Ben Perea, 5-time New Mexico state banjo champion (until he was told he had to start being a judge!), is a musician extraordinaire. Whether he’s playing banjo or guitar, Ben never misses a beat (and rarely a note!). He started playing banjo at 16 and joined the band before he was old enough to be in establishments requiring IDs at the front entrance. Luckily, the band came in from the back door! Now the band director at Valley High School in Albuquerque, Ben also owns the New Mexico Academy of Driving, teaching beginners how to “keep ‘er ‘tween the ditches.” Ben swears he never talks on his cell phone while driving! Born in the banjo mecca of Estancia, NM, he now lives in ABQ.
The Watermelon Mountain Jug Band has been entertaining audiences, young and old, since 1975. True to the original 1920’s jug bands of the South, our music comes alive with washboard, jug, kazoo, washtub bass, spoons, guitar and banjo. The band delights audiences with jug band, ragtime, country and bluegrass music with some rock ’n roll or a Spanish ranchera added for spice. Ben might even play a classical music piece. Performances have included appearances at the KIMO Theater, Rio Grande Zoo, Albuquerque Bio Park, Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Festival, Placitas Artists Series, and with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra. We also play for national and international conferences, weddings, private parties, school and community events. Our latest CD, “Old Dog New Tricks,” was released in 2004.
Members of The Watermelon Mountain Jug Band are professionals on stage as well as off. Gary Oleson (washtub bass) is a retired math teacher from Los Lunas High School. Five-time New Mexico banjo champion Ben Perea (banjo, guitar) is the band director at Valley High School in Albuquerque. JoAnn Sartorius (vocals, kazoo, spoons, jug) works with youth in Santa Fe as a social worker and counselor. Pat Houlihan (vocals, guitar, jaw harp) is a professor of English at the Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute. Barbara Piper (washboard, high-hat, percussion) is a behavior consultant for the Albuquerque Public Schools and an independent educational consultant.
The Watermelon Mountain Jug Band has been recognized as “one of New Mexico’s treasured natural resources”…“a truly unique mixture of music, mirth and pure entertainment”…“totally irresistible.” So sing along! Grab a kazoo and enjoy! It’s just too much fun to miss!
Please visit the Watermelon Mountain Jug Band web site
The Watermelon Mountain Jug Band