American Banjo Museum Quarterly Spring 2017 2017 Hall of Fame Inductees Announced Inside . 2017 Hall of Fame Inductees Announced John McEuen Paul Erickson Joel Walker Roy Clark Tony Trischka From The Director Five-String Four-String Sweeney Promotion Instruction & Performance Performance Historical Education Donors Save The American Banjo Museum in the Hall of Fame should evolve as well. the Day Oklahoma City is pleased to announce As such, in 2013, the ABM Board of the 2017 inductees into the American Directors voted to establish an annual ABM Membership Banjo Museum Hall of Fame. performance category to honor all styles of five-string banjo playing as well as Mardi Gras Blows The National Four-String Banjo Hall of opening the other previously four-string into the ABM Fame was established in 1998 to honor banjo exclusive non-performance cate- jazz age four-string banjo pioneers as gories to all types of banjos. With this Open Jam Sessions well as the contemporary artists, educa- move the American Banjo Museum Hall at the ABM tors, manufacturers and promoters who of Fame was established. Suggestions carried on the traditions of their prede- for nomination in the categories of America's Super cessors. The American Banjo Museum Four-String Performance, Five-String Picker Roy Clark was, in its infancy, an extension of that Performance, Historical, Education & Hall of Fame. In the years preceding Instruction, Design & Manufacture and New Faces at 2014, the Hall of Fame honored 71 in- Promotion may be made by any mem- the ABM dividuals and entities in the four-string ber of the ABM association. Based on banjo world whose career accomplish- these suggestions, nominations are Better Know a ments might have otherwise gone un- made by the Board of Directors and Board Member recognized. As the museum grew and are then forwarded to the voting body evolved to embrace all types of banjos - which consists of the museum board, Upcoming Events and playing styles, it became clear that living members of the Hall of Fame and Continued on page 3 SAVE THE DATE AMERICAN BANJO MUSEUM HALL OF FAME CELEBRATION September 7-9, 2017 From the Director enthusiasm soon gave way to the reality that Roy Clark is a truly once- in-a-world performer who simply could not be matched or equaled. While accepted that nobody but Roy Clark could be Roy Clark, he did provide several generations of performers with inspiration as well as a performance template 9 East Sheridan Ave. with which they could please just Oklahoma City, OK 73104 about any audience. Like many 405-604-2793 such performers, quite simply put, www.AmericanBanjoMuseum.com I would not be who or where I am if it weren’t for Roy Clark. Given my MISSION great admiration, getting a chance The mission of the American to work with the man himself in a Banjo Museum is to preserve and project aimed at sharing the story What do you do for a living? In my promote the music and heritage of of his incredible life and career case, I am blessed in making my America’s instrument: the banjo. with American Banjo Museum living doing something which I love visitors has been a delight and the to do. Never was this more apparent thrill of a lifetime. His kind, “never STAFF than during the recent months of met a stranger” attitude coupled Johnny Baier, Executive Director preparing for our new exhibition, with a keen memory of every Margie Smith-Robbins, Assistant America’s Super Picker – ROY important professional milestone Administrator CLARK. As an aspiring banjo player during his career resulted in a Dustin Pyeatt, Development & and entertainer in the 1970s, to me candid and engaging portrait of Outreach Manager Roy Clark represented the highest one of America’s most beloved Janet Raines, Sales & Marketing standards in both musicianship stars. As I admire the result of our Sherril Mitchell, Reception and showmanship – all perfectly collaboration and the story it tells, I Ellie Mowery, Administrative blended into one unique performer. can’t help but humbly reflect on the Assistant I fondly recall watching Roy play his unique privileges that just “doing banjo on Hee Haw every Saturday my job” sometimes affords, being BOARD OF DIRECTORS night before heading out to play so grateful for what I do for a living. Dr. Bob Alexius, Austin, TX my banjo at Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, always hoping that someday “that Johnny Baier, Executive Director Jack Canine, The Villages, FL would be me.” Such youthful Lester Cowden, Jr., Oklahoma City, OK Juston Givens, Oklahoma City, OK Roger Hale, Coeur D’Alene, ID Donors Save the Day! Jens Kruger, N. Wilkesboro, NC You are our hero. Yes, you! Your support of the American Banjo Museum Donald Lewis, Whitney, TX makes everything we do possible. Without you, the doors would shut and Michael Mason, O'Fallon, MO the music would stop. To us, you’re more than just a “donor” or a “mem- Jack Murphy, Oklahoma City, OK ber.” You’re a super special human being and your generous heart is what makes everything we do possible. Brian Newsom, Milford, MI Doug Parsons, Waynesville, OH By supporting the only museum in the world dedicated to America’s in- Paul Poirier, Seekonk, MA strument, the banjo, recognize how precious our mission is. You see the Danny Rubio, Kenner, LA importance of preserving these rare instruments, these musical works of Devin Tower, Ormond Beach, FL art. Your support makes it possible for us to rescue the history of this instrument. Stand tall, let your cape blow in the wind and know that you are this museum’s hero! 2 AMERICAN BANJO MUSEUM Hall of Fame 2017 Hall of Fame Inductees Announced interactive, online instruction- al site that is the banjo home for Continued from page 1 was often claimed, Joel Walker students from around the world. lifetime members of the ABM asso- Sweeney played a pivotal role in in- John McEuen, Paul Erickson, ciation. Like past recipients, Hall troducing and popularizing the ban- Roy Clark, Tony Trischka and Joel of Fame honorees for 2017 have jo in American culture in the mid- Walker Sweeney will be inducted each displayed a lifelong commit- 1800s. After learning to play banjo into the American Banjo Museum ment to the banjo in one of five from slaves near his father’s farm, Hall of Fame during gala ceremo- categories. The American Banjo Sweeney toured as a solo enter- nies to be held atop the fabulous Museum Hall of Fame inductees tainer both in the United States and Devon Tower on Friday, September for 2017 are: England prior to becoming the most popular banjoist of the Minstrel Era. 8, 2017 in Oklahoma City. The fol- lowing day, informal performances JOHN McEUEN - Five-String Sweeney is undoubtedly the most as well as a very special BANJO Performance - A founding mem- significant individual in early banjo FEST evening concert perfor- ber of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, history. mance will take place at the ABM McEuen is a pioneering five-string as well as the Hudiburg Chevrolet banjo stylist as well as multi-instru- ROY CLARK - Promotion - Performing Arts Center at Rose mentalist and vocalist with over Unquestionably one of the most State College. 40 albums to his credit. From his important figures in the popular- role in the iconic Will The Circle Be ization of American country music, All American Banjo Museum Hall Unbroken LP to countless award Roy Clark’s sixty-year career has of Fame weekend events are open winning recordings, concerts and positively exposed the banjo to lit- to the public. For tickets and more radio and television appearances erally hundreds of millions of peo- info visit: www.americanbanjomu- (including his own SirusXM radio ple. Best known as the comic host seum.com or call 405-604-2793. show, Acoustic Traveler), McEuen of the Hee Haw television program, has likely shared his unique and Clark’s banjo skills have influenced ABM Membership musical banjo voice with a larger several generations of Bluegrass audience than any other contem- and country musicians. But more The American Banjo Museum porary banjo figure. than this, his non-stop concerts wishes to recognize and thank new (including historic diplomatic tours members and those that have re- to the Soviet Union), television ap- newed their membership the first PAUL ERICKSON - Four-String quarter of 2017. Performance - Not too long ago pearances and recordings display thought of as one of the younger an unabashed joy in playing the Individual Membership generation of four-string artists banjo and entertaining which has Beth Adams carrying the torch of the jazz age resulted in countless new banjo Nita Kaye Adams Roger Burns pioneers, Erickson has matured fans around the world. Alma Cochran into a unique and highly respected TONY TRISCHKA - Instruction George S. Flink tenor banjo stylist. Built upon Roy Hill & Education - Trischka is consid- an exceedingly light touch, fluid Sue Kern ered to be the consummate banjo motion and a distinctively jazz- Janice O'Bryan flavored approach, Erickson’s artist and perhaps the most influ- J.T. Scruggs style is equally at ease with showy ential banjo player in the roots mu- Donelda Wheatley banjo standards as it is with tender sic world. In addition to his work Couple Membership ballads. As a soloist or part of a and reputation as a performer, composer, arranger and produc- Lance & Marilou McLean swinging Dixieland style ensemble, Marty & Susan Sigwing Paul Erickson reflects the highest er, Trischka is one of the world’s standard in musicianship, personal most respected and sought after Lifetime Membership style and banjo traditions.