Category Archives: History

Music history, mostly banjo.

Why is the Banjo so Mysterious?

I must declare here: the banjo is a thoroughly fascinating thing.  Whether playing Bluegrass, Old-Time, Folk, Jazz, or any other genre, it has a certain fascination, even a mystery, about it. And not only in sound, but in looks as … Continue reading

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The Deep Ellum Banjo Man

Back in December of 2009, I travelled to Denton, Texas to watch my oldest daughter Paige graduate from the University of North Texas. We had a grand time there, especially on the Denton County Courthouse square, with all the touristy type stores … Continue reading

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A Bit of Banjo History – Part 2

I did a brief article to summarize the history of the  Banjo a while back – here is the last in this series. The years between about 1910 and 1945 saw a sea-change in society and culture, begun in the … Continue reading

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Connecting to Your Roots

Where do you come from? I don’t mean literally where do you reside, as in your city, state or country. I mean that more nebulous quality that includes how you were raised, what ideals you value and how you relate … Continue reading

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A Bit of Banjo History – Part 1

What do you think of when you imagine a banjo? If you’re like most folks, you usually see a picture of a 5-string banjo being played by a white southern man, perhaps in a rural mountain setting or at a … Continue reading

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