First off, a few small housekeeping items:

1) Yesterday was the anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death. Can’t believe I dropped the ball on that one. I’ll have a heck of a time getting flowers out today…
2) In my “nobody asked but here I go anyway” Neville Brothers concert review the other day, I had a small typo. What makes it really embarrassing is that it was in a sentence where I was boasting of my vast musical knowledge, and I inadvertently called Bob Marley’s “One Love” the entirely wrong “One Life”. I am humbled…
3) I thought I had seen Brother Jake Edwards in a crowd yesterday, during intermission at one of the recent concerts my wife and I attended. Bro Jake has been hosting rock radio shows in major Canadian cities for as many years as Bob Barker has been hosting The Price Is Right, so it is probably unlikely he was attending the same Air Supply concert that we were…

So, many of you out there may know Steve Martin as a comedian and actor, but how many of you knew that he was a self-taught banjo master? I recall seeing him doing comedy bits with his banjo, but he’s really quite serious (as would anyone be, with a banjo) about his craft.

If you Google the words “steve martin banjo”, you’ll end up at a site called CompleatSteve.com, which is not only where I lifted this photo, but it's also where you can find out all other sorts of interesting things about Mr. Martin. Well worth a visit.

There’s also quite an informative Steve Martin banjo essay posted there. Honestly!

Another 70’s comedic lingerer with musical skills is Martin Mull, although he was best known for his skills as a jazz guitarist. I even had the chance to see him perform live back in the day, and I recall him being an excellent performer. I have not yet been lucky enough to see Steve pluck his banjo.

And that’s NOT a euphemism…

Tomorrow, I rekindle my banjo quest, with a red paperclip I hope to trade…

Chow for now!!