Banana, (real name Lowell Levinger) – the original “Hippie from Olema” was a founder member of the legendary San Francisco Bay area folk rock band The Youngbloods.

GrandpaBanana.com

In February 2012 Grandpa Banana – as he’s now known – is embarking on a U.K solo tour to showcase his new album “Even Grandpas Get The Blues”, which features guest appearances from world class musicians, including the one and only Ry Cooder, Barry “The Fish” Melton – founder member of Woodstock Festival legends Country Joe & The Fish, the Jerry Garcia collaborator David Grisman, and Terry Haggerty – founder member of The Sons of Champlin.

The Youngbloods, with Banana on guitar and electric piano, also featured Jesse Colin Young on vocals and bass. Their first chart single was “Grizzly Bear” in 1967, followed that year by the albums “The Youngbloods”, and “Earth Music”. The album “Elephant Mountain” was released in 1969, with “Rock Festival” and “Ride the Wind” hot on their heels. These were followed by “Good and Dusty” and finally, “High On A Ridgetop”.

The Youngbloods’ classic recording “Get Together” cracked the U.S. top 5, sold over one million copies, and achieved gold record status in 1969.

Banana was initially a bluegrass musician, way back in the early 1960’s, who apart from guitar and piano also plays banjo, mandolin, mandola and bass. His love of the genre is evident on the two High Country albums he produced for Raccoon Records. These albums introduced Californian bluegrass to a nationwide audience.

The Youngbloods disbanded in September 1973, and Banana went on to a solo career, although the band reformed briefly for a club tour in 1984. Banana also released a fine album under the name of “Banana And the Bunch” called “Mid-Mountain Ranch” that can rightfully be considered as a Youngbloods album.

Banana was accompanist to Mimi Farina (the sister of Joan Baez) for over twenty years, and also played keyboards and sang lead vocals with Zero for over 10 years, as well as playing with Norton Buffalo (Steve Miller band etc.) , Steve Kimock and Friends, and Dan Hicks and The Hot Licks.

Grandpa Banana also plays blues on a regular basis with The Michael Barclay Blues Band and 60’s psychedelic rock with The Barry “The Fish” Melton in The Barry Melton Band.

He also plays duo gigs with David Nelson, Keith Little, David Thom, Paul Knight, and many others. He also plays his beloved bluegrass music with friends and neighbours including The Papermill Creek Rounders, David, Tracy and Sam Grisman, The David Thom Band and the legendary Artie Rose.

Banana is playing this free show in Bungay, to celebrate the end of a two week UK tour, before going on to play some gigs in Italy. The reason that he is playing for free in Bungay, is that he loves the town, having visited here many times before.