We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue, we will assume that you agree to our privacy policy which includes details of cookie usage. Hide this notice

banjerdan You must sign into your myHangout account in order to contact banjerdan.

Born in Summit, NJ, October 1959. 1962: My family moved to Washington DC. (The Country Gentlemen were playing every Tuesday right down the hill from my house, and I didn't know it!) Dec. 1973: My brother got a banjo for his birthday. Spring/Summer 1974: I became interested in the banjo, and eventually took it over from my brother, who switched to guitar. 1975-1985: After a few months of banjo lessons at Charlie Byrd's Music House in Bethesda, MD, I immersed myself in the DC bluegrass world, and went to every pickin' party I could find. After discovering the Seldom Scene, I spent virtually every Thursday night at The Red Fox Inn, also in Bethesda, MD. During this time I finished high school and college, played my first bluegrass bar gigs with "No Strings Attached" (Bob Hummer, Dave Whitaker, Don Walters, Steve George, Dave Bernhardt) and spent a few months as a busker in Europe. 1985-1988: Member of "D.J. & The C.B. Pickers," Fairfield, PA. Other members were Lee Jones, mandolin, Donna Jones, bass, and Joe Longwell, guitar. 1988-1991: Member of "Rockcreek," Silver Spring, MD. Other members were Moondi Klein, guitar, Ira Gitlin, bass, Jamie Daly, mandolin, and Darren Beachley, dobro. 1992=1995: Lived in Nashville. Worked at Opryland, USA, and in several theatrical productions (including some road work). Also played occasionally at The Station Inn with a pickup band called "The Guys in the Suits and Ties." Other members were: Randy Howard, fiddle, Ronnie McCoury and Wayne Benson, mandolin, Rich Arnold, dobro, Johnny Berry, Greg Garing and Keith Little, guitar, and Missy Raines, Roy Huskey, Jr., Ernie Sykes, and Brian Zonn, bass. 1995-2000: Lived in San Diego, performing with a theatrical folk music/comedy act called "The Jackstraws." We were "The Pirate Landing Party" at SeaWorld of California, "The Safari Bush Band" at the San Diego Zoo, and other themes as needed. November 2000: Relocated to my roots in the Washington, DC area. 2001-present: Performing solo as "BanjerDan," and as a sideman in other acts as needed. After 10 years with the outlaw acoustic honky-tonk band, "J.B. Beverley & The Wayward Drifters" decided to re-relocate to California, and focus on my solo work. Now I live in Atascadero, California, close to the beautiful Central Coast!