Saturday
show 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM will be our Headliners Show Starring Buddy Wachter
and Johnny Baier.
 "Buddy
Wachter could bring an audience back from the dead".........................
Marvin Hamlish
Rarely
has the banjo world experienced such a unique individual and presence
as Buddy Wachter. When Buddy's name is brought up in banjo conversation,
terms like 'brilliant', 'complex', 'gifted' and 'passionate' are often
used. To anyone who has experienced this masterful artist, on or off
stage, these descriptions certainly require no explanation.
If you are
not familiar with the man or his work, be aware that Buddy Wachter is,
with little doubt, the single most influential four-string banjoist
of this generation. His knowledge and respect for banjoists and traditions
of the past, coupled with a love for anything genuine and musical have
resulted in a most extraordinary individual who is focused on propelling
the banjo into new and exciting venues in the music world.
 Johnny
Baier started playing the banjo at the age of 15 in 1971, and began
his professional career in Oshkosh, Wisconsin just two weeks after he
picked up the banjo for the first time. As an entertainer, Johnny developed
a quick sense of what audiences would respond to, and from that time
on, made the entertainment of his audience, the primary goal of his
performances. A highlight in Johnny Baier's musical career came in 1983
when he crossed the Canadian border, and was crowned the Canadian National
Champion Banjoist against some of the finest tenor, plectrum and five-string
banjo players in North America.He was then asked to represent a division
of the Sara Lee Corporation as a musical goodwill ambassador. This gave
him the opportunity to perform at trade shows, fairs, parades and special
events all over the USA. After three years and 150,000 miles he decided
to “settle down” in Orlando, Florida. In 1988 he began performing
at the world-famous Rosie O’Grady’s at Church Street Station.
Since that time Johnny has performed over 15,000 solo shows on cruise
ships, at community and corporate events, and as a featured guest artist
at music festivals and concert venues around the world.
It is clear
that his love for the banjo and the music it is capable of creating
has allowed Johnny to evolve into exactly what he wanted to become.....THE
BANJO MAN.
|
