BRC Events

The lyrics to the University of Missouri alma mater were penned in 1895 by an unknown author at a time when riverboats still roamed the wide Missouri River. Banjo clubs were fashionable on colleges campuses in those days, and Old Mizzou had its own amalgamated “Glee, Banjo, and Mandolin Club” as seen in its 1895 yearbook called the ` Savitar `(photo reproduced with permission from MU Archives). 

Several years ago, the health-related schools on campus inaugurated a gala fund raising dinner each Spring, and the BRC founder has been invited on each occasion to be the ceremonial song leader  for the alma mater at the end of the evening.  As per tradition, the dinner guests stand for the school song, and this year the BRC founder  stepped to the microphone with a a banjo slung around his shoulder. He invoked the assembly to imagine that they were all together being ferried across the wide Missouri on board the paddle  wheeler “J.W. Spencer” that operated in the Jefferson City area in 1895. 

The alma mater “Old Missouri” was sung to the strums of a riverboat banjo, and the crowd was all smiles at closure of the festive evening.

Although our sturdy little CFO has not yet attained the vertical stature of a banjo, he has declared our `Peace Dove`  5 stringer as the BRC workshop`s signature product. Our Senior Vice- President of Sales, his older sister, stands fully behind him and his visionary proclamation.

The Peace Dove banjo bears the bold mother of pearl `BRC` identifier on the peg head, and snowy white doves take wing along the fretboard. As seen recently on eBay, this particular instrument featured a custom made black walnut tone ring snuggly perched on a circa 1930`s vintage Gretsch pot.

Our CFO and staff wish Peace on Earth and Good Will to All this Season.

At a Sunday afternoon jam session at the local micro brewery, our fearless CEO demythologizes the fiddle as the Devil`s legendary music maker by standing boldly  among a quartet of violinists and emerging unscathed.

In the Soldier`s Tale, classic composer Igor Stravinskiy chronicled the Faustian story of a Soldier who trades his fiddle (metaphorically, his soul) to the Devil for a magic book and disaster ensues. Country rock fiddler Charlie Daniels told another deal-with-Satan fable in his “Devil Went Down to Georgia” hit tune. Appalacian fiddlers traditionally put rattlesnake rattles in their violins to charm the infernal instrument. Doesn`t every burgeoning banjo player struggle to conquer the melodic fiddle tune “Devil`s Dream”?

As Halloween approaches, the  young executive smiles and dismisses these scary tales as “fiddlesticks.” Bluegrass musicians everywhere take heed and fear the violin no more, thanks to our plucky CEO.

P.S.  Congratulations to Howard Marshall for his recent publication “Play Me Something Quick and Devilish: Old Time Fiddlers in Missouri.”

(BRC update: Check-out  the BRC `Peace Dove` banjo on eBay Nov. 23-30, and our new Hall of Fame inductee- a bass player!)

Since  a hit counter was installed on the Banjo Rehabilitation Center website 23 months ago, over a quarter of a million visits have registered. This milestone underscores that vintage banjo restoration is alive and well in the conciousness of stringed instrument musicians. As pictured, our dedicated and tireless Senior Vice- President of Sales has the ethos of banjo rehabilitation well in hand.

Despite his junior years, but with a sister`s good example,  her brother and our new CFO is all ready picking up the 5-string.

Coincident with the 250K hit  milestone, these siblings celebrate the arrival of a new cousin and soon-to-be ex officio member of the BRC Board of Directors.  The precious newcomer dozes peacefully next to our CEO`s personal  banjo and perhaps dreams of full and permanent membership on the BRC Board when she gets a little older.

The BRC family thanks our faithful readership for sharing these special occasions, and we extend our best wishes to all for a pleasant upcoming autumn season. Grateful for our blessings, Grandpa Doc

P.S. Watch for a newly restored BRC banjo on eBay September 1-8 (sold, and the new owner described it as “…stunningly beautiful” per email). In the meantime, listen to the BRC founder (bass guitar) and his buddies play a favorite tune:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCwjXocuVlk

Our youthful Board of Directors convened its semi-annual business meeting a few weeks ago to tackle budgetary cut-backs and funding sequesters targeted for our workshop. During a break in the all-day marathon negotiations, one of the board members dreamily sketched a banjo (see drawing) to distract himself from the tough fiscal imperatives on the agenda.

At day`s end, the weary Board voted to postpone exciting but costly plans to develop a Bluegrass Rapid Response Team for hoedown and  jam session emergencies in the Heartland. The BRC founder reacted to this difficult but courageous decision by restoring an antique banjo as inspired by the doodled sketch. This turn-of-the century instrument had been rescued from a trash bin by a fellow musician about 40 years ago and hung on his music room wall as decoration.  The  revitalized banjo was presented to the Board as a stress management tool for use by members at future meetings.

The “BRC” on the upper fretboard stands for “Board`s Restorative Cure”.

Prior to being put into service, the banjo was field-tested by a young aspiring musician.