More BMGs added to the John Field Memorial Library

[thereallyniceman]

I would like to thank Keith and Malcolm Adams who are the sons of banjo player Leonard Harry Adams who played in numerous UK dance bands during the 1920's and 1930's.

Keith contacted me to ask if I would be interesting in sharing old BMG magazines and music scores, that had remained in the loft since the death of his father, on our website. 

Leonard Harry Adams playing his banjo surrounded with various business cards associated with his band. He was born 8 March 1905 and died 27th June 1983. 

He played with the Aeolian Dance band but was involved with organising dances for the Young Liberals in Peckham. His banjo is a Slingerland May Bell Banjo  (Made in USA)

L. H. Adams was a supporter of the BMG and gained Grade A examination qualifications through them!  Look at the names on the certificate of who issued the banjo qualifications... you may recognise a few :-)

I received a pile of published scores, tutors, BMG magazines and general banjo ephemera for which I would, again, like to thank Keith and Malcolm.

I have added the following BMG's from the 1920's and will be scanning and adding music scores to the MUSIC LIBRARY as time allows.

All these are fully searchable Adobe PDF files.... enjoy!

[Joel Hooks]

This is great Ian!

This nails down the introduction of the Professional (banjo model and tailpiece) to 1921 or likely 1922.  Hopefully we can continue to fill in the catalog of issues as this is an important body of work for current and future generations to have access to.  

[carrie horgan]

This is great, thank you Ian.  I love looking at the old BMG's - they are a treasure-trove.

[Rob MacKillop]

Superb! It’s such a pity the new BMG has recently died a death.

[Joel Hooks]

What happened to the new Clifford Essex and their version of the BMG?

I wrote to Clem some time ago asking if I still had a subscription and never head back (I also asked to buy a Spanish Guitar book that they publish but wanted to know if it was cluttered up with tabs). 

I've seen posts from other people trying to get strings, etc., and having trouble.  I hope everything is okay.

Rob MacKillop said:

Superb! It’s such a pity the new BMG has recently died a death.

[Rob MacKillop]

Joel, Clem is not well - it's not for me to disclose any details - and as a consequence he has called a halt to any further editions of BMG. If someone wants to take it on, however, he would like to hear from them. 

Things have not be right there for a while. They put a big photo of me on the cover (enough to kill off any magazine!) yet all it said inside was that there would be an interview with me in the following edition. But no one ever interviewed me. As I never approached them for an interview, I've just looked on the whole thing as a little bewildering. 

It would be a great loss if it disappeared forever. 

[Richard William Ineson]

I sent  Clem my 'From a Bath Chair' article  for the summer issue as usual but I received a letter dated 7th Jul 2021, from Clem saying that he could no longer edit the B.M.G. magazine because of ill health. He also said that if he manages to find somebody to take over the editorship of the magazine, he would recommence publication of the magazine and would notify all of the subscribers. A sad day for the banjo, let us hope that someone keeps it going, as Frank Lawes might have said.

Rob MacKillop said:

Joel, Clem is not well - it's not for me to disclose any details - and as a consequence he has called a halt to any further editions of BMG. If someone wants to take it on, however, he would like to hear from them. 

Things have not be right there for a while. They put a big photo of me on the cover (enough to kill off any magazine!) yet all it said inside was that there would be an interview with me in the following edition. But no one ever interviewed me. As I never approached them for an interview, I've just looked on the whole thing as a little bewildering. 

It would be a great loss if it disappeared forever. 

[Rob MacKillop]

Any contenders out there? I think it needs someone younger, as it’s looking somewhat dated. I’m too old, too busy, and not qualified. I’d hate to see it die. Someone young like Ian, perhaps...

[Richard William Ineson]

You're right Rob, it's time for the younger end to step in, I seem to remember quite a few up and coming young banjo players knocking around at one time, I wonder what happened to them all? Personally speaking, I'm far too old to do anything much any more, I can't even remember where my banjo is at present so editing a magazine is out of the question. 

Rob MacKillop said:

Any contenders out there? I think it needs someone younger, as it’s looking somewhat dated. I’m too old, too busy, and not qualified. I’d hate to see it die. Someone young like Ian, perhaps...

[Pär Engstrand]

I might be considered young regarding this sublect, at the tender age of 46....But I have too much on my plate already and I have absolutely no qualification. And I live in the wrong country....

[Rob MacKillop]

Having no qualifications evidently doesn't stop people getting jobs, though, Pär...In fact, it seems quite common!

[Pär Engstrand]

Yes! Sadly, you guys in the UK had to learn that the hard way... :-(

[Rob MacKillop]

Scotland never voted for Brexit or for Boris! Yet here we are...I’ll say no more!