The Sacramento Banjo Band
proudly presents
Banjo-Rama 2005
"Come Hear the Music"
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Carmichael Elks Lodge
5631 Cypress Avenue, Carmichael, California
The Headliners
Monterey Banjo Band. A long time ago, in a land far away, three young aspiring banjo players combined their talents in a place called Monterey. Bill Dendle, Eddie Erickson and Gary Ryan have since each become well known i the banjo world. Together again after more than 30 years, they perform as the Monterey Banjo Band (...Lord help us!!).
Bill Dendle. "Just Plain Bill" plays banjo, trombone, and drums. He was the leader of the famous South Market Street Jazz Band. He lives in Sacramento now, entertains with his wife in the Shelley Burns' Avalon Swing Band, and is director of the the STJS Kids Jazz Camp each summer. His dry wit compliments the hilarity of the other members.
Eddie Erickson. Fast Eddie plays in the Monterey area and began there with the Monterey Abalone Stompers. Actually he entertains all over the country; anywhere anyone wil lhave him. He began playing the tenor banjo at age 12, then learned to play the plectrum banjo and guitar. He's got a joke a minute and sings beautifully in several languages, especially French.
Gary Ryan. Featured at Banjo-Rama 2001, Gary comes all the way from Morro Bay to fill out the original Monterey Banjo Band. With a great sense of humor and fantastic fingers, he is much in demand at the great Jazz Festivals.
Charlie & Nori Tagawa with Mary Horne. Charlie began playing banjo and guitar at age 20 in Tokyo. He was a favorite with the Americans who heard him with the Dixieland Dukes at Tokyo's Gaslight Club. A Bay Area restaurant owner convinced him to come to the U.S in 1964 to entertain. He eventually became the music director of the Peninsula Banjo Band, organizer of a great youth band, and an outstanding performer at almost every Banjo-Rama in recent times. He is joined today by his son, Nori, who plays an outstanding banjo, and with Mary Horn on washtub bass. Get ready to hear everything from honky tonk to the classics.
Dick and Helen Martin. This wonderful husband and wife team has headlined banjo gatherings all over the U.S.A. Dick plays either plectrum or tenor banjo and Helen accompanies him with the sweetest washtub bass and voice you have ever heard. Dick learned banjo with his dad's Southern California Banjo Band. The family moved north to the Bay Area and Dick and Helen were members of the great Peninsula Banjo Band. They are back in Sacramento due to popular demand. They now live in Sweet Home, Oregon, near Mom and Dad Martin.
Steve Peterson. When not working as a design engineer in Silicon Valley, Steve spends much of his time practicing and performing his plectrum banjo. He joined the Peninsula Banjo Band as a yourth. He has entertained at many lounges and functions in the Bay Area, including Mariott's Great America, Marine World, the Peninsula Banjo Band Jubilees. He has also been featured at earlier Banjo-Ramas, at the Fretted Instrument Guild Convention and at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee.
Bill Lowery. Bill joined the Peninsula Banjo Band in 1977. During his college days he performed with the Salt Flat Five Dixieland Band at the Sacramento Jazz Festival. He entertained at the Utah Jazz Basketball games. He was the opening performer for the Bob Hope Show at the Provo Freedom Festival, was headliner at the Boise Banjo Band Show and has played at Marine World USA, Scarlett LaRue's and several Peninsula Banjo Band Jubilees. He plays both banjo and guitar with great skill.
Performance Schedule
| Time | Main Room |
| 11:45 | The Capital Kids Banjo Band |
| 12:00 | East Bay Banjo Band |
| 12:30 | Oakland Banjo All Stars |
| 1:00 | Reno Banjo Band |
| 1:30 | Bill Lowery & Steve Peterson |
| 2:05 | Peninsula Banjo Band |
| 2:30 | Charlie Tagawa, Nori Tagawa & Mary Horne |
| 3:05 | Oregon Trail Camp |
| 3:35 | Dick & Helen Martin |
| 4:10 | The Original Monterey Banjo Band
Bill Dendle, Eddie Erickson & Gary Ryan |
| 4:45 | Sacramento Banjo Band |
| Time | Lodge Room |
| 12:05 | Paul Doerner & Jack Convery |
| 12:25 | Charlie Tagawa, Nori Tagawa & Mary Horn |
| 1:00 | Oregon Trail Camp |
| 1:30 | Dick & Helen Martin |
| 2:10 | Reno Banjo Band |
| 2:50 | The Original Monterey Banjo Band
Bill Dendle, Eddie Erickson & Gary Ryan |
| 3:30 | Bill Lowery & Steve Peterson |
| 4:10 | The Orphan Band* |
*The Orphan Banjo Band is composed each year of "orphan" banjo players (not playing in another band) or banjo players who wish to be orphans. Ned Poffingbarger has been the dirctor for the past eleven years. Please join Ned as a player or listener. You'll be glad you did.
Food, refreshements and jamming will be available after the show at
Holiday Inn 5321 Date Ave - Aces Lounge
(from the Elks, go west to Garfield, turn right, go to Madison,
turn left, go to Date Ave, just before freeway, turn right)
The Bands
Peninsula Banjo Band. This band organized in 1963 to preserve the four-string banjo and its music. They have up to 50 members including plectrum and tenor banjos, as well as the washtub bass players. They have played for numerous functions in the Bay Area including the Golden Gate Anniversary, the Black and White Ball, the Tech Museum in Oakland, and the Mayoral Convention in San Francisco where Mayor Willie Brown directed the band. They have raised over $169,000 for charities such as the Research Institute of S.F., the Stanford Hospital, Hospice of the Valley and the Ronald McDonald House. Charlie Tagawa is their music director. They meet each Tuesday from 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. at the Straw Hat Pizza, 1535 Meridian, San Jose.
East Bay Banjo Club. Here are more good neighbors from the Bay Area, Concord, who have been featured at all of our recent Banjo-Ramas. They began in the Diablo Valley in 1963, and are currently directed by Bill Cooper, who has led them into a very distinctive and pleasing style. Their proceeds have been donated to the Barbara Milliff Center and Las Trampas Foundation. Look for them each Tuesday night at the Round Table Pizza Parlor, 1938 Oak Park Blvd, Pleasant Hill.
Sacramento Banjo Band. Beginning their 45th year as a banjo club, the band has grown to over 50 playing members and about 60 Friends of the Band. They have been performing each year at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee in May. On the first and third Sundays of the month, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., they fill the Straw Hat Pizza Parlor on Mather Field Road with happy players, fans, and music. They paly for parties, luncheons, dinners, retirement homes, schools and anywhere they're invited, and they donate their proceeds to Shriners Hospitals for Children, the Make A Wish Foundation, and other child-oriented charities.
Oakland Banjo All Stars. Here's a group of talented banjo players who get together each Thursday night at Porky's Pizza Palace on Manor Blvd. in San Leandro. They cook up new and exciting arrangements to unique songs. They are always fun and entertaining. Claude Causley is their very capable leader.
Oregon Trail Camp. Ralph Martin has had a wonderful influence on banjo playing wherever he lives. Last year, he was honored and inducted into the National Four-string Banjo Hall of Fame. He started the Southern California Banjo Band many years ago. Now he's in Oregon and he holds an annual camp. inviting all his friends from the "good old days." No doubt you will see some outstanding banjo playrs, and they will have some special suprises and great arrangements.
Reno Banjo Band. This group of professional entertainers in Nevada makes a special effort to come over the pass and perform for our shows. They bring a special sound and drive to thrill the audience. They love entertaining the kids in Reno and having a lot of fun.
Paul Doerner & Jack Convery. Paul, age 16, started with the Capital Kids about 2.5 years ago. He learned so fast and practiced so much that he soon was ready tot join the Sacramento Banjo Band. He attended the STJS Kids Jazz Camp the last two years. Jack Convery, a professional banjo entertainer recognized Paul's potential and volunteered to help him alon in his work. The two will join to gether in the Lodge Room to show what they can do.
The Capital Kids Banjo Band. Some of these kids are in their seventh year of banjo lessons provided by Peggy Lewis. Some are new to the band and are performing for their first time. They are all dedicated to learning how to play the banjo. Thanks to the financial support of many groups, the banjos donated by numerous players, the wonderful cooperation from the parents, and the hard work by the youngsters, they are on their way to keep banjo music alive and well.