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About Us

The Rose City Banjoliers band was formed in 1972 and consists primarily of plectrum and tenor banjos, tubas and washboards. The Banjoliers’ toe-tapping music, ranging from gay nineties to popular tunes, is fashioned after the style of Eddy Peabody. The Rose City Banjoliers is a nonprofit organization. Membership varies from 30 to 40 members ranging from teenage to 90+ years of age.

The Banloliers have performed at many public and private affairs including farmer’s markets, retirement homes, county fairs and private parties.

Officers

History

The Rose City Banjoliers band was formed in 1972 and consisted primarily of plectrum banjos. An electric bass, bass fiddle, or tuba held the group together. The toe-tapping music, ranging from gay nineties to popular tunes, was fashioned after the plectrum “Peabody” style. Also featured were the Washboard Dears. This group of ladies played washboard and tambourine, and were a big hit wherever they performed.

Elliot Sweetland was the director and arranged all the music for the band. He began teaching and playing professionally in Portland in 1934. The used banjo he bought that year was a plectrum B&D Sultana Silver Bell.

In 1981 band members built a float designed like a Mississippi riverboat—complete with a rotating paddle wheel. The “Banjo Belle” was a popular addition to the many parades held in the Portland area. A perfect setting for banjo players, the colorful red and white float won many trophies and awards for the band.

Starting in 1979 the Rose City Banjoliers presented an annual cabaret show/sing-a-long featuring the band and cabaret acts by band members. The show was a fun filled evening of hand clapping, toe tap¬ping, singing, and dancing to many favorite tunes. The numbers, which were presented on an album, were all recorded live during one of these annual shows.

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