A Bit of Banjo History
by Cordelia Tremont
Typically when you think of banjo music, you think of Dixie, Country,and of course, the Blues. Banjo and the Blues have a very strong connection but the interesting thing is that the type of Blues played is influenced by various areas of the country. Each offers a unique soundeven though it all comes from the same instrument. The banjo is a veryspecial instrument that creates a sound like none other.
Both the banjo and fiddle have been popular instruments in the African American culture stretching out close to 300 years. Since the early part of the 18th century, both whites and blacks have been playing the banjo, interchanging styles and the love for this instrument. Then in the late 1800s and even into the early 1900s, you would find a number of different style performances, specifically changing from one region to another. For example, the style of banjo playing found in the Mississippi Delta is much different from the style heard in the Virginia Piedmont.
Black musicians had a major influence on banjo tunes and style beginning in the late 1800s. One famous player was Gus Cannon, also known as ?Banjo Joe?. He was often joined by Blind Blake. Banjo Joe made recordings for Paramount Records in 1927 that made his ?frailing?, slide style, and rolling patterns famous.
These days you hear banjos in all types of music including square dance, swing, bluegrass, and others. The older music of the early 19th century was more down-home. It's reminiscent of close friends getting together to jam. The older music was more colorful with unusual beats and rhythm. Today, we still enjoy the banjo, but in general the sound is stiffer. Enthusiasts still miss Allen Shelton and some other old time players who really let it rip!
Cordelia Tremont is the webmaster and operator of Red Banjo, a web site which focuses on the banjo and other musical instruments. For more information, go to: http://www.redbanjo.com Get your own completely unique content version of this article.
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