[Dixielandjazz] Gil Roberts (was Stan McDonald - Dave Radlauer)

[Bill Haesler]

FLECKNELL RICHARD wrote [in part]:
> The banjoist Gil Roberts is heard in a snippet - this appears to be Gilbert
> Roberts who recorded with The Blue Ribbon Syncopators.
> Perhaps Bill H can help here.

Dear Richard,
Welcome back.
I believe that the two Gilbert Roberts are the same person.
Here is a mini-biography based on several sources:

Robert 'Gil' Roberts (1896-2002). Banjo/guitar. Member of the Buffalo-based Blue Ribbon Syncopators (1924-28), allegedly played with Louis Armstrong (no recordings) and accompanied singer/dancer Josephine Baker. Recorded with the New Black Eagle Jazz Band (1974) and Blue Horizon Jazz Band. Member of a longstanding Amherst family of African-American and Native-American (Montauk) ancestry.

He was no slouch as a musician either.
Listen to "Scratch" by The Blue Ribbon Syncopators recorded for Columbia in New York on 29 April 1927. 
   http://redhotjazz.com/Songs/blueribbon/Scratch.ram
I loved the band from the minute I heard it on an early Historical LP back in the i960s.
Very kind regards,
Bill.