Johnny Baier To Perform For Oshkosh Elks Lodge Dinner Theatre

The Elks Lodge in Oshkosh is proud to announce Johnny Baier, one of the best tenor banjo players in the world, will be entertaining for a very special dinner theatre held on Thursday, September 15th. Cocktails at 5:30, dinner at 6:30. Tickets are available for $35 at Camera Casino in Oshkosh, Festival Foods in Oshkosh, and the Oshkosh Elks Lodge. Call 235-1550 after 3:00 PM to make reservations on your credit card by phone. Limited tickets are available. Proceeds from the event will be used for the many great things the Elks do for the community.

If the name rings a bell, Johnny was one of the featured banjo players at Shakey’s Pizza in Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, and Appleton in the 70’s! Johnny picked up an old Tenor banjo for $25, practiced hard, and in 2 weeks Johnny was playing professionally at Shakey’s back in 1972 when Johnny was a sophomore  at Lourdes Academy in Oshkosh. Johnny developed a passion for the banjo and would practice many hours per day. In just a few months, Johnny had developed into a first class act!

Since he began his career as a professional banjo player, Johnny Baier has been developing an admirable reputation as one of the world’s finest banjo players. The varied musical influences he absorbed as a youngster, and instruction from many great banjo artists of the past, have resulted in a contemporary banjo artist with a unique sound and style. A highlight in his career came in 1983 when, after participating in a banjo competition held in Ontario, Canada that featured some of the finest banjoists in North America, Baier was named the North American Banjo Champion. 

After three years of touring, Baier decided to settle down in Orlando, Florida where, in 1988, he began an incredible run at the world-famous Rosie O’Grady’s in Church Street Station, along with performances at Disney World.  In the years that followed, combining masterful musicianship with crowd pleasing entertainment skills, Johnny performed over 15,000 solo shows. 

In 2000, Baier became the Entertainment Director and featured performer at Rock Crusher Canyon on Florida’s Gulf Coast.  In this position, he produced hundreds of shows including concerts featuring Willie Nelson, Glen Campbell, Three Dog Night, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and many more.  In addition to his own headline performances at RCC, Johnny opened shows for legendary show business notables such as The Kingston Trio, Pat Boone, Mickey Rooney and Roy Clark.

Always ready to take his act “on the road”, Baier has been a headline performer in the showrooms aboard the luxury cruise ships of the Crystal, Silversea, Radisson, Princess and Holland America lines. Another highlight in Johnny’s career came with his partnership with fellow banjo master Buddy Wachter.  Their destined to be historic recording entitled Side By Side received rave reviews from both mainstream music critics and banjo enthusiasts alike, being hailed as “quite possibly the best banjo recording ever!” 

In July of 2015, Johnny shared the stage with Steve Martin, the Kruger Brothers, and George Grove of the Kingston Trio in a gala concert celebrating the Deering Banjo Company’s 40th anniversary. When banjo players gather, they often refer to Johnny Baier as “the best”. 

For more information on the Johnny Baier Dinner Theatre, please call Joe Scheibinger at 920-237-1450 or E-mail backstagelive@gmail.com/