St. Louis Banjo Club
The St Louis Banjo Club currently has 50 members encompassing ages from 16 to a young 90. As many as twenty players show up on the fourth Thursday of each month to play music, mostly from the early 1900s, also known fondly as the songs from “Tin Pan Alley." The Club members strive to keep this music alive and well for many years to come.
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We really appreciate the support of our audiences and encourage you to sing-a-long to the songs. The lyrics to those songs are projected on the wall, not unlike the old “Shakey Pizza” days.
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Everyone who plays a four-string banjo is welcome to become a member. If you are new to the banjo, you will find a group of people who will help you learn and improve your banjo skills.
Meet a Few Members
Louis Meyer, Treasurer
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​Years with St Louis Banjo Club: About 8
Years playing Banjo: About 18
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I began playing the banjo at the age of seven after Ginny Leutje visited my KinderMusik class and played us a few tunes. I convinced my mom to get in touch with her to see if she would teach me, which led to the formation of one of two youth banjo bands in the country, the STL BandJos.
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This effort was led by Ginny, Don Dempsey, and Joe Feager who taught banjo to roughly 50 kids throughout the life of the group. Upon going to college in 2019, the BandJos decided to formally disband, as many of us were getting older and have other growing commitments, though a few of us still play regularly.
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It was at this time that I began regularly playing with the SLBC instead. After a few years of playing, I decided I could help out as treasurer and have been doing so ever since. Put simply, I enjoy the club for two primary reasons: the music and the people. It is great fun to play music that many people my age never get exposure to, and alongside people who have been in my life since I was a small child.
Joe Pyatek, President
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The Coral Mummers String Band was my introduction to the tenor banjo at age 13 after losing interest in guitar lessons. The lively rhythms, mix of instruments with glockenspiel as principal melody, saxophones, accordions, drums, and banjos along with themed music and costumes proved to be great fun marching in the Philadelphia New Years Mummers parades, the Miss America Pageant parades among many others bringing smiles to so many along the routes.
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Much of the music was of Tin Pan Alley origin as is that in the St. Louis Banjo Club song book. A career move brought me to St. Louis. In 1994, an article about the banjo club appeared in the Suburban Journal with a phone number. I called, I went, it fit, and I’m still with it enjoying the music and the smiles it brings to audiences.
Joe Feager, Music Director
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While briefly a member of the club back in the ’70’s I have been back since 2003. With a hiatus or two I have been playing the banjo for 60 years. My Dad played the banjo and we had a little “family” band basically doing the same songs that we enjoy now. I enjoy the old Tin Pan Alley music and Ragtime.
Joining the club gave me an outlet for the music that I like. It’s been fun meeting new people that like the same material. There is always an aspiration from someone to attempt something new. It’s been an enjoyable journey finding songs that I like and how to interpret them on my banjo. Some days, though, are more filled with potholes than smooth roads.
Richard Tralles, Member
I've been a member of the St Louis banjo club for around 8 years. I'm 69 years old and I grew up in the '60s loving the Beatles and Elvis and later the Rock of Jimi Hendrix etc. then I got more to Roots music such as Hank Williams honky tonk Western swing early swing such as Django Reinhardt and Charlie Christian.
All along I was playing guitar. The early jazz got me into learning many chords on the guitar. I played in some swing groups then I became familiar with traditional jazz and I met people playing the banjo as a rhythm instrument and I thought to myself I could play that rhythm. I love the drive of the rhythm of the banjo, but I didn't want to learn a different fingering so I got a six string banjo guitar and the St Louis banjo Club welcomed me in.
People play a variety of banjos in the banjo Club and all are welcome. They usually have a tuba, piano, clarinet, etc. to augment the army of banjo players at each performance. Some of the local traditional jazz players in St Louis told me about the St Louis banjo Club so I got a 6-string banjo and joined. Not only do I get great fellowship and friendship with all the people men and women in the club but we all share a diverse background which of course is very interesting. And playing from the banjo book always teaches me new songs from way back when and reinforces the songs I already know.