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Lowell "Banana" Levinger

2016 Inductee

2016 Inductee

LOWELL "BANANA" LEVINGER

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Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the founding of The Youngbloods, at age 70, Lowell Levinger (aka Banana, from the Youngbloods) is still rocking, playing and singing better than ever. Penning his own originals, Banana incorporates Youngbloods favorites as well as gems from his extensive musical roots into his performances with a gutsy, engaging style. Banana is also a well known vintage instrument collector and multi-instrumentalist. He delivers his repertoire while picking the heck out of his unique five-string tenor guitar, breaking out a banjo for occasional accompaniment, or tickling the ivories for just the right mood.

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Drawing on his five decade past, Banana has curated a collection, complete with his new arrangements of favorite Youngblood classics, for a dynamic release in the fall of 2015. Guests on the album include Jesse Colin Young, Ry Cooder, Maria Muldaur, Dan Hicks, David Grisman, Darol Anger, Peter Stampfel, Duke Robillard, Nina Gerber and others. Many old posters and photos are reproduced for the graphically enticing “Collectors Edition” which includes a 20-page booklet.

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Following The Youngbloods final gig in September 1973 after nine memorable years together, Lowell’s musical opportunities stretched his diversity. Not only did Banana tour and record as the sole accompanist to Mimi Fariña for over twenty years, but he worked in bands with Norton Buffalo, Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks, David Grisman, The Barry “The Fish” Melton Band, and Zero, where he played keyboard and sang lead for over ten years. He has performed duo gigs with David Nelson, Keith Little, Freebo, Peter Rowan and many other notable artists, as well as producing and lending his musical prowess on countless recording sessions.

Throughout the years to augment his musical career, Banana has utilized unique talents that are not just musical. A pioneer hang glider pilot, in 1973 he started “Hang Gliders West” in Marin County, and for a decade taught over 5000 people to fly. He cobbled together a bootleg Apple II computer in 1982, and also bought a synthesizer, realized the two of them should be able to talk to each other, and wound up managing the development team at Passport Designs that created Encore, a Mac/Windows software program that converts live Midi performances or Midi files to notation for sheet music, as well as allowing complex editing and input by hand. Since his college days at Boston University circa 1962, he has been collecting, swapping, buying and selling old fretted instruments and maintains a web site called Players Vintage Instruments www.vintageinstruments.com

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