A Bluegrass quartet recruited from the BRC founder`s band entertained at a weekend Farmer`s Market which recently relocated from its winter home indoors at a shopping center to the plaza`s sprawling outdoor parking lot. The temperature was 49 degrees when the foursome set-up their sound system which proved indispensible because of the backdrop of a four lane interstate highway roaring with Saturday morning traffic. Stationed in the shadow of a gigantic marquee advertising the mall`s attractions, the pickers battled chilled fingers till the sun slowly surmounted the towering sign to warm the musicians` hands. On a previous Saturday, the ambient temperature was 28 degrees at showtime when another band suffered 50% member defections home to warmer environs.

The shoppers sang along and danced to the band`s tunes and generously filled the tip jar. A curious tourist from Brazil was intrigued by this American genre of music and took the above photograph for the folks back home.  Noteworthy is the grateful banjo guy bathed in toasty solar rays. As usual, one-half of the collections were donated to our nearby Children`s Hospital.

On the morning preceding the market gig, the BRC founder warily entered a banjo into a juried local art show which had mandated “Critters” as its thematic prerequisite .

While butterflies fluttered in his stomach, he submitted his “Monarch” 5 stringer alongside an acrylic painting of a dozing cat, a graphite drawing of a floppy-eared dog,  and a watercolor of a mare nuzzling her wobbly-leggged foul. In this field of artistically crafted works, he resolved that it would be a surprise if the sunny creatures on his BRC instrument would win acceptance into the competitive show.

The judge, who was from the art faculty of a neighboring university, approved of the winged motif of the “Monarch” which was subsequently hung among a panoply of other “Critters”  for guests and patrons to study at the exhibit`s opening reception.

A staff member mused that the Monarch was `three dimensional art` when it promptly sold.  Another customer asked to reserve any future BRC instrument that might be potentially destined for the community`s upcoming mid summer art show.

The community art gallery recently challenged members and non members to enter works into a juried exhibition entitled “Stranger Than Fiction” as its theme.  What could be more intimidating than submitting a banjo into such a competition along side of water color and oil paintings of freakish landscapes, surreal wood and metal sculptures, bizarre fabric wall hangings, and unearthly ceramic pieces and glassworks? With some trepidation, the BRC founder entered a 5-stringer entitled “The Unicorn” to be judged amidst this eclectic field of unconventional works. A bewildering outcome to this venture, his open back banjo was accepted and hung for display at the gala opening reception.

The BRC founder and his wife happily babysit grandchildren twice a week, and all the grandkids have a BRC 5-stringer residing in their homes. Despite no fewer than 10 banjos strategically positioned around the grandparents`  house, including in grandma`s art studio, the youngest grandchild is showing focused interest in his granddad`s mandolin.

Every musical instrument has its own sonic signature, a unique voice. Every musician (present or future) has a favorite singer- be it stringed, woodwind, or brass.  Incredibly, both grandparents won ribbons at the exhibit awards ceremony for works they submitted to the art show. Truth is always more mystifying than fiction.

P.S. Check-out the `Open back 5 string BRC TimberWolf banjo` on eBay April 1-8.