Special banjo.com Events Page (updated September 14)

 

banjo.com and the Atlanta Braves present:

 A Tribute To Earl Scruggs

A Guinness World Record-Setting Event for Banjo Players!

Photos: (click one name) rehearsal, field center, field left, field right, rejoicing

Atlanta Braves photos: http://www.mlb.com/atl/photogallery/year_2006/month_09/day_16/cf1665944.html

In spite of the bad weather early on Wednesday, 240 banjo players traveled to Turner Field in Atlanta to participate in the Tribute to Earl Scruggs event, hosted by banjo.com and the Atlanta Braves.  They stopped by the registration table to sign in, pick up commemorative T-shirts, and get a ticket for the door prizes.  We moved to the Right Field Patio under a huge tent for rehearsals and for jam sessions.  The Cedar Hill bluegrass band began performing at the Fan Plaza area, greeting baseball fans as they entered the park.  By early afternoon the skies had cleared, paving the way for magical evening. 

Around 5:30, while we rehearsed, Earl Scruggs and his son Gary, along with friends, arrived in a beautifully apportioned tour bus, provided by the Gibson Musical Instrument Company.  We cheered for Mr. Scruggs as he entered the stadium on a Braves' golf cart, and he acknowledged us with a big smile and a wave.  He's a humble man; I don't think he was expecting such a warm welcome from so large a crowd!  While he made his way to a private suite provided by the Atlanta Braves, we continued to rehearse in small groups, change strings, hunt for Finger-Ease, tune and retune, and just visit with each other.  Players came from all over.  One traveled all the way from Japan!

Around 6:45 we walked down the Hank Aaron tunnel and got in position to take the field.  We had a challenge in keeping our instruments quiet while the Braves' staff shouted directions.  They had to shout because there were so many of us, spread out so far.  When we walked out onto the field, I was overwhelmed by the sheer numbers, a virtual sea of banjo players.  We split into two groups, one on each side of home plate.

Within minutes, the Braves' announcer began talking about Earl Scruggs and his contribution to bluegrass music, and then showed a 2-minute video of his life on the giant Braves' scoreboard, provided by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.  About mid-way through the video, a camera zoomed in on Mr. Scruggs at his seat, and nearly the entire stadium erupted in applause, delighted to know that he was there in attendance.  Mr. Scruggs smiled and waved, taking it all in gratefully.

The Cedar Hill band was the core group to kick off Foggy Mountain Breakdown, providing a bass beat.  Charles R. Jackson, band director at Dodgen Middle School in Marietta, conducted.  The scoreboard started the clock at 5 minutes, and the announcer would interject on each minute, "only 4 minutes to go to set a world record!" and so on.  By Guinness rules, we're not allowed to improvise, but to liven up the song for the crowd, breaks were played by Jim Adkins, Elizabeth Long and Greg Earnest.  When the clock ran out and we'd passed the 5-minute mark, we hit the last note and shouted with joy.  Many were shouting, "Earl!  Earl!  Earl!"  What an honor it was to perform for a huge audience at Turner Field, in front of Earl Scruggs!

Afterwards, we distributed personalized certificates of participation to attendees, and handed out door prizes from string sets to banjos.  The Braves' staff thanked all of us for making it a magical night at Turner Field.

We owe a special thanks to the Jim Adkins and Brad Laird for generating the idea for this event, to Jim for his tireless efforts at organizing the event down to the smallest detail, to the Atlanta Braves staff for their amazing hospitality, to Alan Stoker at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and to Earl Scruggs and his son Gary for traveling from Nashville to attend the event.

Door prizes were awarded to a few fortunate attendees.  Thanks to our suppliers, listed in alphabetical order:

Three video cameras followed us around, coordinated by Joe Leonard of VidSouth.  He is now compiling and editing the footage into a 45-minute presentation, with music background.  Once it's complete, we'll make it available at our cost (hopefully around $5.00).  We'll submit this to our friends at Guinness, along with the required documentation.

Thanks to all for attending, and we wish you all the best!

John & Amy Drummond

Barry Collins

Meg Colclasure

 

Guinness World Records Information

Guinness has categorized this event as a “Largest Musical Instrument Ensemble”.  Their guidelines state:

This record is for an ensemble consisting of the most players of one particular instrument, properly conducted under concert conditions. (Free or open-air recitals are acceptable.)

1.                   All members of the ensemble should be proficient musicians and they must be directed by someone who signals the beginning and end of the attempt.

2.                   A formal registration process should take place. The number of musicians is confirmed by individuals signing their own names once only on a form witnessed by two independent persons. No ‘ditto’ marks accepted.

3.                   As full a recital as possible should be given to be directly comparable with the original record but, if this is not practicable, a recognized orchestral piece of music lasting at least five minutes should be performed, with all musicians played at some stage during the recital.

4.                   If a non-classical piece is to be played, it should be re-scored for the performance.  If a choir is used, the number of members should be given, but this will not count toward the record.

5.                   Improvisation is not permitted.

6.                   The name of the organization, company or person(s) organizing the attempt should be given along with the date and place.