I stepped into Back Country Bar-B-Q Saturday for lunch and accidentally wandered into another era – the Dallas Banjo Band was serenading diners with a live performance. Formed in 1989 by Smokey Montgomery, who played with Bob Wills’ Texas Swing Band and was part of the Light Crust Doughboys in the 30s and 40s, the band is comprised of members aged 14 to 92.
Lake Highlands resident Harold Poole led the group and emceed the show (he’s well-known to many as husband of Joan, the first female president of the LH Exchange Club), and he kept the music coming with crowd-pleasers like Yellow Rose of Texas, Up Against the Wall, and The Eyes of Texas (he did give props to Johnny Manziel Aggie football fans).
Sadly, one member had to miss the show, Harold quipped. He fell in the shower. His wife was okay, though. Badumbump.
The Dallas Banjo Band performs all over town, but their regular gig is the first Saturday of the month at Back Country from 11am to 12 noon. It began when they had to ask the guys at Back Country for a place to rehearse. They had formerly used Summit Burnett Studios, located on Twin Hills off Greenville Avenue and host to many famous artists and classic recordings,. (The Rolling Stones and James Brown recorded there, even the Bugs Bunny theme song was recorded there.) When Summit Burnett closed for remodeling, nearby Back Country agreed to let the band come in each Saturday at 9am to practice and play once a month for patrons. They guys enjoyed it, and they never went back.
At Saturday’s show, they invited the crowd to come out to lunch the first Saturday in February.
“We think of it as Senior Date Night,” joked Poole of the band, average age about 70. “Especially since we don’t drive at night.”