Banjo Entertainment from the Peninsula Banjo Band

PBB - 408-993-BAND

We play the happiest music there is.

We've been around for over forty years and have thousands of fans in the San Francisco Bay area.

Our mission is to preserve the four string banjo and the music associated with it.

We play for parties, and meetings -- anywhere that happy music is wanted.

Charlie Tagawa, our leader, is a member of the National Four-string Banjo Hall of Fame.

We are a non-profit corporation and we make significant contributions to local charities.

Over the years, we have given over $198,000 to various charities.

We are always open to new members.

We offer scholarships to people of any age who want to learn the four string banjo or the gutbucket (wash tub bass.)

The public is invited to attend our practices.
We practice and play every Wednesday evening.
See the following.

PERMORMANCE LENGTHENED

TO 90 MINUTES
7:00 - 8:30 PM

EVERY WEDNEDSAY

AT

CABRITO'S MEXICAN BISTRO
685 E. El Camino Real Sunnyvale
(Between Wolfe and Fair Oaks/Remington)

CABRITOS MEXICAN BISTRO
685 E. El Camino Real
Sunnyvale

408-738-0517

for directions to Cabritos
=====>>>>>>

View Larger Map

Announcements

A Spectacular new CD
from The Peninsula Banjo Band.
That Charlie Sound

With 3 performances by Charlie Tagawa
This new CD will blow you away.
For information on
That Charlie Sound
and all our CD’s and cassettes.

PBB Charitable conributions
2002 -- $4,750, 2003 -- $3,500, 2004 -- $5,500,
2005 -- $4,900, 2006 -- $6,000, 2007 -- $2,000,
2008 -- $5,250,
2009 -- $4,250.

Coming Events

Some PBB performances are open to the public.
Following is a list of upcoming public performances.

Every Wednesday at 7:00 PM
Cabrito's Mexican Bistro
685 E. El Camino Real
(Between Wolfe and Fair Oaks/Remington)
Sunnyvale
408-738-0517

Banjo Jubilee Jazz Festival
Sunday, Sept 12
For more about the show

For brochure and ticket ordering details

Banjo Jubilee Headliner Banquet
Saturday, Sept 11
For more about the Headliner Banquet
and ordering infomration

To hear the Peninsula Banjo Band play Sweet Georgia Brown

(A minute or two is required to down load the music.
cube To hire us or to inquire about our availability Or, call our booking agent, at 408-993-BAND (408-993-2263)

cube The Annual Banjo Jubilee

cube For information on our CD’s and cassettes.

cube To inquire about learning the banjo, or scholarships or membership

For information on our books "Stories Behind Your Favorite Banjo Music"

A Quick History of the Peninsula Banjo Band.

cube About Charlie Tagawa, the Peninsula Banjo Band leader.

About Banjo Bands in the Bay Area.

cube Four String Banjo Related Links.

cube Peninsula Banjo Band Monthly Newsletter

cube Mostly for Members.

The 38 thAnnual Peninsula Banjo Band Jubilee
wiill be held September 12, 2010

A benefit for Hospice of the Valley
For brochure and ordering details

What a show it will be!

Ken Aoki from Japan
Steve DiBonaventura with Mike Kuehn
Charlie Tagawa
Bill Lowrey
Jack Convery and Friends
Dick and John Martin

and others

Featuring banjo orchestras

Peninsula Banjo Band
Sacramento Banjo Band
East Bay Banjo Club
Oregon Trail Camp Band

along with the

Windy Hill Bluegrass Band

Sunday Sept. 12
Location: Holiday Inn 1740 North First Street
San Jose, Ca
Mediterranean Ballroom
12:00 - 5:00 PM

For flyer and ticket ordering details

Saturday Sept. 11
Headliner Banquet and Concert starring Ken Aoki
Holiday Inn 1740 North First Street
No-host cocktails at 5:30 PM
Dinner at 6:00 and concert to follow

For details and ticket ordering

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CD’s and cassettes from the Peninsula Banjo Band
That Charlie Sound You'll love every one of the 17 songs on this great new CD. All the arrangments are by Charlie Tagawa. And, the only three recordings of Charlie's tenor banjo artistry are on this CD.	We start with 8 songs from the full band, with exciting solos fom Bill Lowrey, Jimmie Min and Dorothy Horning. o Just Because o Limehouse Blues o San Francisco Bay Blues o Bei Mir Bist Du Shon o I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter o Smiles o St. Louis Blues o Tarentella Napoletano / Finiculi Finicula These three songs are by "Charlie and Sons." They are the only recordings of Charlie Tagawa's mastery of the tenor banjo. o Minuet in G o Turkish March o Temptation Rag Then back to the full band. Wait till you hear South Rampart Street Parade and Stars and Stripes Forever. o Roll On Mississippi o Do You Know what It Means to Miss New Orleans o South Rampart Street Parade o Take Me Home Country Roads o Wheels o Stars and Stripes Forever To order Send check or money order for $17.00 payable to the Peninsula Banjo Band at: Peninsula Banjo Band PO Box 111974 Campbell, CA 95011-1974 We will ship postage paid. For other PBB recordings and books, see the following sections.
Over the years, the Peninsula Banjo Band has produced a number of recordings. We have re-mastered two of our old LPs to wonderful new CDs. Our 3 offerings are: **JUST BECAUSE, MORE! MORE! MORE! and JUST ONE MORE TIME. Contents of each are listed below. The cost is $10.00 for each of those CDs and $6.00 for cassettes.** With your order for 3 or more CDs we'll include one volume in the series Stories Behind Your Favorite Banjo Songs Make your check payable to the Peninsula Banjo Band; include $2.00 per item ($5.00 Maximum) for shipping and handling, and mail to: Peninsula Banjo Band PO Box 111974 Campbell, CA 95011-1974
*Just Because* originally recorded in the 1970's, with a band of 70 members. Available in CD only.	Just Because Carolina in the Morning Somebody Stole My Gal Alabama Jubilee Waiting for the Robert E. Lee Alabamy Bound Bill Bailey Shine on Harvest Moon Hava Nagilah For Me and My Gal When the Saints Go Marching In
More! More! More! Originally recorded in the 80's Available in CD and cassette	Beer Barrel Polka Five Foot Two Somewhere My Love I’ve Been Floating Down the Old Green River Under the Double Eagle San Antonio Rose Coney Island Washboard Am I Blue Sweet Georgia Brown Just A Closer Walk With Thee I Wish I was in Peoria High Society
Just One More Time Available in CD and cassette.	Bourbon Street Parade At A Georgia Camp Meeting The Old Rugged Cross Sweet Georgia Brown Sailing Down The Chesapeake Bay Tin Roof Blues Bill Bailey Exactly Like You What A Wonderful World When the Saints Go Marching In
The Stories Behind Your Favorite Banjo Songs These four books contain articles which were originally published in the Band's newsletter, The News and Views. They contain little known facts about the composers, lyricists and entertainers that brought us the music we love.
Volume I Did you know that our Beer Barrel Polka was originally a Czech love song called "Skoda Lasky, meaning "Lost Love"? That and much more in Volume I.	Tin Pan Alley Al Jolson - The World's Greatest Entertainer One Hit Wonders: Jesse Fuller - The "Lone Cat"; Freddy Morgan Polkas: Beer Barrel Polka, Liechtensteiner Polka, Pennsylvania Polka and Just Because. Bill Bailey, the Blues and Frankie and Johnny Shine on Harvest Moon and Take Me Out to the Ball Game The Whole Thing II: American Patrol, Columbia the Gem of the Ocean, John Brown's Body, Battle Hymn of the Republic, Dixie, California Here I Come. Irving Berlin Shelton Brooks Dueling Banjos Cruising Down the River The Chipmunk Song and Rudolph the Red nosed Reindeer 48 pages and a dozen articles and -- only $5.00. (+$2.00 S&H)
Volume II Did you know that the Hoover Vacuum Cleaner Company adapted "The US Field Artillary March" ("The Caissons Go Rolling Along") as their company song, entitled "All the Dirt All the Grit"? That and much more in Volume II.	Spaghetti Rag and Vaudeville Gus Kahn Hank Williams One Hit Wonders — Eugene Lockhart, Kyu Sakamoto, Bob Carleton Armed Forces Songs Crossovers Bert Kaempfert Paul Whiteman Waiting For the Robert E. Lee Jingle Bells and Jingle Bell Rock 52 pages, eleven articles and -- only $5.00. (+$2.00 S&H)
Volume III Did you know that "My Mammy," arguably the song that defined Al Jolson, was originally introcuced in Vaudeville by William Frawley, who later became Fred Mertz on the "I Love Lucy Show?" That and much more in Volume III.	Belle Baker -- All of Me, Blue Skies Kalmar and Ruby -- A Kiss to Build a Dream On, Who's Sorry Now, I've Been Floating ... A Trio of Irish Waltzes -- My Wild Irish Rose, When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, Sweet Rosie O'Grady Kerry Mills -- At a Georgia Camp Meeting, Red Wing What a Record that Was -- Tzena Tzena Tzena and Goodnight Irene Young and Lewis -- My Mammy, Shanty Town, I'm Gonna Sit Right Down, How Ya Gonna Keep 'Em ..., Dinah The Whole Thing -- Under the Double Eagle, Stars and Stripes Forever, Saints Harry Akst -- Am I Blue, Baby Face, Dinah South Rampart Street Parade Ice Cream Bob Wills, Western Swing and San Antonio Rose Christmas Songs -- Little Drummer Boy, Winter Wonderland 53 pages, twelve articles and -- only $5.00. (+$2.00 S&H)
Volume IV Did you know that Al Jolson originally introduced "If You Knew Susie" in the show "Big Boy" but it bombed? Jolson gave the song to Eddie Cantor and Cantor made it a huge hit. Later Jolson told Cantor, "Eddite, you dirty dog, if I'd known that song was that good, I'd have never given it to you!" That and much more in Volume III.	One Hit Wonders: Paul Barbarin, Bent Fabric A Showboat Mystery Two Railroad Songs: I've Been Working on the Railroad and Wabash Cannonball Two "Irish" Songs: MacNamara's Band, Danny Boy More One Hit Wonders: Washington and Lee Swing, Heartaches Two Peggys: Peg of my Heart, Peggy O'Neill Saint Louis Blues: W C Handy and Glen Miller Eddie Cantor Jerry Herman: Hello Dolly and Mame Gene Autry 50 pages, 10 articles and only $5.00 (+ $2.00 S&H)
All books are soft cover with photos in black and white. To order, send check or money order for $7.00 each, ($5.00 plus $2.00 for shipping and handling) to: Peninsula Banjo Band, PO Box 111974 Campbell, CA 95011-1974 Or, get a copy of any book free with your order for 3 CDs. To read about and order CDs Return to Top of Page

The Peninsula Banjo Band Board of Directors
2010

A Quick History of the Peninsula Banjo Band

The PBB was organized in 1963 as the Cupertino Banjo Band. As it grew and attracted members from all over the Peninsula bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Bay its name was changed to the Peninsula Banjo Band. The band was incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1975. Membership varies from 45 - 70 and includes plectrum and tenor banjoists as well as wash tub bass players.

The PBB has performed at many public and private affairs including street festivals, retirement homes, private parties and grand civic occasions. It performed at the anniversary celebration of the Golden Gate Bridge, the reopening of the cable cars, San Francisco’s Black and White ball, Candlestick Park, the Cherry Blossom festivals, Music in the Park in San Jose, the opening of the San Jose Convention Center, special events at the De Young museum and for President Clinton and Vice-president Gore. Most recently, the band performed at the opening ceremony of The Tech museum in San Jose.

The band has been directed for 43 of its 46 years by Charlie Tagawa, a master of the tenor banjo.

For a complete history of the Band, and membership list, read the article written for the Peninsula Banjo Band newsletter, the News and Views.

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To be on the Peninsula Banjo Band E-mail list and to be notified of our public performances.

About Banjo Bands in the Bay Area If you like 4-string banjo music, here are some of the places in the Bay Area that you can find it.
The Banjo Friends	First and third Fridays 6:30 - 8:30 PM City Diner, 2951 Monterey Road San Jose, Ca 95111 408-269-5490
The Banjo Guys	Every Monday 6:00 - 8:00 PM The Little Store, 3340 Woodside Road, Woodside, Ca Contact: John Robbins (650) 851-3822
Bob Lasley and the Scarlett La Rue Revival Band	2nd and 4th Thursdays 7:30 - 9:00 PM The Pizza Prarty (fka Pizza & Pipes) 3581 Homestead Road Santa Clara, Ca 408-248-5680 Scarlett LaRue Revival Band web site
Dave Marty	Dave Marty's web site
East Bay Banjo Club	Every Tuesday, 8:00 - 10:00 PM Round Table Pizza, 1938 Oak Park Boulevard, Pleasant Hill. (510) 928-0126. Contact: Bob Nelson @ (925) 372-0553 East Bay Banjo Club website
Happy Time Banjos	Temporarily searching for a new venue.
Jack Convery	Jack Convery's web site
Peninsula Banjo Band	Every Wednesday,7:00 -8:00 PM Cabritos Mexican Bistro 685 E. El Camino Real Sunnyvale Contact: (408) 993-BAND (993-2263)
Sacramento Banjo Band	First & third Sundays of each month, 2:00 - 4:00 PM Straw Hat Pizza, 2929 Mather Field Road, Rancho Cordova Contact: Ben Dale@ 1-800-251-6415. Sacramento Banjo Band web site
San Francisco Banjo Band	First Saturday of each month, 8:30 - 11:30 PM Molloy's Tavern, 1655 Mission Road, Colma. Contact: Bill Portman @ (650) 692-7878.
WineLand Banjo Band	Livermore, California Contact Jim Botorff (925) 455-6835 or jbott@ix.netcom.com Wineland Banjo Band web site
*4-string banjo players in the Bay Area are encouraged to list their engagements.* **To be listed, click here or phone Jim Strickland 408-268-3956.**
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Peninsula Banjo Band Newsletter

The band publishes a monthly newsletter.
Click here to see the most recent newsletter.
Click here to see the previous newsletter.

In the past, the Penninsula Banjo Band newsletter, The News and Views, printed a series of articles called Our Banjo World featuring banjo bands in our area. We invite you to read the articles and visit the band in your area.

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Four-string Banjo Related Links

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Click to send email to our webmaster.

The 38 thAnnual Peninsula Banjo Band Jubilee wiill be held September 12, 2010

Four-string Banjo Related Links

The 38 thAnnual Peninsula Banjo Band Jubilee
wiill be held September 12, 2010