What started in 1988 as a small gathering of 12 musicians, the Gulf Coast Banjo Society now includes 58 members, each bringing their own talents to the group. Their mission has remained unchanged though the years: to share music and build connections. Fans can catch them performing weekly on Thursdays at Snook Haven, the historic "fish camp" restaurant in Venice, Florida, from 11am to 1:30 pm, October through May.

For 31 years, Music Director Paul Jacques has been playing bass guitar and guiding the band. Reflecting on the band's evolution, he says, “We’ve grown and we now have more instruments playing with us than ever before. However, we still play the same music we always did–from the '20s all the way up to maybe the '70s and '80s and we still have the same big crowds that come to see us at Snook Haven. I look around at the crowds and I see we're entertaining them, they're having fun and we're having a ball, so we just keep this good thing going!”

While the GCBS operates as a volunteer-driven group, they are deeply committed to giving back. Donations collected during performances help fund uniforms and equipment. Any surplus is donated to nonprofits that support low-income children’s music education and scholarships for aspiring music students. The GCBS is also passionate about honoring veterans. As Jacques shares, “A lot of us are veterans, so we start off our shows with the Star Spangled Banner and we ask anybody that can stand to please stand. Of course we always end with a patriotic song, too.” Last year, the band donated $2,000 to the Honor Flight, an organization that brings veterans to the nation’s memorials for a day of honor.

Through music, camaraderie and a deep commitment to philanthropy, the Gulf Coast Banjo Society enriches lives in their community and beyond. For more information, visit snookhaven.com or follow the GCBS on Facebook.