Every Tuesday evening, the eatery on Meridian Avenue draws people from around the Bay Area to enjoy the plucky sounds played by the Peninsula Banjo Band.

"We've been playing at this location for the past 10 years," band member Jim Strickland says. "We practice from 7 to 8 o'clock and perform from 8 to 9. We have a loyal following; most come out every week."

George Khoubiar, who purchased the pizza franchise seven months ago, says he is pleased with the Tuesday-evening crowd.

"Our maximum capacity is 150 people. We usually have standing room only on Tuesday nights," Khoubiar says.

The original band was formed in 1963 and operated under the name Cupertino Banjo Band. As the group's sphere of influenced increased, the name was changed to the Golden Gate Banjo Band and, in 1971, members adopted the name Peninsula Banjo Band. In 1975 the band incorporated into a nonprofit and since that time has donated approximately $170,000 to various Bay Area charities.

"We charge to play at various functions, including private parties, festivals and retirement homes," Strickland says. "Proceeds from these performances are donated to charity."

Strickland says each year the band's board of directors determines which charities will receive the funds. In addition, the band awards scholarships for beginning banjo players to ensure the preservation of banjo music and encourage the development of new players.

Currently the band has 38 members who play music and 16 auxiliary members who help out with the logistics. Band members range in age from the early 30s to early 90s.

Charlie Tagawa, who has been with the group for 38 years, oversees the band's music direction. Recently inducted into the National Four-String Banjo Hall of Fame in Gurthrie, Okla., Tagawa is internationally recognized as one of the world's top banjo players and renowned for his unique way of teaching music.

"I started taking banjo lessons from Charlie in 1977, one month before my eighth birthday," 35-year-old band member Christopher Bracher says. "My parents wanted me to learn an instrument, and my mom had heard about Charlie's success with teaching children. After only five to six months, I was already playing in the junior banjo band."

The Peninsula Banjo Band primarily plays Dixieland music from the 1930s, often considered the instrument's heyday.

"We like to play songs from the 1920s and '30s because of the happy, upbeat sounds," says Strickland, who began taking banjo lessons in 1996 after he retired.

The audience definitely appreciates the music.

"We've been regulars here for about seven years," says Betty Cooper, a faithful follower.

Known by band members as Bouncing Betty, Cooper sits front and center with her husband, Richard, and bobs up and down in time to the fast beat. "We are fans of banjo music, and it's just great fun to come here."

Other listeners like Bill and Johanna Rosenberg happened upon the performance by chance.

"We just moved into the area and stopped in for some pizza," Bill says. "We are having a great time. The crowd is very enthusiastic. You can tell some people have been coming here for years."

The band gets together once a week to practice as a group and is currently preparing for its annual jubilee on Sept. 12 from noon to 5 p.m. at Rickey's Hyatt House Hotel in Palo Alto. The event is a major fundraiser for the band and includes performances by the Sacramento Banjo Band, East Bay Banjo Club, Oakland Banjo All Stars, Don Vappie of New Orleans and Miyoko Onishi of Japan.

"The jubilee features large bands and solo acts," Strickland says. "It's over five hours of music and is great family entertainment."

Straw Hat Pizza is located at 1535 Meridian Ave. The Peninsula Banjo Band plays every Tuesday from 8 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door and $10 in groups of 10 or more. For more information, call Jim Strickland at 408.268.3956 or Norm Horning at 650.851.7223. For information about band bookings, call Christopher Bracher at 408 993.2263.