The History of the Banjo in Appalachia
From researching the history of the banjo, there are facts present as to why the banjo is so popular in Appalachian music. These facts provide broad information about the banjo that can be utilized in making a conclusion as to why the banjo is so prevalent in Appalachian music. These facts include:
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As early as 1847 we have eyewitness accounts of the fiddle and banjo being played together in the South - the origin of the modern string band or bluegrass band. (PBS)
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This early black folk tradition eventually transferred the banjo to whites, especially in the Appalachians. Here, musicians made banjo heads out of groundhog skins and adapted their songs to the instrument's harmonics. This use of natural materials made it easy for the traditionally impoverished Appalachians to make their instruments.
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The "banjo entertainer" emerged in the days of vaudeville and early radio, in which the banjo was used by singers who told jokes, did comic songs, and generally "cut up." The use of the new media in the radio allowed the banjo to gain popularity beyond its Appalachian borders.
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Earl Scruggs perfected a highly syncopated three finger style making the banjo a solo instrument. This three-finger style allowed the banjo to shine and also paved the way for new styles and artists to originate.
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The sound of the Banjo in combination with other string instruments “created a contrasting, not blending, conglomerate, resulting in a sound that is ideal suited to the rhythmic, polyphonic, heterogeneous sound”. This sound contributed to both white and black Appalachian music including blue grass and string bands. With these styles of music becoming increasingly popular early on, the banjo became a staple of bluegrass and string bands.
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Joel Sweeney is known as the first to play the banjo. While this is true however, he probably learned from neighbor’s slaves or the freed slaves in his area as they are the ones who brought the instrument into focus. While this is true it is unknown because the white people who learned how to play gained the attention leaving the original players in the background.
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Once cheese became popular, new methods for building the banjo became popular too. One of these methods included using a cheese hoop to create the body of the Banjo.
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Pictures in respective order:
http://www.hangoutstorage.com/banjohangout.org/storage/photos/medium/19/19066-5253930112010.jpg (accessed on 12/13/2017)
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK_nqnoWl6o (accessed on 12/13/2017)
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joel_Sweeney#/media/File:Joel_Sweeney.jpg
(accessed on 12/13/2017)
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https://thecheesetraveler.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/ch_10.jpg
(accessed on 12/13/2017)
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Background:
(accessed on 12/13/2017)
