Johnny Baier

Johnny Baier has been a professional banjoist since 1971 (just two weeks after he picked up the instrument). He is considered one of the world�s most ardent performers on, and promoters of America�s only native musical instruments, the banjo.

He began playing banjo for the sing-a-long crowd at the Shakey�s Pizza Parlor in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. His goal, then as now, is to keep his performances musical and entertaining. As a youngster he absorbed various musical influences from jazz to polka to classics. In addition he received guidance, instruction and inspiration from many great banjo artists from the past. The result is a contemporary banjo artist with a unique sound and style. Baier�s unique touch includes jazz, ragtime, bluegrass, folk, classics, pop and traditional banjo favorites.

An early highlight of his career came in 1983 when he participated in a banjo competition in Ontario, Canada that featured some of the finest banjo players in North America. Baier was named the North American Banjo Champion. That success was followed by his being asked to represent a division of Sara Lee as a musical ambassador. For the next three years he traveled throughout the US performing at trade shows, parades, fairs and special events, logging over 150,000 land and air miles a year.

Baier then decided to settle in Orlando, Florida and in 1988 began performing at the world famous Rosie O�Grady�s at Church Street Station. To date he has given over 15,000 solo performances displaying his masterful musicianship and crowd-pleasing entertainment skills. He can also be seen performing on cruise ships, at community and corporate events, and as featured guest artist at musical festivalsand concert venues throughout the world.

In addition, on the jazz scene he plays both banjo and guitar in clubs, at festivals and concerts, and on recordings with notable classic jazz bands including �Bill Allred�s Classic Jazz Band�, � Allan Vache and the New Delta Steamers�, �Rosie O�Grady�s Goodtime Jazz Band�, �The Bob Crosby Bobcats�, and the �Walt Disney World Rhythm Rascals�. He also leads his own �All Star� Dixieland group.

Baier is the Editor of FIGA Magazine, the official publication of the Fretted Instrument Guild of America, an international non-profit musical organization. He has contracted with Mel Bay Publications to write, publish and distribute two instructional publications for the tenor banjo to a world-wide market. He has existing artist endorsement relationships in place with both Richelieu Banjos and GHS Strings.