Friday, December 30, 2005
Beatles on the banjo
Friends, I hope you had a wonderful holiday season this year? As many of you know, I play the 4 string plectrum banjo, an instrument with a rich American history. The banjo has been popular throughout the history of America for over 200 years, creating fun, happy music for millions of listeners. However, over the last 50 years the banjo has fallen on hard times. With the advent of the electric guitar and rock and roll, the banjo has fewer players from the younger generations taking it up and I believe it is in danger of becoming a relic of history. This is happening even though the banjo had an important part in the beginning of one of the greatest rock bands in history, The Beatles. Did you know that John Lennon's first instrument was a banjo and the first rock song he ever played was 'Ain't that a shame' by Fats Domino using banjo chords? As many of you may know, I made a new CD in 2005 featuring the music of the Beatles, titled 'Beatles on the Banjo'. My purpose for making this CD was to relate musically that the banjo is a fun, happy instrument that can play fun, enjoyable music from all styles of music and inspire younger generations and future generations to get involved with the 4 string banjo.
I invite you and your friends to listen for my 'Beatles on the Banjo Music Special' which is a one hour documentary on the making of the Beatles on the Banjo cd produced by Pat Matthews from www.beatlesarama.com and myself. It will feature the entire Beatles on the Banjo CD, John Lennon's full comments on learning the banjo and his beginnings in rock and roll, as well as how I recorded the CD. Here is how you can listen:- Log onto: www.flamingoldies.com Tuesday 1/10/06: 8 PM EST 5 PM Pacific and Sunday 1/15/06: 3 PM EST 12 PM Pacific.... Log onto www.flamingoldies.com and click the 'Listen Now' button and download the free player and listen. On March 5th and 19th at noon Pacific time, log onto www.beatlesarama.com click the 'listen' button and download the free player and listen. The entire special will also play randomly in parts in March 2006 on www.jazzbanjo.com radio.
Here's wishing you and yours a healthy and prosperous new year.
Sincerely, Jack Convery
www.banjojazz.com
