Chateaus of Pleasant Hill Playout

Posted on July 31, 2013 by Karen Hefter

By: Ardie Jarrett
Photos by: Bob Nelson and Linda Myers

What a wonderful gig this turned out to be for the East Bay Banjo Club. We played in a beautiful, shaded courtyard at the “Chateaus of Pleasant Hill”. The weather was very pleasant….in fact it was a bit on the cool side for a change. We were in the process of setting up the sound when we were approached by a nice gentleman who started asking us questions. It turns out that he had played the Sousaphone with the club many years prior. Several of our members remembered him. It didn’t take long to find out that he lived close by, so we asked him to get his horn and join us. Oh, how much fun it was to have Jack Martens playing with us. His business card says “Music by Martens” and I think he is also known as “Music Man Jack.” I didn’t know that a Sousaphone could be played softly, but he was able to do it! Betty David led our group and Kit Nelson, Bud Pearce, and Mickie McDonald were our vocalists throughout the program. The other players were: Guy Black, Don Granberg, Bob Malucelli, Diane Malucelli, Linda Myers, Phil Myers, Ken Williamson, and Ardie Jarrett. Bob Nelson took photos. The residents of the Chateaus seemed to really enjoy our performance and the selection of songs. I think we will be asked back again.

Jack Martens sits in on the Sousaphone

Rossmoor Red Hatters Playout

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Karen Hefter

By: Karen Hefter
Photos by: Bob Nelson

The East Bay Banjo Club performed in the beautiful Fireside Room at Rossmoor in Walnut Creek for the Red Hat Club’s monthly luncheon. The audience was wonderfully attired in purple dresses with red hats (except for those who were dressed in red dresses with purple hats to reflect that it was their birthday month). The “Queen Bee” started off the program by reciting a poem and leading everyone in song. Then she turned the event over to the EBBC, led by Jack Convery for this occasion. Jack started out by giving the audience some background history about the banjo and he kicked off the playing with “The Banjo Picker’s Ball,” which the club played with gusto. For the rest of the show, Jack invited each player to select their favorite song for the group to play. Jack Convery, Kit Nelson, and Mickie McDonald sang throughout the program. Both Jesse DeTorres and Bud Pearce belted out their best impressions of Al Jolson to the point where you would have thought Al was in the room! Dina Melamed and Don Granberg were featured on their washboards in “Coney Island Washboard” and David Hefter, the third washboard player, was shy and played while staying in his second row seat. Other players were: Guy Black, Betty David, Karen Hefter, Ardie Jarrett, Bob Malucelli, Diane Malucelli, Herb Moore, Linda Myers, Phil Myers, and Ken Williamson. Bob Nelson took pictures and loyal club member Georgette DeTorres was present in the audience.

Fourth of July Parade, Orinda, CA

Posted on July 4, 2013 by Karen Hefter

By: “Washbored Don” Granberg
Photos by: Linda Myers and Edward Hefter

Wow! It’s hard to believe that the year is half over. The 4th of July parade in Orinda was a lot of fun. We milled around the parking lot in the morning and enjoyed pastries until the truck and finally the straw bales arrived, as arranged by Bobbie Landers. Edward Hefter, Bob Malucelli, Phil Myers, and another hunk loaded the hay on the truck and we all helped to decorate the float. Herb Moore, Karen Hefter, Mickie McDonald, Linda and Phil Myers, Bob and Diane Malucelli, Ardie Jarrett, Chris Lardge, Dick Neuman, and Don Granberg played their hearts out on the songs selected by Betty David, our leader for this performance, and the beat was kept by Guy Black. We followed Boy Scouts, old cars, a Dixieland band, and a number of other groups through Old Orinda Crossroads and then through Orinda Village. Our newest member, David Hefter, helped keep the beat by playing his washboard. Although new to the EBBC, his amazing memory allowed him to play along with all of the songs without looking at any music! We all played in the heat until our fingers were numb and nearly melted. It was a lot of fun and everyone who participated had a great time. We would like to give a big “thank you” to our corporate sponsor, Alex Gailas and his wife from A.G. Realty, for supporting the EBBC in this parade.