Klondike Waldo - Posted - 01/13/2011:  11:14:25

Beezaboy's "Nostalgia" thread prompts this question:
How "Your Father's Mustache" or "Red Garter" alumni are on BHO. The YFM 50th reunion will be in NY next year.
I'm an alum, but as a tuba player 1969-1972. I was known as "the Colonel" back then.
Anyone else? I know there are at least 5 of us.

Dogface - Posted - 01/13/2011:  11:42:38

Pretty sure Dave Marty is one.

yellowdog - Posted - 01/13/2011:  12:42:32

Hi Bob.

Did you know Ron Beisel when you were at "Your Father's Mustache"? Ron played plectrum banjo there for a long time but died about eight years ago. Ron was a friend and fellow banjo player of mine here in Atlanta.

The link below giving the history of "Ruby Red's Band", a Dixieland band here in Atlanta led by plectrum banjoist Rocky Ball, has many pictures of Ron and many other alumni of "Your Father's Mustache" and "Red Garter". You will surely enjoy reading it and seeing the photos, and you will probably see other banjo players mentioned and in the photos that you remember from FM and the Red Garter in New Orleans and San Francisco. FM alumni: Banjoist Bill Rutan, Dave Hansen (trombone), and Stu McGee (trumpet/leader) are here in Atlanta and all are still performing. Hal Johnson (tuba) is here but may not be actively playing but is probably is still booking talent with his wife. Ernie Carson (trumpet, piano) and 'Peanut's" Fitch (banjo and comedy) were here but have passed. You will see these and other musicians you probably remember in the link below. It's fun reading for anyone interested in the banjo revival of the 1960's. Be sure to check out the rest of Rocky's website. His Ruby Red's band is hot!

rubyredsband.com/pages/history.html

Frank

sethb - Posted - 01/14/2011:  09:37:26

I'm not an alumnus of YFM, but I did visit two YFM locations -- the one in Somers Point, NJ and the one in NYC.

I was probably about 16 when I begged my father to take to the Somers Point location. On Sundays they turned off the beer taps and only served soda and hot dogs. It was wonderful!

I was about 19 or twenty when I talked my way into the NYC location, aided by a good-looking ID. Again, a wonderful time and I still have the swizzle stick from that evening.

I would bet this sort of nightclub would still go over well, even today -- although I doubt that many people still recognize tunes like "Baby Face" and "Carolina in the Morning" or know the words. SETH

Klondike Waldo - Posted - 01/14/2011:  10:13:31

Thanks, Frank. I don't recognize any of those names, but I only played in Boston and Cape Cod (and sat in once in NYC). There were YFMs in Boston, New York, Denver, Chicago, New Orleans, Point Pleasant & Somers Point, NJ (Summer only) Dennisport (Cape Cod, also summer only), Blackpool, England, Vancouver, and maybe Rome?

mainejohn - Posted - 01/15/2011:  04:38:26

I played at the Chicago YFM in '67, and am aware of an upcoming reunion scheduled to be at Carnegie Hall sometime in November. I have a master list that is currently being compiled of those that played at the various YFM clubs if anyone is interested. I can't figure out how to post a link to it, though. (it's not my list)

Edited by - mainejohn on 01/15/2011 05:35:36

mainejohn - Posted - 01/15/2011:  07:13:56

Seth wrote: "I would bet this sort of nightclub would still go over well, even today -- although I doubt that many people still recognize tunes like "Baby Face" and "Carolina in the Morning" or know the words. SETH"


I concur that the YFM and Red Garter concept might go over well today. In their hey (hay?) day years during the mid-late 60's, the clientele were mostly the twenty-and-thirty-somethings who were too young to know those tunes you mentioned first hand, as most of those great old tunes were popular and written years before we were born. Who knows, perhaps the current young generation would learn to love them as much as we did.

Dogface - Posted - 01/15/2011:  07:47:01

John, I agree totally ! I'd love to see that kind of club make a comeback. I've had that opinion/wish for quite some time.

Edit: I just spent some time with an old and very close friend, Carl Lunsford. He's an alum of both and played lead at Red Garter in Boston

Edited by - Dogface on 01/19/2011 07:03:20

Klondike Waldo - Posted - 01/19/2011:  08:38:32

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dogface

John, I agree totally ! I'd love to see that kind of club make a comeback. I've had that opinion/wish for quite some time.

Edit: I just spent some time with an old and very close friend, Carl Lunsford. He's an alum of both and played lead at Red Garter in Boston

---

Dogface - Posted - 01/19/2011:  08:54:36

Will do Waldo.... He has been a close friend of mine since the early 70's. I really love that guy...

jgrosser - Posted - 01/24/2011:  03:18:38

[Frank, Long time no see! I was the fortunate recipient of Ron Beisel's all original B&D #5 after he passed. I never worked at YFM clubs, but I would on occasion do some road work for them out of NYC.
Jeff Grosser quote]Originally posted by yellowdog

Hi Bob.

Did you know Ron Beisel when you were at "Your Father's Mustache"? Ron played plectrum banjo there for a long time but died about eight years ago. Ron was a friend and fellow banjo player of mine here in Atlanta.

The link below giving the history of "Ruby Red's Band", a Dixieland band here in Atlanta led by plectrum banjoist Rocky Ball, has many pictures of Ron and many other alumni of "Your Father's Mustache" and "Red Garter". You will surely enjoy reading it and seeing the photos, and you will probably see other banjo players mentioned and in the photos that you remember from FM and the Red Garter in New Orleans and San Francisco. FM alumni: Banjoist Bill Rutan, Dave Hansen (trombone), and Stu McGee (trumpet/leader) are here in Atlanta and all are still performing. Hal Johnson (tuba) is here but may not be actively playing but is probably is still booking talent with his wife. Ernie Carson (trumpet, piano) and 'Peanut's" Fitch (banjo and comedy) were here but have passed. You will see these and other musicians you probably remember in the link below. It's fun reading for anyone interested in the banjo revival of the 1960's. Be sure to check out the rest of Rocky's website. His Ruby Red's band is hot!

rubyredsband.com/pages/history.html

Frank

[/quote]

yellowdog - Posted - 01/24/2011:  15:27:39

Hi, Jeff, and welcome to the hangout. You've got a great sounding Bacon there and I have no doubts that it is original because as far as I could tell Ron Beisel never even dusted it! I also remember it because Ron didn't clip the string ends but curled them with the edge of a nickel, except he did a very poor job of it so that they curled in long bouncing spirals and were a very distracting threat to the guy on his left! What a wonderful solo entertainer Ron was. - Perfect big smile, always kept eye contact with the audience, great personality and incredible banjo playing skill. And he told me once that couldn't read a note!

I hope that you post here regularly. I and many others could learn a lot from you.

Frank

mainejohn - Posted - 02/01/2011:  04:23:05

Here's a link to the YFM 50th reunion, scheduled for Oct 9, 2011 at Carnegie Hall in NYC:

reunion.yfmsite.com/

Sean Barry - Posted - 07/27/2011:  23:53:29

I'm definitely not an alum (I play bluegrass) but my cousin Barry Rank is--during the 1960's he lived in NJ and Pennsylvania and he played most of the YFM locations, and the Red Garter and other similar venues.  What I find interesting from the various photos is that all of the banjo players seem to be playing plectrums--I don't see any tenors at all.  Barry is a few years older than me and he was the first person I ever heard play the banjo (when I was about nine in 1959).  The sound stuck with me and even though I went off into bluegrass I still remember how fine that plectrum banjo sounded and how differently it might have turned out for me had I not also heard Earl Scruggs a couple of years later.  Barry is playing the reunion and if I am able to slip away across country for it I will definitely do it--what a fun reunion it promises to be.

Sean Barry

mainejohn - Posted - 07/28/2011:  05:39:13

I'm reluctantly passing on attending the reunion, and my excuses are feeble: (1) I'd be attending alone and no one that I remember from the Chicago club is going. (2) With a daughter entering college I can't justify the expense, and NYC is expensive.  I'll probably regret my decision.

Klondike Waldo - Posted - 07/28/2011:  08:10:47

Even though I started this thread months ago, I've had to change my plans as well. I hope all the alumni who are going will have a great time in NYC.

pcoopy - Posted - 07/30/2011:  20:08:03

I'm not alumni but I spent a lot of time at the Red Garter. It was 1961 and I was still in the Navy stationed at Treasure Island. I talked to Jack a few times about fitting in there, but a tenor spot never opened while I was still in the area, and later I got shipped off to the DC area and gave up tenor for bluegrass at the original Birchmere Restaurant.



Phil

Edited by - pcoopy on 07/30/2011 20:09:31

jlmyers - Posted - 12/30/2011:  10:31:58

Greetings: I worked at YFM from 64-66. I trained at the NYC club and Ronnie Beisel was playing lead at the time. Always friendly & patient, he indoctrinated me to the YFM format...and I loved it. His ever-present smile was catching and I have heeded his advice ever since: Let 'em know you are having FUN! I remember the long line that would stretch down Seventh Avenue on weekend nights. The inimitable Joe Terra was on washboard; what a great showman. He seemed to have his own fan club of regulars who loved his performances. I was playing my Epi Model B tenor at the time. I switched to plectrum soon after so I could play lead. In the summer of 65, Joel sent me to tne NO club suddenly. I believe to replace Ed Cuneo, who had been playing lead there. I also spent some time in Boston/Cape Cod, where I met the incomparable Ronnie Bill, who was kind enough to show this kid some wonderful stuff. Best banjo player I ever saw. He could make any tune sound like it was written for banjo. He used to get a standing O for his solo of Old Cape Cod. I also remember Barry Renk. And George French, a former YFM waiter who caught banjo fever and became a fine banjoist. We played together in NO in 65. GREAT MEMORIES!

MikeHashem - Posted - 12/30/2011:  12:37:00

I never played YFM , but least at Sweeny,s Gay 90s in Rowley , Ma., in 8 years, I never had to punch a time clock. We were to busy drinking and trying to get laid " and did" !!!!!!!  Mike Hashem

mainejohn - Posted - 12/30/2011:  15:51:15

quote:

---

Originally posted by jlmyers

Greetings: I worked at YFM from 64-66. I trained at the NYC club and Ronnie Beisel was playing lead at the time. Always friendly & patient, he indoctrinated me to the YFM format...and I loved it. His ever-present smile was catching and I have heeded his advice ever since: Let 'em know you are having FUN! I remember the long line that would stretch down Seventh Avenue on weekend nights. The inimitable Joe Terra was on washboard; what a great showman. He seemed to have his own fan club of regulars who loved his performances. I was playing my Epi Model B tenor at the time. I switched to plectrum soon after so I could play lead. In the summer of 65, Joel sent me to tne NO club suddenly. I believe to replace Ed Cuneo, who had been playing lead there. I also spent some time in Boston/Cape Cod, where I met the incomparable Ronnie Bill, who was kind enough to show this kid some wonderful stuff. Best banjo player I ever saw. He could make any tune sound like it was written for banjo. He used to get a standing O for his solo of Old Cape Cod. I also remember Barry Renk. And George French, a former YFM waiter who caught banjo fever and became a fine banjoist. We played together in NO in 65. GREAT MEMORIES!

---

"Great memories" is an understatement!. I enjoyed reading your post, and I believe that the big cities are ready for another rebirth of the YFM/ Red Garter format.

Klondike Waldo - Posted - 12/30/2011:  16:02:37

My first ever "Banjo Band" gig was with Ronnie Bill at "The Banjo Man" in Yarmouth. I took a bus to Hyannis to get to the gig- I didn't even have a car then. That fall, I started at YFM Boston.   I'm also very proud to say I played with Mike Hashem and Jimmy Mazzy at Sweeny's Gay 90s for a couple of years as well. Looking back, I can say I've played with some of the finest banjo players of our time.

MikeHashem - Posted - 12/31/2011:  09:53:54

Bob; You must be talking about Jim Mazzy.  Regards  Mike Hashem

Klondike Waldo - Posted - 12/31/2011:  16:29:29

quote:

---

Originally posted by MikeHashem

Bob; You must be talking about Jim Mazzy.  Regards  Mike Hashem

---

So when are we playing again, Mike?

Happy New year!