A LITTLE ABOUT THE GULF COAST BANJO SOCIETY....
One
day back in 1988 a young lady by the name of Helen Baker contacted a gentleman
named Ollie Austin; they had one thing in common. The love of Banjo music! Together
they formed the Gulf Coast Banjo Society with about 12 members in total. Today
we are 54 strong, and still playing. Helen had begun taking lessons when she
was 13 yrs old and played professionally most of her life. During the 30’s
and 40’s she played with the Ina Ray Hutton Band, a 14 member all women
band that toured the US. In the 60’s she played with a trio named the
“Banjokers” that toured Europe, playing the music from the 30’s
and 40’s. Helen play’s the 5 string banjo (Bluegrass and folksy,
the “Dueling Banjo’s banjo), She plays the Tenor, a popular instrument
during the 20’s and 30’s, that was made to cut thru the sound of
the rest of the band and quite often to maintain a good lead line of music.
She also plays the Plectrum, a much more mellow sounding, longer necked banjo
that was and still is a great rhythm instrument that was developed for playing
“chord melody”. Helen still comes to the shows that the Gulf Coast
Banjo Society puts on at Snook Haven, and has a front row seat reserved only
for a very special person like Helen and occasionally honors us with a tune
on one of her banjos. By the way, Ollie is as of this writing 94 years young
and still playing banjo, although not actively playing with the group.
When 54 guys and gals get to banging away on their banjo’s, it can cause
quite a ruckus, and it fell on Paul Jacques to temper that ruckus into the melodic,
happy sounds that the Society now is so well known for. Paul took the grueling
and often thankless job of Music Director. He has developed the ability to pick
just the right song to play at just the right time to keep the audience entertained
and yet still wanting more and more.
Some of our members include Mr. Jack Canine, who is the founder of and a member
of, the Banjo Hall of Fame, not only has he donated many thousands of dollars
worth of mint condition vintage banjos, but has set up an endowment, to support
and continue the work of the Banjo Hall of Fame. Mr. Charlie Khederian, who
is an honored and revered name in the banjo world. Mr. Joe Zucco, who played
guitar with the NBC band in New York City, for a number of years and then took
his 4 piece group out to play every hotel and resort in Vegas and Reno. Mr.
Mike Currao, who comes from a good blood line of banjo players. Mike’s
dad played with the likes of the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, Jimmy Durantie, and
Bing Crosby, to just name a few. Mike himself has toured with the great Cab
Calloway, and played guitar, mandolin, and banjo with the Northeastern Philharmonic
Orchestra.
I have only scratched the surface of the talent that is embedded in the Gulf
Coast Banjo Society. Maybe that’s why Banjo great’s like Buddy Wachter,
Tim Allan, Rick Lovelady, Greg Allan, a stellar banjo player and Cynthia Sayer
( to name a few) have always made it their business to stop and play with us
when ever they were in the area.
So next time you’re planning a trip to Southwest Florida for any reason,
before you leave check our schedule and stop by for a few tunes. I promise you’ll
leave a lot happier than you were when you came in.
Ed.
Note On January 1, 2007 we were notified of the passing of Ollie Austin. Our
deepest sympathy and thoughts go out to his family.
