Dutch Groshioff was Spokane's premier plectrum banjo man, going back to the 1920's. He and my Uncle Carl were band-mates over the years. When we were taking lessons from him in the 1950's, he would select his best students to be in his Banjo Band.
KXLY TV had a weekly talent show called Starlit Stairway sponsored by Boyle Oil and Heating. The show opened with the Boyle twins (two girls about 12-years old at the time) singing "If you need coal or oil - call Boyle." 53 years later I can still sing that commercial!
Now remember - this is half a century before Star Search and American Idol but it was the same concept on a local level. I guess there must have been quite a bit of decent talent around Spokane in the 1950's, because this show was a weekly half-hour broadcast building up to the quarter finals, semi finals, and the big winner.
So, Dutch Groshoff's Banjo Band was a perennial contestant and I'm pretty sure we won the top prize once or twice. I think we had anywhere from 6 to ten kids in the band at any particular time and I remember when I joined the group my mom had to make me an outfit. We had these red & white striped jackets, bow tie on a white shirt and straw hat. In addition to Starlit Stairway, we frequently played at different events and festivals around town.
I know most of us played plectrum banjo, but there may have been a tenor player or two, I'm not sure. I seem to recall that Dutch would assign about half the group to play the melody. I was always in that group, so I don't know how he orchestrated the arrangments. But I imagine it was pretty impressive to see all these little 9 - 14 year old kids actually playing in time together.
But my most favorite monster banjo band story happened back in the 1970's. I was living in Eugene at the time and knew some of the folks involved with a huge Oregon banjo club. Every summer they would get together for a giant picnic/jam session and one year I decided to go.
It was held that year in a state park outside of Salem somewhere. I remember being a little lost on the way into the park. There were lots of forks in the road and it was tempting often to take a potentially wrong turn. It was rare day for Oregon - no rain - so I had the window down as I was carefully trying to ferret out the right road.
All of a sudden I heard the faint sound of music drifting on the breeze. Driving on, the music became louder and more recognizable and soon I could discern the melody of "Bye Bye Blues." As the music got louder I came around a bend in the road and there in front of me was one of the most amazing sights I've ever seen. On the sloping hillside in front of me sat about 200 banjo players of all ages and genders playing plectrums, tenors, banjo ukes and one big bass banjo. As I got out of my car and grabbed my banjo I was aware that the volume level had risen to a monstrous level and I kinda stood there slack-jawed before joining the fray. I don't think you can even imagine the sound of 200 banjos - and maybe you shouldn't try
Responses