ORIGIN OF THE NAME “BANJO BARONS RAGTIME BAND”

By Michael J. Woitowicz

   

At my performances around the country, many people have asked me if we are the “Banjo Barons” which recorded a number of sing-a-long style records in the ‘60’s (some of which have been re-published on CD). The answer, of course, is no – we are an entirely different group. I call my group “The Banjo Barons Ragtime Band” to differentiate ourselves from the original group, and because we play a broader selection of music than just sing-a-long.

According to information provided by Jazz Banjo Magazine, the original name "Banjo Barons" was assigned to a group of studio musicians who recorded LP’s for Columbia Records in the 1960's (when the Columbia label was still active). The musicians included Carmen Mastren, Al Chernet and Art Tyerson playing banjo, Whitey Mitchell on bass, Ted Sommer on drums, Sanford Gold on piano and Toony Wright on piano. Teo Macero was the leader and arranger. Smokey Montgomery, the great tenor banjoist from Texas was also reported to be on one of these sessions.

The “original” Banjo Barons Discography on Columbia records includes:

  • Banjos Back in Town (CS8381)

  • George M! (CS 9643)

  • The Thoroughly Modern Hit of Today (HS 11224)

  • Dueling Banjos (KH 32214)

  • Golden Hawaiian Hits (CS 8783/CL 1983)

  • Banjo Spectacular! (CL 1781/CS 8581)

  • Banjo Party (CL1689/CS 8489

  • 31 Hits from the Silver Screen (CL 2236)

  • It’s A Folk, Folk, Folk World (CS 2135/CS 8935)

  • Music for Happy Times (CL 2089/CS 88891)

  • Banjo Party (CL 1689/CS 8489)

I personally have 2 of them that I picked up at used record sales outlets, and they are not the same with regard to instrumentation, arrangements and sound quality, since the personnel were different at each session. To the best of my knowledge, based on the research I've done, the musicians never performed outside of the studio setting using this name.

Several years ago, "Good Time Music Recording Company" (which specializes in re-issuing old artists recordings), re-issued 55 songs on a CD called: Banjo Barons -- 55 of Banjo's Greatest Hits. The CD cover shows two smiling gentlemen with straw hats along with a drawing of a banjo. However, at least one of them is not a banjo player, but is the President of Good Time Music Record Company. The photos where just for marketing purposes, since people associate banjos with straw hats!

My banjo band is called the Banjo Barons Ragtime Band and performs other types of music besides sing-a-long. We perform many Ragtime tunes (such as Dill Pickles Rag, Pineapple Rag, Maple Leaf Rag, The Entertainer, Calliope Rag, Panhandle Rag) as well as other music of the Ragtime and Roaring Twenties era. It’s a catchy name for us and more accurately reflects the music we play.

We have also recorded our music. Currently, we have two CD’s we offer for sale:

  • Pickin’ & Strummin’ yOUR Favorites

A complilation of our earlier cassette recordings, featuring ragtime, Dixieland, polkas/waltzes, and some Broadway tunes.

  • Ragtime to Broadway – Banjo Style

Solo and ensemble music from the 1850’s to the 1960’s featuring the four string tenor banjo, including tunes by Stephen Foster, Scott Joplin, W.C. Handy, Harry Reser, John Philips Sousa and Broadway composers

These are available through our website www.banjomusic.biz.