Who Are We?

Alan Hamilton, Leader and cofounder of the Yet-to-be-Named Banjo Club. Took piano lessons at his mom's insistance at about 8 years of age. Got to picking a uke so his dad said try my banjo. End of piano lessons. Mom not happy with dad. Learned tenor banjo from one of Fred Waring's trumpet players in Hallowell, Maine during highschool. Bought first "own" banjo then :a Lange Tenor made for SS Stewart.(Still has it). Graduate of the University of Maine with a B. S. in chemical Engineering and a Masters Degree in Pulp and Paper Management. worked forty years in several Maine paper mills. During that time played with bands in college and with local bands for shows and such.

Started the YET-TO-BE-NAMED BANJO CLUB with a professional bluegrass player who only attended the first meeting of the club. Just us two. He said I wouldn't be able to find another banjo player in western Maine. He didn't know how much interest there is in the happy sound of the banjo. This happened in 2003.

Don Stevison was very helpful in getting the club started. His advice was wise and accurate. As a result the club has grown and been fun for the members. Of course, at first, he was only advising two members....but that's another story

Peter was born on a farm in East Bethel Maine. He has a sister and two younger brothers. When he was a boy, his father passed away. He and his siblings stayed on the farm continuing to run it with their mother. they went to school and and became good farmers. Peter still lives on the family farm. As a farmer, Peter can do anything. He is also a retired machinist. Wanting something else to do, he built a five string banjo kit. His younger brother, a neighbor of Alan Hamilton's, told Peter that Alan would give him some sessons. Only thing was, Alan convinced him to take the fifth string off so he could study the plectrum banjo. Peter did. Peter plays rhythm in the club. He is the Charter member with Alan. They used to practice at the Greenwood Municipal building. Peter is now playing a Vega Model N plectrum banjo.

Peter has made banjo stands for the club. He also shows up at rehersals with some his farm's produce for the other members.

Dave is a Northeastern graduate with a B. S. in Physics. He is now mostly retired: doing some consulting for the building industry. Being from Connecticut, he prides himself by saying that folks from that great state have absolutely no accent whereas everyone else in the country has an accent, He lives on Twitchell Pond and is a neighbor of Alan's. Dave used to play the trombone at school. He hocked it for a big date and never played again. He has a large collection of recordings of all types of music. He likes classical music. Alan suggested that he take up the tuba because of his interest in music. Dave rented one and taught himself to play it. He now has two tubas, a five quarter size Conn, named Brunhilde and a smaller one named Trudi. He also has a Sousaphone, a five quarter size Conn named Berta. As to where Dave's nickname originates, it seems he was called "Tubby" in grade school and "Ace" in high school. When the Internet started up, Dave wanted a name that all his friends would recognize so he came up with "Ace tubby".

Dave has a passion for Sailing on the high sea. He sails annually with friends towards iceberg "country" in September.

Bill Uber installed elevators in New Jersey. He got tangled up in the YTBN Banjo Club when he brought his outboard motor to Alan (Alan 's retirement hobby used to be outboard motor repair). Alan was playing his banjo. Bill said "I've been trying to play the five string banjo for twenty years. Can you show me how?" The reply was "no, but I'll show you how to play the plectrum banjo if you'll join our little club." Bill did.

Bill became a "Snowbird" last year. He goes to Florida where he plays with Sparky's Strummers at the Villages.

Bill and his wife Nancy, reside on North Pond in Bethel, Maine.

He just bought a new Richelieu Golden Eagle plectrum so he is one of the happiest people in the world.

While the Club was playing at the farmer's market, Bob's pastor asked us if we knew Bob. He gave us Bob's phone number. We drafted Bob. Bob took lessons from Don Nichols, probably the best banjo player to come out of the State of Maine. Bob absorbed a whole lot of technique from Don. Bob's presence in the club and his great sense of humor were immediately felt in our performances.

Bob is a banjo collector. He and his wife Rita live in Norway, Maine with their Saint Bernard, Heidi. Bob is one of our members who has a real job. He maintains sewing machines for a factory in Lewiston.

He also claims to be a closet banjo player. However the club is curing that affliction pretty fast. He plays harmony and lead.

Roger "Dodger" Conant was the Sixth member to join the club. Peter Haines brought him on board. He was playing a ukulele (well). He wasn't too sure if such an instrument would be welcome in a banjo club. We introduced him to the banjo mandolin and he was hooked. He now has five of them including a beautiful and perhaps rare, Vega Artist Model in gold. Roger uses ukelele tuning on them. He claims to be a devout Vega lover! Roger is a retired bank manager . He knows everyone and everyone knows him in the western Maine area. He loves to sing.

In November Roger vanishes to his hunting lodge somewhere deep in the Maine wood. We know he takes his ukulele. Rumour has it that the hunters have hootnannys which keep the game awake.

"Lovely Linda" Davis was "Lovely Linda" Heath when she came aboard. She works in the "Hungry Hollow" Food and Gift Shop on Rte 26 with our Agent, Edie Brainard (Ace Tubby's better half.) Linda sings and is a peppy audience rouser. She sings in her church choir. The transition to the club's music seems to be absolutely no problem . In fact, her minister wants the club to come up with a program for his congregation. Linda plays the tamborine. She took Charleston lessons. We hope she demonstrates soon!

Why the mention of her marriage? She invited us to play at her wedding reception! This was our first chance to get all dolled up in our new outfits (see the photo at the top of the home page.)

The club plays regular monthly gigs at five local resthomes. At the Market Square Home, we met "Lovely Lou" Renaud. She was visiting her husband who is staying there. Lou had moved to the Norway area from Lewiston to be near her man. However nearly all her friends are back in Lewiston. She asked if she could play Linda's tamborine and hasn't stopped yet. Well, she has taken to the spoons. Now she plays fancy spoon breaks in many songs and get a few laughs from our audiences. Lou worked for the Lewiston School Dept.

Claire joined us at the farmer's market. She manages the Fair Share Food Store nearby. Peter loaned her his banjo and she was in. Claire is a converted guitar player. She likes the plectrum banjo . Her desire is to learn chord melody. Claire has a beautiful voice. She adds a nice soprano harmony to our vocals. Claire was a street singer in San Francisco. She supported herself and her baby daughter, who now attends Columbia University in New York City.

Claire has arranged to have the club use the Common room at the Fair Share Food Store. We are all gleefully anticipating our new digs. According to Donald Stevison, a stable place to practice will bring in new members.

Doreen worked at General Electric for 32 years. Retired as an executive secretary. Learned guitar from Ed and Julie Rogers about 25 years ago. "I guess love of music is a family trait , as my son Alan plays lead guitar and my grandson, Joshua plays lead guitar , bass guitar and drums. I had no intention of joining a banjo group until Roger Conant let me try a banjolin. I got hooked on playing it and here I am in the middle of things and having a grand time."

Born in Southie, Orland has lived in Eliot, Maine most of his life. A graduate of Eliot High School, he played trumpet in his own band named "Merry Mac and the Music makers". Many years later, he took banjo lessons from Ed Rogers, a well known banjoist in the Sanford area. During this time, Orland served fourteen years in the Maine legislature, playing banjo with friends in the Augusta area. In the near past, he has benefited from the instruction and guidance of Mike Hashem of Ossippi, New Hampshire. Mike is a professional, performing all over the USA. Every Thursday Mac jams with friends from the seacoast area in Eliot playing Dixieland, Country and Bluegrass.

Orland joined the YTBN in the winter of 07-08

Bob is a retired machinist who joined the club in the summer of 2010. He plays a Banjitar. He, Linda and Roger love to sing during the band's breaks. Bob loves country music so we'll have to start a country corner for the trio. Bob used to make parts for the Brown and Sharp company.

Ron plays the washtub bass and sings very well. He used to be an entertainment contractor at Disneyland where he sang in a quartet at many Disney venues. Ron has been a minister and a policeman among other things. Presently he does custom cabinetry.

Dave's wife, who spends a lot of time on the phone setting up all our gigs. She also prepares each monthly schedule. The club really appreciates her efforts.

Dave's son, David produces our DVDs and CDs and takes publicity photos of the club. The Songo River Qeen II Adventure was filmed in its entirety by David. He also edited it, titled it and produced it.