo Museum is to preserve and As with any journey, the trip starts 5-7 the eyes of the banjo world promote the banjo while expanding with a plan but, in hindsight, rarely will be focused on OKC as the appreciation and understanding of its follows the roadmap. Along the museum welcomes the 2019 class history and music. planned route new and exciting to the American Banjo Museum twists and turns result in an Hall of Fame amidst parties, jam STAFF adventure which generally far sessions and another memorable Johnny Baier, Executive Director exceeds the original itinerary… BANJO FEST concert. While most Jamie Herrera, Director of and so goes it with the American journeys have a planned end, the conclusion of BANJO FEST 2019 Development & Administrator Banjo Museum. Our growth and simply marks a resetting of our Margie Smith-Robbins, Assistant acceptance within both the banjo world at large as well as the regional clock as we begin preparations for Administrator arts and cultural community have the upcoming year. Our planned Janet Raines, Sales & Marketing propelled us in directions we route - including our new Women Sherril Mitchell, Reception could have only dreamed of just a of the Banjo exhibit scheduled to Ellie Burns, Administrative Assistant few short years ago. After the fun open in summer 2020 - will keep Lucas Ross, Community Outreach & experience of bringing Kermit The our eyes pointed to the future, Promotion Coordinator Frog to the museum as part of the always on the lookout for those Jim Henson: Life & Legacy exhibit new and exciting opportunities to BOARD OF DIRECTORS which runs through September, grow our important mission which Dr. Bob Alexius, Austin, TX another seemingly impossible might unexpectedly greet us at any Lester Cowden, Jr., Oklahoma City, OK milestone occurred on June 2nd time, making our unending journey Juston Givens, Oklahoma City, OK when actor, comedian and serious all the more memorable. Jens Kruger, N. Wilkesboro, NC banjophile, Steve Martin, made Johnny Baier Donald Lewis, Whitney, TX a visit to the museum prior to his Executive Director Michael Mason, O'Fallon, MO evening show here in OKC. As a John Mumford, Centennial, CO Jack Murphy, Oklahoma City, OK We have always known the Brian Newsom, Milford, MI American Banjo Museum Doug Parsons, Waynesville, OH Paul Poirier, Seekonk, MA is the best! Recently USA Danny Rubio, New Orleans, LA Today Travel agreed ... they listed the ABM as the "Best Museum in Oklahoma" April 29, 2019 2 AMERICAN BANJO MUSEUM Events JOHNNY BAIER - Four-String continued from page 1 BANJO FEST Performance - Well known in in a manner similar to those of recent years as the Executive Béla Fleck and David Grisman. In BOB SNOW/ROSIE O’GRADY’S - Director of the American Banjo addition to performing, Brown is Promotion - In 1972 a former Navy Museum, Baier continues an a co-founder of Compass records pilot and Dixieland jazz trumpet impressive performance career and has cultivated an impressive player named Bob Snow opened that began in 1971, leading the repertoire as a record producer. a jazz club called Rosie O’Grady’s sing-alongs at Shakey’s Pizza in a derelict area of downtown Parlor in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. JIMMY MAZZY – Four-String Pensacola, Florida and established Through passion, study, practice Performance - Mazzy is one of a prototype for urban entertainment and performance, the intervening America’s best known traditional complexes around the country. years have seen Baier develop a jazz banjoists and vocalists and Snow’s own version of the concept unique solo tenor banjo style which has been a popular attraction in known as Church Street Station in is equally engaging to banjo players the traditional jazz circuit since Orlando, Florida opened in 1974 as well as the general public. the 1970s. Mazzy has performed with Rosie O’Grady’s Goodtime Nowhere was this more apparent extensively in the United States Jazz Band setting the tempo for than during the 15 years spent and worldwide, regularly appearing years to come. With the banjo in Orlando, Florida performing at jazz festivals including the being prominently featured in countless shows for the tourists Sacramento, San Diego, Essex, tens of thousands of shows at at Church Street Station as well and several Connecticut festivals. Rosie O’Grady’s as well as in the as the Walt Disney World Resort. Mazzy is a member of The company’s advertising, promotion While his professional performance Paramount Jazz Band as well and imagery, literally millions of career is now overshadowed by as the Wolverine Jazz band and people enjoyed the music and good- his administrative role with the also freelances with other groups time entertainment associated with museum, Baier continues a lifelong including the Yankee Rhythm the banjo because of Bob Snow’s quest for excellence in performance Kings, the Magnolia Jazz Five, and visionary efforts. and the elevation of the perception the Back Bay Ramblers. and musicality of the banjo. JANET DAVIS - Instruction JOHN HARTFORD - Historical & Education - Although most Following an evening of jams and - An internationally known multi- associated with the retail music socializing activity begins anew instrumentalist, singer, songwriter business which bore her name, it on Saturday, September 7th at and entertainer, John Hartford is in her role as a musical educator the American Banjo Museum. became the face of the banjo which Janet Davis has made her Beginning at noon, informal to a new generation during the most lasting contributions to the performances will take listeners 1960s. After penning the megahit banjo world. As part of the tiny through a virtual tour of the banjo’s Gentle On My Mind, Hartford music instrument and accessory long and colorful evolution. From was a regular guest on the Glen business which she began with Dixieland jazz styles of Hall of Fame Campbell Goodtime Hour as her husband, Jim, in 1978, Davis member, Lee Floyd to one-of-a-kind well as the Smothers Brothers began selling self-produced renditions from IBMA Banjo Player Comedy Hour, all of which gave instructional publications as well. of the Year, Ned Luberecki to the him the financial independence to Since then, after establishing unique classic banjo style of Ron pursue his passions of music and herself as a respected clinician and Hinkle to the bluegrass and beyond river boating.