@jazz31162 The banjo's body traces its origin to West Africa and the fingerboard to different Latin stringed instruments, related to the lute and the guitar. The guitar comes from a Spanish version of the Arabic lute 'oud'. Of course, one can trace the origin of the oud, and its origin and its origin's origin and sooner or later you find that most stringed instruments, from the cello to the ukelele and to the symphonic harp, have common origins.
@jazz31162 Umm...that's an odd statement. How do you know that wasn't just his style? Or the way that a few 'blacks' played(as opposed to all of them, as your statement implies)? Did Jimi Hendrix typify the way that 'blacks' played electric guitar? No problem...it just seems an odd comment...
@Khalilullah Well I've read in books about the roots of the banjo when it was brought to America by the slaves from Africa. Clawhammer originally played on the Akonting which Bela Fleck thinks is the original banjo. The banjo was played by slaves on southern plantations in 18th and 19th Century. It all about roots music for me.
@jazz31162 So...what about the original guitar? Violin? Erhu? Baglama? Oboe? Qanun? Or is it only the Banjo that you take back to the original instrument? :) Every instrument comes from some other instrument...it's funny how people only talk about the banjo that way. anyway, this is a cool video. Youtube is cool.
This is my uncle.. Lucious I only met him once in the 1970's. Thank you for posting this I have been looking for videos and information on him. He would be so honored.
wow its great to see a video of this man. Ive listened to his lomax recordings from the album Black Appalachia for many years. I didnt know he was filmed.
@busessuck1 its not out of tune its in a minstrel type tuning , who is anyone to say someones banjos out of tune , they tune it to how they feel at the momment and what sounds best to accompany the song , theres tons of accepted banjos tunings widely used in folk music for this exact reason
What brand of banjo is he playing? Is that a SS Stewart Banjo?
jazz31162 2 months ago
@jazz31162 Framus made in germany banjo
RugbyDemon6789 2 months ago
I agree this is a cool video. I also heard the guitar also came from Africa.
jazz31162 3 months ago
@jazz31162 The banjo's body traces its origin to West Africa and the fingerboard to different Latin stringed instruments, related to the lute and the guitar. The guitar comes from a Spanish version of the Arabic lute 'oud'. Of course, one can trace the origin of the oud, and its origin and its origin's origin and sooner or later you find that most stringed instruments, from the cello to the ukelele and to the symphonic harp, have common origins.
Rasbiff 3 months ago
Hold on to that video. It looks rare. I like how southern blacks played banjo.
jazz31162 4 months ago
@jazz31162 Umm...that's an odd statement. How do you know that wasn't just his style? Or the way that a few 'blacks' played(as opposed to all of them, as your statement implies)? Did Jimi Hendrix typify the way that 'blacks' played electric guitar? No problem...it just seems an odd comment...
Khalilullah 3 months ago
Comment removed
jazz31162 3 months ago
@Khalilullah Well I've read in books about the roots of the banjo when it was brought to America by the slaves from Africa. Clawhammer originally played on the Akonting which Bela Fleck thinks is the original banjo. The banjo was played by slaves on southern plantations in 18th and 19th Century. It all about roots music for me.
jazz31162 3 months ago
@jazz31162 So...what about the original guitar? Violin? Erhu? Baglama? Oboe? Qanun? Or is it only the Banjo that you take back to the original instrument? :) Every instrument comes from some other instrument...it's funny how people only talk about the banjo that way. anyway, this is a cool video. Youtube is cool.
Khalilullah 3 months ago
This is my uncle.. Lucious I only met him once in the 1970's. Thank you for posting this I have been looking for videos and information on him. He would be so honored.
jeffmiguel 4 months ago 2
This is awsome. These African American Banjo Players are very rare. You just don't heart about them all the time.
jazz31162 5 months ago
wow its great to see a video of this man. Ive listened to his lomax recordings from the album Black Appalachia for many years. I didnt know he was filmed.
bostonteabagger71739 1 year ago
Interesting sound, great song, great artist. He kinda creeps me out though.
MFSTEWART1 1 year ago
@MFSTEWART1 indeed interesting and yea they should call it "horror blues" :p
dhaeze 11 months ago
@dhaeze it's an old guy playing an out of tune banjo on cheap, dark tinted film
... jim jackson does this as Old Dog Blue - I don't think you'll find that version so "terrifying"
busessuck1 5 months ago
@busessuck1 aah indeed there are some resemblances
dhaeze 5 months ago
@busessuck1 its not out of tune its in a minstrel type tuning , who is anyone to say someones banjos out of tune , they tune it to how they feel at the momment and what sounds best to accompany the song , theres tons of accepted banjos tunings widely used in folk music for this exact reason
RugbyDemon6789 3 months ago
@RugbyDemon6789
If it sounds right, it's right.
inyobill 3 weeks ago