One of the more unusual lineups to benefit a charity this year has to be the night billed as “Steve Martin’s Big Bad Banjo and a conversation with Dave Barry.” It’s happening May 11 at L.A. Live’s Club Nokia, and it benefits the Los Angeles Public Library.
Steve Martin fans already know the comedian/actor/author’s history with the banjo. Any one who caught one of Martin’s early appearances on TV during the ‘70s is sure to remember the image of the comedian wearing bunny ears or an arrow-through-the-head novelty gag while playing the instrument.
Martin’s banjo playing kind of took a backseat during years of movies, books and more movies. That is, until he played second banjo on Earl Scruggs’ Grammy-winning recording of “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” in 2001, holding his own against country stars like Vince Gill and Marty Stuart.
Martin will perform songs from his hit bluegrass album, The Crow: New Songs For The Five-String Banjo. Playing with Martin will be the Steep Canyon Rangers as well as the CD’s producer, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band founder John McEuen.
“I am very excited to raise money for the Los Angeles Public Library and plan to try to keep it all,” Martin said.
But that’s only half of the show. Humor author Dave Barry, the inspiration for‘90s CBS sitcom “Dave’s World,” also appears. Barry is a musician in his own right and plays bass for the literary music group known as the Rock Bottom Remainders.
“In today’s economy, we need to support our public libraries. And when you say ‘public library,’ the phrase that immediately comes to mind is ‘banjo music,’” Barry said. “So I’m really looking forward to asking Steve Martin probing questions about his new album, such as: ‘WHY?’”
The evening will be presented by The Library Foundation of Los Angeles and it launches the organization’s “ALOUD at L.A. Live” series. Tickets go on sale April 24 and range from $25 to $250.
Please click here for Steve Martin’s Web site.
Please click here for Dave Barry’s Web site.
Please click here for the Los Angeles Public Library Web site.
One more for you. Please click here for the L.A. Live Web site.