On any given afternoon, tourists strolling through the famous Church Street Station section of downtown Orlando, Florida are likely to be attracted to an unexpected scene.. large crowds of people gathered in Rosie O'Grady's Good Time Emporium, laughing, clapping and singing at
12:30 in the afternoon! The reason for this unusual phenomenon is the show of banjoist Johnny Baier. Combining masterful musicianship with rich vocals, a unique sense of humor, and large doses of audience participation , Johnny Baier, for many people, has become a "must see" Florida attraction.

Baier opens his show with popular banjo and sing-a-long tunes introduced in the banjo's "heyday" of the Gay 90's and Roaring 20's eras; songs associated with great stars such as Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor and banjo great Eddie Peabody. From there, musical selections might include more current favorites from the pop and country music charts, movies and Broadway, bluegrass, folk, Dixieland jazz or big band swing, as well as novelty tunes and his own unique adaptations of light classical pieces.

The audience is always involved with the performance. Whether singing along with "Side by Side" or "You Are My Sunshine," clapping along with "Dueling Banjos" or "12th Street Rag," or requesting their favorite tune from a repertoire of over 3000 songs), his easy manner with the audience and quick wit make Johnny Baier a favorite wherever he performs.

Baier started playing the banjo at the age of 15 in 1971, and began his professional career in Oshkosh, Wisconsin just two weeks after he picked up the banjo for the first time. At that time, the Shakey's Pizza Parlor chain was featuring live piano and banjo music. "Their need for a banjo player outweighed the fact that I was less than a seasoned professional!" Baier commented, adding, "At the time, the piano player was the show, and the banjo player was primarily there for looks. So. I guess I didn't need to be too good!"

Working in this "learn as you earn" situation, Baier took full advantage of the opportunity to grow as both a musician and an entertainer. As a musician, he credits the diversity of music from polkas to jazz that he encountered during this period with opening his eyes to the musical potential of the banjo, and the wide variety of musical styles it is capable of producing. This early influence can be heard in any of his performances to this day.

As an entertainer, Johnny developed a quick sense of what audiences would respond to, and from that time on, made the entertainment of his audience, the primary goal of his performances. Baier relates, "You could be the best musician in the world, but if the audience falls asleep during your show, you have not done your job as an entertainer."

To maintain his personal desire to grow musically, Baier frequently attends banjo related music festivals around the country. At these conventions, Baier represents both the Richelieu Banjo Company of Oregon, WI., and the G H S String Company of Battle Creek, MI., doing concert type programs and promoting their products along with his own solo recordings.

A highlight in Johnny Baier's musical career came in 1983 when he crossed the Canadian border, and was crowned the Canadian National Champion Banjoist against some of the finest tenor, plectrum and five-string banjo players in North America.

As a result of that success, the Sara Lee Corporation approached Baier in 1985 with an offer to travel the United States as a musical goodwill ambassador. As part of a troupe of six musicians, performing at trade shows, conventions, parades, fairs and grand openings, he traveled for three years, performing in 46 states, while covering over 150,000 land and air miles per year.

That extensive travel created the urge to stay in one place. Orlando, Florida offered just the performing environment and opportunities that Baier was looking for, commenting, "Orlando is a full of people who are on vacation and looking for a fun place to be.. .and Rosie O'Grady's is a fun place to be.. .a perfect match! Since 1988, Johnny Baier has given over 10,000 solo matinee performances at Rosie O'Grady's.

Doing daytime shows at Rosie O'Grady's opens the opportunity to do a wide variety of performing in the active night life that Central Florida offers. Baier performs extensively for the Walt Disney World Resort at a variety of its theme park, hotel, night club and dinner show venues. Recently, while working for Disney, he had the exciting opportunity of opening the show for the famed singer Natalie Cole.

Additionally, Johnny Baier is in demand as an after dinner attraction at corporate functions and conventions, and can be seen regularly performing for the numerous mobile-home parks and condominium associations that abound in Florida.

Keeping busy in the recording studio, Johnny has four solo albums to his credit. He is also a featured guest artist on numerous jazz and swing band recordings.

A further extension of Baier's performing career came in 1995 when he was asked to become the editor of the Fretted Instrument Guild of America (FIGA) Magazine. FIGA is a non-profit, internationally recognized, musical organization. Baier feels that editing the FIGA Magazine is a perfect way to combine his musical background with his interest and education in journalism.

Johnny Baier considers himself very fortunate, stating, "I make my living doing something I love to do! How many people can say that?"

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Johnny Baier
5342 Deer Creek Drive Orlando, FL 32821
Phone/Fax 407-239-1791

Jim Coston

Jim Coston is a tenor banjoist/ cabaret performer who has been featured on over 50 different cruise ships around the world since 1981. In addition to the cruise circuit, Jim has performed extensively around the USA in Nightclubs, Theaters, Conventions as well as radio & TV appearences. With a show that features musical styles from Dixieland to Classical to Broadway (with a little Bluegrass thrown in for good measure), Jim brings a toe tapping evening of hard driving banjo solos and homespun humor to audiences everywhere. Currently, Jim has three complete shows of approximately 45 minutes in length - Two are Banjo Cabaret shows while the third is a New Orleans Jazz Show.

Additionally, Jim works with his own dixieland band The Crescent City Goodtime Jazz Band in New Orleans and as a half of a duo with one of the finest ragtime pianists in the world today -Paul Pappas. Jim & Company are available for conventions, private functions, nightclubs, theatres, cruise ships and touring shows.

A published author, songwriter and actor, Jim resides in the historic French Quarter of New Orleans, La. when not on tour. Jim has been a member of FIGA (The Fretted Instrument Guild of America) since 1987. Since 1991, Jim has exclusively played the Richelieu Golden Eagle Banjo
-visit their website for the finest instruments!

For complete credits and booking information,
visit my website.

Jackie Lynn MacCoy

When Jackie was six years old, her father introduced her to a very special man, "The Banjo King," Eddie Peabody. Jackie's dad, Jack, was an accomplished strummer with a passion for the instrument. After seeing Eddie slide across the stage at the Roostertail Supper Club in Detroit, Michigan, Jackie knew she wanted to take Eddie's advice: "Just get a banjo and get going !!"

By age eleven, Jackie was performing in talent shows playing solos on "Runnin1 Wild," "You're Nobody's Sweetheart Now," and "Bye Bye Blues." Gifted with the ability to play songs "by ear," her love for the instrument continued to grow during her teenage years. "Everybody was into rock and roll , and I was still into..........you guessed it......Eddie Peabody music !"

In 1980, Jackie walked away from a full golf scholarship at the

University of Cincinnati to pursue a career in show business. She teamed up with Los Angeles comic/musician Dick Gold. The two performed as a "show duo" in California, Nevada, and Florida. The following year, Jackie made the big time as Guest Entertainer aboard the famous cruise ship, The Love Boat. She sang, danced, and played banjo in her own cabaret shows, as well as in the ship's full-scale productions. Hollywood legend Red Buttons and "Laugh In" star Artie Johnson were among the talented celebrities Jackie had the opportunity to work with.

After returning home to Cincinnati, Ohio, Jackie continued to perform aboard riverboats (often with her father) and for many venues and events throughout the Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana area. She built a "banjo playing business" that would allow her to continue entertaining, while staying close to her family.....and the golf course. (A seven-handicapper, she has dozens of championship titles to her credit.)

Today, Jackie Lynn and her Richelieu plectrum banjo ("Ricky Lu") are going strong. She has contributed articles to "All Frets (FIGA) Magazine" about her early years traveling to see Eddie Peabody perform, and about her career as a professional player and singer in Cincinnati. Jackie plays approximately 300 shows each year. "I cover many styles of music— swingy tunes from the twenties and thirties, the Gay 90s, riverboat tunes, beautiful ballads, patriotic and sacred music, country hits, sing alongs, Latin tunes, and of course....a few HOT banjo numbers. My audiences even have me playing "The Chicken Dance" now!!!"

Her program is also often a family affair, featuring her talented husband, singer Dave MacCoy, and their beautiful ten year old daughter Kelly, an award-winning jazz and tap dancer.

Known as "The Plectrum Blonde," Jackie Lynn MacCoy will delight you with her girl-next-door charm, crackerjack wit, and toe-tappin' banjo music.

To contact Jackie, please write to her at 5121 Kugler Mill Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45236

Don Van Palta

This evening's show features "The Flying Dutchman", Don Van Palta. Don was born in Then Hague, Holland. By the time he was seven he was already strumming a little ukulele. At the end of World War II some English movies came to the local theater featuring a British banjo ukulele player, George Formby. Don became facinated with the instrument but couldn't obtain a banjo until a year later when the family moved to the United States.

By 1955 Don became the first banjo player to play at the original Shakey's Pizza Parlor at 57th and Jay streets in Sacramento, California. By 1960 Don became a member of the wacky, raucous Mickie Finn Band in San Diego. In 1966 "The Mickie Finn Show" with Don as featured banjoist was a popular NBC Television show. He went on to perform in Las Veges, Reno and Lake Tahoe casinos, along with the leading night clubs, resort hotels, dinner theaters and cruise ships. He is often referred to as the "Victor Borge" of the banjo. So if you like that good old fashioned music and a bit of humor, be sure to catch Don's act.

If you are looking for instruction on Plectrum
please contact Don Van Palta at
www.plectrumbanjolessons.com