Featured Musicians

Bird Cage Quintet—The Birdcage Quintet gets the name from a cabin at the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society’s Adult Jazz Camp. This location was called the "birdcage” because it was where all of the vocal students (Songbirds) held their classes and jam sessions. Jeff Green, Mike Earls and Alan Shaw were attending the camp on various musical instruments and found that the “Birdcage” was the most delightful place to jam after hours. The very enthusiastic and talented vocalists would each select their tunes and line up waiting their turn to perform with the rhythm section.

The lovely and talented Miss Daphna Rahmil was one of these Songbirds. In addition to her vocal expertise, Daphna is an outstanding violinist, entertainer, songwriter and teacher. Daphna has recorded with and performs with guitarist Bruce Barley. Their duo is much sought after to provide a wide variety of music for weddings, parties and other events.

Jeff Green (Banjo/Plectrum Guitar) is no stranger to banjo and jazz enthusiasts on the West Coast. Jeff performs regularly with many musical groups including the Gold Coast Jazz Band, 4th St. New Orleans Jazz Band, The Norm Gary Trio, as well as in several banjo bands including the Sacramento Banjo Band and  the Wineland Banjo Band.

Mike Earls (Bass) hails from Southern CA and comes from a long line of bass players (his mother and an uncle played bass). He performs regularly with Gremoli Jazz Band and has performed at festivals with Hal’s Angels, the Bobby Gordon Sextet, and most recently, The Anita Thomas Festival Feetwarmers.  Mike is one of the most in-demand bassists in Southern California and is highly regarded by colleagues in every category and style of music.
 
Alan Shaw (Piano) lives in Bakersfield, and has been playing piano since age 8. He has led his own band and presently tickles the keys with the busy and popular Black Tuesday Jazz Band.

To round out our ensemble, we are extremely happy to welcome Craig Colby from Ridgecrest CA, on Plectrum Banjo/Guitar. Craig has a great feel for swing and jazz. He and Jeff have been playing together many years and have previously graced the stages at Banjo-Rama and FIGA festivals.

Johnny Baier—Since he began his career as a professional banjo player in 1971 (just two weeks after he picked up the instrument), Johnny Baier has been developing an admirable reputation as one of the world’s most ardent performers on, and promoters of America’s only native musical instrument - the banjo. From the beginning, playing banjo for the sing along crowd at the Shakey’s Pizza Parlor in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Baier maintained a goal of keeping his performances both musical and entertaining. The varied musical influences he absorbed as a youngster (from jazz to polkas to classics), coupled with inspiration, guidance and instruction from many great banjo artists of the past, have resulted in a contemporary banjo artist with a unique sound and style.

A Johnny Baier performance always demonstrates his eagerness to attempt to add new textures and colors to the banjo’s perceived repertoire and sound. Ragtime, Jazz, Bluegrass, Folk, Classics, Pop, and, of course, traditional banjo favorites are all given Baier’s unique touch. A certain highlight of his career came in 1983 when, after participating in a banjo competition held in Ontario, Canada that featured some of the finest banjoists in North America, Baier was named the North American Banjo Champion. Following this success, he was asked to represent a division of the Sara Lee Corporation as a musical goodwill ambassador. In this capacity, he had the opportunity to travel throughout the United States performing at trade shows, fairs, parades and special events.

After three years of touring (accumulating over 150,000 land and air miles per year), Baier decided to settle down in Orlando, Florida where, in 1988, he began an incredible run at the world-famous Rosie O’Grady’s in Church Street Station. In the years that followed, combining masterful musicianship with crowd pleasing entertainment skills, Johnny performed over 15,000 solo shows.

In 2000, Baier become the Entertainment Director and featured performer at Rock Crusher Canyon - an entertainment attraction located on Florida's Gulf Coast. In this position, he produced hundreds of shows including Willie Nelson, Glen Campbell, Three Dog Night, Credence Clearwater Revival, and many more. In addition to his own headline performances at RCC, Johnny opened shows for legendary show business notables such as The Kingston Trio, Pat Boone, Mickey Rooney and Roy Clark.

Always ready to take his act “on the road”, Baier has been a headline performer in the showrooms aboard the luxury cruise ships of the Crystal, Silversea, Radisson, Princess and Holland America lines. His ease with an audience also makes him a favorite at community and corporate events as well as musical festivals and concert venues throughout the world.

On the traditional jazz scene, in addition to leading his own popular "All Star" Dixieland jazz band, Johnny, playing both banjo and guitar, appears in clubs, festivals, concerts and on recordings with many notable classic jazz groups including “Bill Allred’s Classic Jazz Band”, “Allan Vache and the New Delta Steamers”, “Rosie O’Grady’s Goodtime Jazz Band”, “The Bob Crosby Bob Cats”, and “The Walt Disney World Rhythm Rascals”.

Another recent highlight in Johnny's career came with his partnership with fellow banjo master Buddy Wachter. Their destined to be historic recording entitled Side By Side received rave reviews from both critics and banjo enthusiasts from around the world, being hailed as "quite possibly the best banjo recording ever!"

In addition to performing, Baier is a serious journalist and banjo historian as well. He is internationally known as the editor of All Frets magazine - the official publication of the Fretted Instrument Guild of America - an international nonprofit musical organization. In addition to existing artist endorsement relationships in place with both RICHELIEU BANJOS and GHS STRINGS, Johnny has recently contracted with MEL BAY PUBLICATIONS to write, publish and distribute two instructional publications for the tenor banjo to a world-wide market.

As a further testimonial to his commitment to the music and heritage of the banjo, in 2004 Baier was offered (and accepted) the position of Executive Director of the American Banjo Museum. Recently relocated to a 21,000 square foot state of the art facility in Oklahoma City, the Museum is home to the largest collection of banjos on public display anywhere in the world.

The highest compliment a musical artist can hope to receive usually comes from fellow musicians. When banjo players gather, they often refer to Johnny Baier as “the best”. While such high praise is certainly a matter of personal opinion, it is clear that his love for the banjo and the music it is capable of creating has allowed Johnny Baier to evolve into exactly what he'd hoped to become...THE BANJO MAN.

Stephen DiBonaventura—Born and raised in was drawn to the instrument at the tender age of 13. In the early days, Steve honed his skills playing with a variety of local groups and bands, especially with the string bands that march down Broad Street in the world-famous Mummers Parade every New Year’s Day. He strummed and marched with the Overbrook and South Philadelphia units, and then began to search far afield for other venues. He began to attend the many rallies and conventions around the country, became a regular performer at the annual Fretted Instrument Guild of America conventions, a number of Mid-America Banjo Enthusiasts rallies and has headlined at the Peninsula Banjo Festival held in Palo Alto, CA and the international banjo festival held in Düsseldorf Germany.

Among those who travel the banjo circuits, Steve may also be remembered as one of Frank Palumbo’s “world-famous” Greasers. This ensemble has entertained literally thousands over the years at various regional rallies. As a result of their growing popularity, Steve and Frank, along with tubist Gil Corella, were singled out for special honors by the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, TN. They were assigned to play for the Peabody’s ducks, escorting them from their penthouse, down the elevator and into the lobby.

While in Washington, D.C., Steve teamed up with tubist Gil Corella in forming the tuba/banjo duo known as Crazy Rhythm. Together they played a number of private and public engagements, including the Capitol. Steve was also honored as special guest banjoist when the U.S. Air Force Dixieland Band appeared at the White House.

Since returning to his hometown, Steve has been engaged to play with several Dixieland bands and has performed at the Sands Casino, Trop World and the Showboat in Atlantic City. He released a recording entitled “Unnatural Ax” with Gil Corella, which features jazz, Latin and classical arrangements. The editor of Jazz Banjo says, “There is one banjo player that I have enjoyed listening to whose music really lives up to the name ‘Jazz Banjo,’ and that is Stephen DiBonaventura. He has taken the tenor banjo and created an exciting sound that is comparable to the music of some of the best jazz guitarists today.” He is currently working on a new recording project with Steven Giordano, an internationally renowned jazz guitarist. The recording is due for release in the Spring 2010.

Paul Doerner—Paul first strummed a Plectrum Banjo March 10, 2002. His teacher is Peggy Lewis of Sacramento, CA. He has also studied with Dave Marty & Kurt Abell of CA, Ralph & Dick Martin of Oregon and many other helpful Banjo players.

Paul was the cover & feature story for Fretted Instrument Guild of America’s Jan/Feb 06 ALL FRETS international magazine. In April 2003, he was featured on CBS Radio on “The Osgood Files”, and was a featured performer in the Banjo Concert at the 2007 Sacramento Jazz Jubilee. He also played in the closing ceremonies as part of a trio with Howard Alden & Eddie Erickson.

In 2006/2007, Paul played with the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society’s Youth Jazz High School Band “TNT”. He was their first Banjo Player! Paul began playing with the Capital Kids Banjo Band at the age of 13. He continues to play with the Oregon Trail Banjo Band & Assorted Nuts Band.

Paul plays Plectrum Banjo, Mandolin, a 1946 Vega Tenor Guitar, & an Ovation Acoustic Guitar in the resident orchestra for Runaway Stage Production’s musical theatre in Sacramento. He has performed in “ANNIE”, “CHICAGO”, “OKLAHOMA”, “CABARET”, “THROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE”, “ANYTHING GOES”, & “MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS”. He also played in the pit for Stephen Sondheim’s “ASSASSINS’ for Artistic Differences of Sacramento.

Dr. Jeff Grosser—Born and raised in New York City, Jeff was a professional accordionist who had already performed at Carnegie Hall when he started playing plectrum banjo in 1968. He was leader of the Rush Street Band for 13 years and was a regular banjoist at the famed Red Onion in Manhattan. He played at other metropolitan New York area clubs including the Banjo Inn, Chester's, the Golden Banjo, The Bourbon Barrel, Calamity Jane's, and played with many other groups including The New Orleans Nighthawks, and The Smith Street Society.

He did road work for Your Father’s Mustache and was the regular partner with the late great stride pianist George Holmes. He worked for superstars Ed Sullivan, Jerry Lewis, and Sammy Davis Jr. in the banjo busy 70's. He now leads Razcals Jazz Band and the Ragtime Razcals of New England. He has worked with many groups in New England including Doc’s Banjo Band, the State Street Traditional Jazz Band, the Clam Flat Five, the Classic Jazz Band, The Bath Municipal Swing Band, and the Ambassadors Big Band.

He is the regular banjoist with the very well respected Royal River Philharmonic Jazz Band. He performs regularly throughout the northeast and the Phoenix area. He has completed projects with the Phoenix Symphony, Public and Commercial Television and Radio, and the Portland Conservatory of Music, the Deertrees Theater, and the Rockland Opera House, and his concerts and performances have appeared on many TV specials in the New England area.

He attends as many jazz and banjo conventions throughout the country as his schedule will allow doing performances and giving workshops. Besides his banjo work, he continues to perform with his accordion, piano and guitar as well as maintaining a Dental Practice in Wiscasset Maine where he now lives.

Happy Time Banjos—Established in 1992, Happy Time Banjos still practices in the original location – the Veterans’ Memorial Senior Center in Redwood City, CA. Made up of Peninsula, Alamo, San Jose and Santa Cruz players, the band practices each Monday and performs at 7pm every tuesday at Harry's Hofbrau in Redwood City.

Leader John Robbins began playing with Jack Dupen at the Copy Cat in San Francisco, before Jack opened the Red Garter nightclub on Broadway. John’s father played plectrum banjo in San Francisco in the days of vaudeville…and John still occasionally performs with his father’s old Vega Professional.

While still honoring Steven Foster, the Gershwins, Cole Porter and the older banjo-band standards, under John’s leadership the band specializes in newer tunes – “newer” being works by and for Duke Ellington, the Beatles, Lena Horne, The Mamas and The Papas, Roger Miller, Judy Garland, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Ritchie Valens, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, etc.

Hendricks Brothers—Monte and Allen Hendricks are both natives of the great state of Wisconsin. They are Hendricks Banjos in Pollock Pines, CA, building banjos along with repair and restoration of all banjos. Allen started out working with Henry Lea in Fair Oaks and Larry Lew in Lodi, CA, both well known banjo makers and repairmen. Monte, living in Wisconsin, was hired by C. C. Richelieu and became the head craftsman at Richelieu Banjos until the end of 1976. At that time, Monte and Allen decided to join forces and build their own banjos in the foothills east of Sacramento.

Monte and Allen are both excellent five string banjo players, with finger picks in the style of bluegrass. Monte played with a couple bands in Wisconsin in the 1970’s. He now prefers to make banjos and spend time with his wife and friends in the mountains of the Western US. Allen has been a noted professional musician since 1970. He has played in most of the western states and England and Europe. He currently performs with Wild Creek out of Reno, NV. Monte used to perform with C. C. Richelieu from time to time where he added some good Dixieland tunes to his repertory. Allen has played with several Dixieland players (including three of the Sacramento Jazz Festivals).

As brothers/banjo makers/performers/friends, these two have mastered something that is seldom seen or heard in the 5-string banjo world: two 5-string banjos played in harmony. These two brothers live and breathe banjos!

John Huntsburger—“I first picked up the banjo in 1950 in Portland where I had moved from Santa Monica, California. I met Sid Wagner in September who loaned me a Bacon and Day No. 1 Silver Bell. We shared our mutual enthusiasm for the banjo and the music and he taught me many, many songs over the years we played together - 1950 to 52, then again from 1956 to 58 when I moved from Portland to Corvallis to begin teaching at Philomath Elementary School. Our friendship continued until his death.

“In 1967 I quit teaching and took a job with McGraw-Hill Book Company as a science consultant for the ten western states. This job required that I travel weekly, and on different occasions, to various cities in Washington, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, California, Arizona, Oregon, Alaska, and Hawaii. During these travels I visited Shakey’s Pizza Parlors and any other place I could find a banjoist and met and played with many of them. However, in the early fall of 1968 a piano playing friend of mine told me he heard of a group of banjo players somewhere in Sacramento, California who were going to have a show or rally. I inquired further and found that around Thanksgiving of 1968 the Sacramento Banjo Band was indeed having a show. I made arrangements to attend that show and many times with fond memories of music and people.

“During the two or three days I was at the show I was so excited, so emotionally involved, so hyped by all that I heard, the people I met, and the jamming I did, at times I just sat and cried from the elation and was almost in a state of psychological exhaustion and euphoria. It was perhaps the most exhilarating banjo moment in my life.”

George Knoblauch—George Knoblauch, circa 1959. Photo taken at Del Webb’s Hiway Inn, Phoenix, Arizona, built in 1958 with many meeting and party rooms, bars, restaurants and a marvelous miniature train to shuttle guests around the complex.

George has been involved with jazz bands for more than forty years and will present a program of pop jazz tunes for tonight’s show.

Mike Kuehn—Mike is a third generation tenor banjo player in his family. Charles G. Kuehn Sr. and Charles Jr. (Chuck) were his first teachers. While New York. While in New York Mike was a member of the Long Island Banjo Society. Like his Grandfather and Dad, He also played with several Philadelphia Mummers String Bands.

In 1987, Mike attended a rehearsel for a local variety Band and swiped their best banjo players (Roger Tice, Bob Spadoni, Ron Mattson and Tubist Paul Schmidt) to form the Water Gap Banjo Band. A few years later Mike and Bob Spadoni got together as River City Banjos. In 2006, Mike and Steve DiBonaventura created 23 Skidoo. Both Mike and Steve were playing Dale Small 11-1/2" banjos.

After playing with several top notch Jazz Bands, Mike started his own Radio Aces J.B. and Keystone Jazz Band. Currently, Mike leads 4 banjo bands and 2 Jazz Bands and plays with about 7 other bands. He has performed with Buck Creek, Doug Smiths Dixieland Allstars, Climax, Marko Marcinko's Mardi Gras, New Reformation, Bob Schultz Frisco , Ben Maugers Vintage and Ed Wise New Orleans Jazz Bands.

At age 42, Mike continues to study Jazz Improvisation with Steve. As a purveyor of vintage and Old time music. Mike continues to express, create new and innovative ways to convey this music to all ages and enjoys every second of it.

Jerry Mackenzie & Jan Sutherland—Jan and Jerry Mackenzie have been making music together in  one form or another for 30 years.

Jerry, California born and raised, played clarinet from age 9 and joined his first band in junior high school. The banjo came a little later but was a natural progression from hearing his father play banjo uke all his formative years. Eventually Jerry, a self taught banjo player, joined the East Bay Banjo Band to hone his skills with the likes of Chuck Posey, Earl Collins and Dave Marty. Combining his abilities on both reeds and strings, Jerry is a great addition to any group, having worked with some of the best in the West.

Jan first came to the U.S. in1979 to be part of Sacramento's great Traditional Jazz Festival. A lover of Trad, not necessarily 2 beat, Jan has a penchant for the blues and a healthy respect for any music older than she is! Jerry was performing there as well, but they did not meet. Destiny took over in 81, when the couple were both hired to play a festival in Friday Harbor, Washington. It has been harmony from then on.

After meeting and marrying, the couple have run several Dixie style groups. Jan was raised in the British Jazz scene where most Jazz bands use banjo instead of piano, because most of the pianos at clubs in the U.K are out of tune.

The last few years have found the pair enjoying more and more the relaxed and friendly cameraderie of their fellow Banjo followers.

Dave Marshall & Rory Thomas—Dave Marshall attended the Sacramento Banjo Rama in 1970, playing with the Peninsula Banjo Band. In the early sixties, his father Lee Marshall, played with a small group of banjo players who met once a week in the basement of a music store in Cupertino, California. That group was the foundation of the Peninsula Banjo Band. Dave started playing the banjo at ten years of age, following in his father’s footsteps. Dave joined the band in 1969. It was truly a family affair back then—Lee led the band, his mother Win sang, and Dave’s brother Ron played banjo as well. “We played many a gig back then, I loved it! I grew up with that band.

I remember hearing Eddie Peabody play at that 1970 Banjo Rama. That guy was so smooth, he made every note count”. Charlie Tagawa took over as the band leader in the early seventies, the Marshall family enjoyed being very active with the Peninsula band with Charlie at the helm. As a teenager, Dave played the Shakeys pizza parlor circuit in the bay area.

Dave and his wife Andrea now live in Golden, Colorado. Upon moving to Colorado, Dave discovered that there was not a banjo band to be found in the Denver metro area, and co founded the Rocky Mountain Banjo Band.  Dave currently leads a six piece Dixieland band called Blu Jazz. He played with the Pearl Street Jazz Band for several years. That group performed at the Bix Biederbeck Memorial Jazz Festival in Davenport Iowa. For the last twenty years, Dave has owned and operated Eurosport Automotive, a successful automotive repair facility.

Rory Thomas has been playing the 4-string Plectrum Banjo for over 46 years as of this writing (a considerable feat for a 39 year old ?!?). Since 2005 he has been the banjo player for The Queen City Jazz Band ­ a group that specializes in Traditional Jazz, New Orleans Jazz and vintage Gospel. This Band has been a venerable institution in Denver, Colorado since 1958. The original founder of The Queen City Jazz Band, the late Alan Frederickson, also formed the Alan Frederickson Jazz Ensemble, which has Rory as their banjo player as well. Additionally, when schedules permit, he is the banjo player for the Poudre River Irregulars out of Fort Collins, Colorado—another group of long-standing reputation among Traditional Jazz fans. Rory¹s other current activities include teaching banjo through a partnership with the Denver Jazz Club and training youth for a number of Dixieland Jazz youth bands.

Rory frequently can be found on select Sunday evenings at the Bull N Bush Pub in Glendale, Colorado with The Queen City Jazz Band or the Alan Frederickson Jazz Ensemble, plus at Avogadro¹s Number (a restaurant) in Fort Collins, CO, the first Friday of each month with the Poudre River Irregulars. Occasionally he can be found as a sub for groups such as the Black Swan Classic Jazz Band out of Portland, Oregon.

Past achievements include a performance history with the New Orleans Jazz Gathering of Denver, the Good Time Jazz Band from Kalispell, Montana, the Rocky Mountain Ragtime Quartet also out of Kalispell, MT, and a week long appearance in Osaka, Japan at the World Expo with Wes Mix¹s Dixieland Band out of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Dick & John Martin—John Martin: “I started playing the banjo about the age of 13. My father, Ralph Martin, first picked up a banjo while we were living in Alaska back in 1961. I was playing the guitar but when I picked up the banjo for the first time and played C, F, and G7th my dad thought that I should play the banjo instead, plus the neck was skinnier and the strings were easier to push down! I took lessons from many good banjoists, including Paul Martin (no relation) and Don Van Palta. I thought I was getting pretty good until I met Elaine Long. She was a lot better than me. I couldn’t let a girl whip me like that! So, practicing all day and night and playing in the Southern California Banjo Band, Fantasy on Parade at Disneyland, a couple of TV gigs, and many pizza houses I gradually became more proficient. Alas, I had to start working for a living and after a stint as a longshoreman I became a pilot for the airlines. I pretty much hung up the banjo while progressing in the airlines. At the present, I am awaiting retirement with Delta Airlines as a Boeing 757 Captain which will transpire at the end of April 2010. However, I have recently decided to dedicate myself to relearning the banjo and hopefully dust the cobwebs off the old fret board. Thanks to my brother, Dick Martin, for keeping the banjo going in our family. He never did quit, hence, my younger brother has more than 25 years more experience than me! I’ll follow his lead!”

Dick Martin began playing the plectrum banjo in January 1968, when his father started the Southern California Banjo Band. Dick took lessons for about a year and soon afterwards began playing professionally in the Los Angeles area. Playing experiences included engagements at pizza parlors such as Shakey’s and Straw Hat, night clubs, Disneyland and various other venues. He participated in recordings by the Southern California Banjo Band, the Peninsula Banjo Band, the Sacramento Banjo Band and most recently, the Northwest Banjo Band. Dick has performed regularly at many of the Banjo Conventions including: Circle the Wagons Banjo Gatherin' in Caldwell, Idaho, The Oregon Trail Banjo Bash, Peninsula Banjo Band’s Jubilee, Sacramento Banjo Band’s Banjo-Rama, the Great Lakes International Banjo Convention, Dearborn, Michigan, as well as the New Orleans Banjo Rendez-Vous. National Banjo conventions include F.I.G.A. and the Mid America Banjo Rally.

Buddy Wachter—Since 1990 Buddy has performed and lectured internationally as a musical ambassador for the U.S. Department of State. Combining music tours with a love for hiking and adventure travel, Buddy and his banjo have crossed the deserts, rafted the rivers, and hiked the mountain ranges of six continents -- uniting the world banjo community and has introduced the instrument to some of the remotest parts of the world.

Buddy also appears regularly as a soloist with symphony orchestras. Since his Carnegie Hall debut with Skitch Henderson and the New York Pops in 1992, he has been guest soloist with over a hundred orchestras, worldwide. Highlights of recent symphonic appearances include the Boston Pops in their nationally broadcast New Year’s Eve concert special, and a current PBS television special “Stars and Stripes Forever” with the Charlotte Philharmonic.

San Francisco Banjo Band
The San Francisco Banjo Band is in its 40th year of entertaining in the Bay Area. The band has played at San Francisco Giants festivities, civic events, celebrations of all sorts, stage shows and for just good time sing-alongs.

The band is known for playing the first Saturday of each month at the Historic Molloys Tavern located at 1655 Mission Road in Colma from 7:30 pm.-10:00 pm. and at the Oyster Point Yacht Club at 911 Marina Boulevard, South San Francisco, the third Friday of each month from 7:00-9:30 pm.

Anyone interested in membership can contact the band and we will help you along on your learning process be it from the beginning or improving your level of play. However if your interest or expertise is playing the zither, musical saw or juggling and tap dancing at the same time, it is certainly worth the call. We would like to thank the Sacramento Banjo Band for the invitation of playing at your 2010 Banjo-Rama.
To contact the band, please call Bill Portman at 650-333-4720, or email sfbanjoband@yahoo.com.

Wineland Banjo Band
The WineLand Banjo Band started playing in the Sacramento Banjo Band Banjo-Rama in 2007. The Band consists of musicians from many locations in Northern California, including the Livermore Valley, Sonoma Valley, Gold Country, Shenandoah Valley, and San Jose areas. Some of the members drive long distances just to attend our weekly get together in Livermore, California. Instruments include 4-string plectrum banjos, bass guitar, washboards, and various percussion devices.
We play nostalgic songs of yesterday composed from the gay-90’s through the 40’s. Seniors are delighted to hear familiar sing-a-long tunes. Younger people are excited because this style of music is novel to them. Enthusiastic toe tapping and singing characterize our audiences.

Dennis Holland

Dennis Holland was born and raised in St. George, Utah, which his great grandparents settled. He graduated with a pharmacy degree from the University of Utah in 1960. In 1961, he moved to Sacramento and worked as a pharmacist in the pharmacy next door to the music shop, run by Dick Surryhne.  Dennis had bought a 5 string folk banjo in college, but told Dick he wanted to play Dixieland type music. Dick sold him a plectrum banjo and convinced him to join the newly formed Sacramento Banjo Band.

By 1970, Dennis was living in Placerville, and had a small chain of 4 pharmacies in the area with 139 employees and was working 7 days a week.  That and the time commitment of raising a family, kept him from active participation with the band.

He semi- retired in 1990, and is currently acting as a pharmacy consultant, and president of the California Pioneer Heritage Foundation, which he formed, to educate the public and schools about early California pioneers.   This allows him to have more time for his favorite pastimes of playing the banjo and flying around in his own airplane.

Ned Poffinbarger

Ned Poffinbarger was born in Burlington, Iowa on the banks of the Mississippi river where he heard the sounds of the steamboat calliopes and jazz bands playing the music of the 20's and 30's. It stuck in his head like a fork in a muskmelon.

When he was about 11 years old, Ned got his inspiration to play the banjo. All the grade schools were gathered in his field house to hear a banjoist. He was so entertaining, and the audience so thrilled, that he played for 2 hours instead of one. For a finale he balanced on his head on a stool playing the banjo upside down!!!

Ned joined the Sacramento Banjo Band in 1964 and served as music director from 1967 to 1973. In 1967 he co-founded the Banjo-Rama. He has led the orphan band for the past 15 years and will do so again this year. From 1975 to 1985, Ned played tenor rhythm banjo with the Good Time Levee Stompers at festivals, parties and weddings. He has also led his band, Ned's Jazz Boat Shuffle at parties and small festivals off and on for the past 25 years.

One of the most special comments Ned has received was a few years ago when Ralph Martin's son John Martin said, "when I was young watching you up on the stage I wanted to be just like you."