The East Bay strummers were once again given the opportunity to bring joy to the members of Kensington memory community. Although the crowd was small, many reacted positively to the happy music provided by the East Bay Banjo Club. We look forward to another opportunity to provide exciting entertainment to these folks!
A “Baker’s Dozen” of East Bay banjo strummers entertained our old friends from the Oakmont Senior Center in Concord. We recognized several of the residents from the days we practiced there during the pandemic. They clearly remembered us as the smiles and the enthusiasm prevailed for the entire concert.
Participants included: Phil and Linda Meyer, Yvonne Whitechurch, Zennie Bohn, Bud Pearce, Tom Brunetti, Deb Hodson (Music Director), Don Granberg, Slavka Ruzicka, Diane and Bob Malucelli, Paul Mack, and Chris Doan.
March 19, 2026
By: Deb Hodson
Reutlingers Playout March 19th 2026 The Reutlingers Playout was enjoyed by about 50 residents who sang, danced and marched along with us. The Myers played a few of their favorites, including Hava Nagila and Bei Mir which had the audience singing along. Rabbi Rick was able to join us adding to the fun!! It was a huge success.
There was plenty of pizza, salad, and drinks consumed at our annual party and general meeting to celebrate the holidays and end the year. Elections were held, and Deb Hodson was elected as our new President along with Bob Malucelli as Vice President ,Diane Malucelli as Secretary , Ardie Jarrett as Membership Director , Rich Combs as Music Director, Paul Mack as Event Coordinator, and Chris Doan as Treasurer, for 2026. We sang Christmas Carols, told some jokes, and had a joyous time to bring in the coming year of 2026!
October 9, 2025
By Chris Doan
For the second time in 2025, the East Bay Banjo Club was invited To play at Kensington Center. Rick Winer came in from Fresno to join 11 others at the playout. Rick’s father lives there so was part of a great audience that really perked up and joined in singing many of the familiar tunes Associated with their younger years.
We recently learned of the passing of Betty David (Sept 23, 2025). Betty was a long time member of the East Bay Banjo Club and was very instrumental in transitioning the club after the death of our longtime music director Bill Cooper. Betty musically led the club as both Music Director and lead banjo player for our gigs and rehearsals for several years after Bill’s death in 2013. She kept our music alive for a long time! She will be remembered for her lasting love of both playing and performing with her banjo on stage. Her favorite tune to play was “Here Comes The Showboat”. We will play it, in her memory, at some future events.
September 19, 2025
By Chris Doan
The club was invited to play at the Pleasant Hill Night Market as a result of practicing at Mountain Mike’s pizza. Paul Mack was introduced to the Night Market manager at a Tuesday night practice and arrangements were crafted and agreed to soon thereafter. The pictures were taken during our setup. We shared the “stage” with a rock band (an interesting mix) so we were pleased that the audience responded very enthusiastically to our music.
September 13 and 14
By Bud Pearce
Buddy Wachter sponsored a banjo workshop at the farm of John Green in Fiddletown, CA for anyone interested in Northern California. Two East Bay Banjo Players that attended were Bud Pearce and Tom Brunetti. The workshop was an intense learning experience for all the four string banjo players that attended. This was perhaps a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn from the very best. Although Buddy has been out of the banjo circuit for a while, he remains one of the best known banjo players in the world and a member of the Banjo Hall of Fame!
The East Bay strummers were delighted to have the opportunity to perform for the Pleasant Hill Seniors Center barbecue. This group was perhaps the most enthusiastic we have seen in a long time. They sang, they danced, and reacted joyfully for virtually every song we performed. We received countless thanks and praise at the end of the performance.
Another fun and relaxing experience at Lander’s Landing! Plenty of food, great conversation, and banjo music was had by all. Many thanks to the Landers family for hosting this event every year. Clearly one of the premier events of the year!
July 4, 2025
Author: Bud Pearce
Photographer: Cindy Prevetz
The club was delighted to again participate in the annual 4th of July Parade in Orinda. The weather was great! The crowds were great! And we had fun playing and waving to all that attended this event! A special thanks to our sponsor, “The Tabor Sister City Foundation”, and all those that cheered for us along the parade route!
By Chris Doan
June 22, 2025
Weather was perfect and everyone in attendance was in a party mood!
By Chris Doan
June 11, 2025
On a beautiful June afternoon at an annual ice cream social, 15 EBBC banjo players gathered to entertain the residents of Stoneman Village with our energetic music, with a patriotic emphasis. The pictures do not capture everyone so each is listed starting with Slavka Ruzicka, Rich Combs, Deb Hodson, Tom Brunetti, Bud Pearce, Dorothy Becker, Paul Mack, Don Granberg, Diane and Bob Malucelli, Ardi Jarrett,
Chris Doan, Yvonne Whitechurch, Zennie Bohn, and John Greitzer. We had a great time as did the Stoneman audience!
April 14, 2025
The EBBC performers were delighted to have the opportunity to perform for the Lamorinda Mover Group in Moraga at the Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church. A large group gathered for dinner and to listen to the East Bay Banjo Club perform. The crowd seemed to get more excited as the evening went on. “The Saints Go Marching In” played at the end had them parading around the tables!
Participants included; Don Granberg, Paul Mack, Slavka Ruzicka, Bud Pearce, Chris Comb, Deb Hodson, Deborah Black, Dorothy Becker, Ardie Jarrett, Bob Malucelli, Diane Malucelli, and Tom Brunetti.
April 10, 2025
The East Bay banjo club was delighted to have the opportunity to perform for members of the Kensington Memory Care Group. The audience was very attentive and often reacted positively to our music. We were honored to have Rick Winer, a long-time member of the club, along with his Mom and Dad who participated as members of the performance and audience. The crowd definitely recognized and responded to those old American songs that we played.
Participants included Paul Mack, Slavka Ruzicka, Bud Pearce, Rich Comb (Music Director), Deb Hodson, Zennie Bohn, Yvonne Whitechurch, Dorothy Becker, Ardie Jarret, Diane Malucelli, Bob Malucelli, Tom Brunetti, and Rick Winer.
March 9, 2025
It was time to celebrate Bob Melachelli’s 80th birthday, even though he’d already been that age for several months. A small group of EBBC strummers performed for his invited guest and enjoyed quite a large feast and beverages provided by the Malachelli’s. The group was also entertained by Bob’s ukulele group which is why the outfit of the day was Hawaiian. Fun was had by all!
January 23, 2025
By: Bud Pearce
The East Bay Strummers performed at the Reutlinger Community Center on the second floor this year. In previous years, we were in the main dining area, but this year, we had to reposition to a smaller area on the second floor. Although we were somewhat delayed setting up, we still managed to entertain an enthusiastic group of residents.
The performs from left to right included Rich Comb (Director), Zennie Bohn, Yvonne Whitechurch, Paul Mack (MC), Bud Pearce, Slavka Ruzicka, Phil Myer, Lina Myer, Deb Hodson, (back row left to right) Bob Malucelli, Diane Malucelli, Don Granberg (keyboard), Tom Brunetti, John Greitzer (bass), and Dorothy Becker.
By Chris Doan
December 20, 2024
In its last playout of 2024 on December 20, the East Bay Banjo Club played to a standing room only crowd at The Kensington. The playlist included a mix of our year-round crowd favorites and a medley of Christmas songs. The Kensington audience were not hesitant to join us in song with the old favorites. Paul Mack did the honors as an emcee introducing the club and providing a brief background to each song played.
We were thirteen banjos strong for the playout including, from left to right, Dorothy Becker, Rich Combs (Music Director and Conductor), Ardi Jarrett, Deb Hodson, Chris Doan, Bud Pearce, John Greitzer (Bass), Slavka Ruzicka, Don Granberg (piano, washboard and banjo), Zennie Bohn, Paul Mack (MC), Yvonne Whitchurch and Tom Brunetti.
by Chris Doan
December 10,2024
On December 10, 2024 the Club hosted its annual Christmas Party at Mountain Mike’s Pizza with plenty of salad, pizza and drinks to add energy to the evening. There were a total of nearly 30 in attendance. When the food was gone, we broke out the banjos to play and sing some of our favorite music.
We also conducted a short annual business meeting for the purpose of electing the Club Directors and Leaders for 2025. Paul Mack did a nice job of developing a list of nominations
Our good friends at the Oakmont Senior Center in Concord invited us to perform a concert of good old-fashioned American music in their large, but elegant activity room. It was great returning to this facility that provided us a meeting place during the pandemic. The crowd was very excited to see us again. The standing-room-only crowd enthusiastically received our performance. We are certain we will be back again with some more fun and excitement.
The group, led by Rich Combs included, Dorothy Becker. Don Granberg. Bob Ehrhorn, Zennie Braun, Jack Convery. Chris Doan, Diane Maluchelli, Bob Maluchelli, Paul Mack, Slavka Ruzicka, Ardie Jarrett, and Bud Pearce.
