All Discussions Tagged 'banjo' - Classic-Banjo2024-03-29T12:15:40Zhttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/forum/topic/listForTag?tag=banjo&feed=yes&xn_auth=noHelp needed to identify mystery banjo playertag:classic-banjo.ning.com,2022-01-01:2667446:Topic:1885062022-01-01T11:09:54.318ZHannah Urquharthttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/profile/HannahUrquhart
<p>Dear forum members,</p>
<p>I have a photograph of my great-grandfather who was a professional musician in the 1890's and played in the Sheffield area. I would very much like to know if anyone recognises him and about the banjo he has in his photo as he's a complete mystery to our family. He may have played in the Travellers Rest pub in Oughtibridge in early 1894 where my great grandmother was living at the time.</p>
<p>Unfortunately I have no name for my great-grandfather and don’t know…</p>
<p>Dear forum members,</p>
<p>I have a photograph of my great-grandfather who was a professional musician in the 1890's and played in the Sheffield area. I would very much like to know if anyone recognises him and about the banjo he has in his photo as he's a complete mystery to our family. He may have played in the Travellers Rest pub in Oughtibridge in early 1894 where my great grandmother was living at the time.</p>
<p>Unfortunately I have no name for my great-grandfather and don’t know anything about him or where he’s from other than the attached photo. I have searched all roads and I think the experts in the Classic-Banjo forum might be the best chance to identify him and his instrument. Thank you very much for your help and Happy New Year 2022, Hannah.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p> Unusual - Possibly 7 String Banjotag:classic-banjo.ning.com,2020-06-03:2667446:Topic:1433992020-06-03T13:48:25.239ZBrett Lowehttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/profile/BrettLowe
<p>Hello Everyone, </p>
<p>I was just browsing through the Trade Me website (New Zealand's equivalent of eBay) and came across what appears to be a 7 string banjo and case. It is in need of repair. Perhaps someone may know more about it. I at least thought some one here might be interested.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I don't think I am in a position to buy this right now (very little work for musicians at present), but I am happy to help if any one is interested and has difficulty purchasing or shipping…</p>
<p>Hello Everyone, </p>
<p>I was just browsing through the Trade Me website (New Zealand's equivalent of eBay) and came across what appears to be a 7 string banjo and case. It is in need of repair. Perhaps someone may know more about it. I at least thought some one here might be interested.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I don't think I am in a position to buy this right now (very little work for musicians at present), but I am happy to help if any one is interested and has difficulty purchasing or shipping on Trade Me. </p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="https://www.trademe.co.nz/music-instruments/instruments/string/other/listing-2645851324.htm">https://www.trademe.co.nz/music-instruments/instruments/string/other/listing-2645851324.htm</a></p>
<p></p>
<p>Regards,</p>
<p>Brett</p> Looking for information and discussion on C.P, Stinson, Hosea Easton, and Vance Lowrytag:classic-banjo.ning.com,2018-08-10:2667446:Topic:1316822018-08-10T14:52:58.194ZTony Thomas MFA Black Banjoisthttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/profile/TonyThomasMFABlackBanjoist
<p> I am at work on a research project on C.P. Stinson, Hosea Easton, and Vance Lowry, three African American banjoists of the late 19th and early 20th century whose careers and lives interlocked. Over the years I have posted here a bit about Stinson's connection with Lowry. I don't think I have ever posted about Easton who unluckily bears the same name of a major 19th Century African American theologian and abolitionist,</p>
<p> Stinson is mentioned in Converse's memoirs…</p>
<p> I am at work on a research project on C.P. Stinson, Hosea Easton, and Vance Lowry, three African American banjoists of the late 19th and early 20th century whose careers and lives interlocked. Over the years I have posted here a bit about Stinson's connection with Lowry. I don't think I have ever posted about Easton who unluckily bears the same name of a major 19th Century African American theologian and abolitionist,</p>
<p> Stinson is mentioned in Converse's memoirs and has a series of clippings on his banjo and mandolin performances that I have found from the 1880s until his death in 1911. Especially by the late 90s he is described in both the general American press and in African American newspapers as an entertainer someone is supposed to know without much explanation. He was a banjoist, mandolinist, and guitarist, BMG teacher, who chiefly lived in Allegeny PA, part of the Pittsburgh area, although he apparently lived in Youngstown Ohio for a few years, and participated in several touring African American companies and minstrel troupes that toured nationally and internationally. By the 20th century he seems to have been involved as a solo vaudeville act on national US circuits. He appeared to have musical training being described as musical director of at least one of the touring companies and of a number of cultural and religious celebrations among Black people in Ohio and Pennsylvania. He gained notoriety in 1893 by being hired by a major Pittsburgh music store as a teacher and instructor, news, especially in Black newspapers of the day,. </p>
<p></p>
<p>Stinson also claimed at one time in his career he manufactured banjos This spring a banjo probably manufactured for Stinson to sell to students or at his performances by Buckbee or a similar manufacturer was found by a banjo enthusiast in Ohio. It is in the process of being donated to the Smithsonian's African American museum.</p>
<p> Easton was born in Hartford CT around 1850-55. He became known as a banjo entertainer in the 60s or 70s though I have not found much information about him in the US. The significant part of Easton's career was in Australia and New Zealand where he resided from 1877 or 76 until his death in 1899 and where he is considered the seminal figure in the banjo world. You can find almost daily notices of his performances in Australian and New Zealand newspapers throughout these years. He functioned as a banjo entertainer, actor and comedian, and mandolinist. He advertised himself as a BMG teacher as well. He and his collaborators seemed to understand the game of writing Stewart from time to time about how wonderful Stewart banjos were and how the local products could not compare!</p>
<p> Lowry was born in Kansas in the 1880s. He one of the stars of the Clef Club concerts in New York before the First World War. He, went to England in 1914 where he starred in the Ciro Club ensemble, and moved to France by 1917. Lowry remained in Paris until 1941 where he became very influential in the development of jazz as a banjoist and saxophonist. He was billed as "King of the banjo" . In the 20s and 30s Lowry collaborated with French poet, librettist, novelist, actor, film director, and painter Jean Cocteau in poetry performances, musical recordings, and film. He continued as a saxophonist and banjo on his return to the US and died in Kansas in 1948.</p>
<p></p>
<p> Lowry's story may illustrate links between five string and tenor banjoists. In 1911 it was announced that Stinson would be launching a major vaudeville act with Lowry who later became known as a tenor banjoist and jazz saxophonist. Stinson died before the new vaudeville season began. Lowry was a known banjo entertainer before the tenor banjo became standardized and at least in one photograph appears to have used a five-string banjo even if the recordings of the group pictured suggest he was playing it as a tenor.</p>
<p> One mystery in all this is what Stinson claimed was an 1887 Kansas City banjo contest that he won. Converse describes as an 1884 banjo challenge between Stinson and Dan Polk in Kansas City during a vaudeville performance which Converse claims Polk won. Converse puts Polk’s victory squarely in Converse's approval of the need of white banjoists to put Stinson in his proper place as an African America. It is not clear whether these are two separate events or one event recalled or inflated differently. What I consider to be Stinson's accounts are what is said in several press clipping that appear to be generated by interviews with Stinson. He seemed to rather consciously work at puffery like most banjo entertainers of his time.</p>
<p> While I welcome responses in this group, I invite you to write me directly on these issues at blackbanjotony@hotmail.com</p>
<p> </p>
<p>banjovially,</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Tony Thomas</p>
<p>West Palm Beach, Florida</p> 120th Anniversary of S.S. Stewart´s deathtag:classic-banjo.ning.com,2018-04-08:2667446:Topic:1288102018-04-08T16:18:16.147ZGerman David Patarroyohttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/profile/GermanDavidPatarroyo
<p>Hi all!,</p>
<p>Long time of my presence here. I have a small project for this 2018: I would like to give a small homage to S.S Stewart, considering this year is the 120th anniversary of his death. Therefore, I am planing to record some tunes of his creation, in the way of a recital (virtual recital, actually).</p>
<p>But, in the process I figured out an idea you might be interested...Why not a orchestral (a virtual one) recording of these tunes?, just as the meetings of the ABF or another…</p>
<p>Hi all!,</p>
<p>Long time of my presence here. I have a small project for this 2018: I would like to give a small homage to S.S Stewart, considering this year is the 120th anniversary of his death. Therefore, I am planing to record some tunes of his creation, in the way of a recital (virtual recital, actually).</p>
<p>But, in the process I figured out an idea you might be interested...Why not a orchestral (a virtual one) recording of these tunes?, just as the meetings of the ABF or another banjo rallies. I think it could be a funny way to interact ourselves, considering these kind of videos (each one playing a part) are really popular right now. Some basic apps such as Acapella Maker are used for this kind of videos, allowing the recording of tunes to musicians that do not live in the same city/country/continent. </p>
<p>The problem? I do not know anything about orchestration, but it could be a nice challenge for someone who might be interested.</p>
<p>Of course, there are online ensembles with other tunes. I know the ABF have some tunes for several banjos, and I guess there must be plenty of these scores to play in this website. But for now, the Stewart´s anniversary could be a good excuse to start...we have a said in Spanish "para hacer algo, cualquier excusa"</p>
<p></p>
<p>Let me know if someone might be interested!</p>
<p></p>
<p>German </p> Banjo Introductiontag:classic-banjo.ning.com,2017-11-14:2667446:Topic:1258652017-11-14T23:26:47.622ZPiphttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/profile/Pip
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/103560239?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/103560239?profile=original" width="600"></img></a></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>My name is Philip Agnew and I thought I would introduce myself and my great-grandfathers zither banjo. I live in Brisbane Australia, the same city my great-grand father Garnet Agnew lived in at the beginning of the 20th century.</p>
<p>Garnet was a free-lance artist and illustrator and from an early age was playing banjo and performing with…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/103560239?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/103560239?profile=original" width="600" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>My name is Philip Agnew and I thought I would introduce myself and my great-grandfathers zither banjo. I live in Brisbane Australia, the same city my great-grand father Garnet Agnew lived in at the beginning of the 20th century.</p>
<p>Garnet was a free-lance artist and illustrator and from an early age was playing banjo and performing with his family in musical pieces and theater productions put together by his father.</p>
<p>The banjo, which he refereed to as "Jo", was one of his prized possessions and was well traveled around the state of Queensland. This photo is from a recent exhibition on my family's artistic involvement in the local area.</p>
<p>In the case are some of Garnet's art supplies and the original banjo case and a self portrait of the artist with his banjo. I performed a few tunes on the opening day and had a lot of interest in the banjo and the style of music I was playing. From what I have been told Garnet used to play in a finger picking style but would also use a pick on occasions. (I believe he used to play in a few dance bands)</p>
<p>All the best<br/>Philip</p>
<p></p> Like a Phoenix Birdtag:classic-banjo.ning.com,2016-02-17:2667446:Topic:1105412016-02-17T00:15:24.025ZHal Allerthttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/profile/HalAllert666
<p>I am sorry for my premature exclamation earlier when I said that the Classic Banjo Resource site was up and running. Turns out there were quite a few errors that prevented viewers from fully enjoying the site. Since then, I have worked on making it presentable and up to the standards expected by this august conclave. ]</p>
<p>I have pulled back the curtain to the Contents menu so you can see the entire offering at your disposal.</p>
<p>Ray Jones has aided me in presentation of more images…</p>
<p>I am sorry for my premature exclamation earlier when I said that the Classic Banjo Resource site was up and running. Turns out there were quite a few errors that prevented viewers from fully enjoying the site. Since then, I have worked on making it presentable and up to the standards expected by this august conclave. ]</p>
<p>I have pulled back the curtain to the Contents menu so you can see the entire offering at your disposal.</p>
<p>Ray Jones has aided me in presentation of more images including many more postcards. All of the images are in a lightbox format so you don't have to click on individual images. The slideshow will start wherever you start.</p>
<p>The podcasts use the lightbox format now too. The latest podcast is the Robert L. Webb production of "Banjos on their Saddlehorns", What I don't know yet is what happens when someone comments on one of the podcasts. There is a login with a 'captcha' app to discourage spammers, which I am curious to see if it works. If you visit the podcast and listen to something, please leave a comment on the content so I can test it.</p>
<p>The music appears to be working fine, you can download anything for free.</p>
<p>Now that the website is up and running, I can get back to updating the Radio station. I have about 400 new songs to put up there, including all of John Sloan's work.</p>
<p>The music Shop is still down; I am revamping the entire look of it using Zen Cart. And yes, Joel, I will have a CD of the Van Eps folio up there, plus many more items.</p>
<p>As May is coming around quickly, the Radio station will be up for renewal. It costs me $350 a year to provide this to you, so any donations you can make to it will ensure its longevity.</p>
<p>Outside of the expected shipment of more LIsterine, I am waiting with baited breath for your comments.</p>
<p> </p> Italian Banjo Stringstag:classic-banjo.ning.com,2013-10-22:2667446:Topic:835122013-10-22T15:35:50.037ZHal Allerthttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/profile/HalAllert666
<p>I recently received some images from a lady wanting to know the manufacturer of some banjo strings. The box that the strings came in, I presume, is pretty old and damaged. Does anyone have any information I can send back to her about this manufacturer?</p>
<p>I recently received some images from a lady wanting to know the manufacturer of some banjo strings. The box that the strings came in, I presume, is pretty old and damaged. Does anyone have any information I can send back to her about this manufacturer?</p> Advice about bridge for classic banjo.tag:classic-banjo.ning.com,2013-09-24:2667446:Topic:831432013-09-24T17:21:44.527ZLuka Renićhttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/profile/LukaRenic
<p>Hello everybody,</p>
<p>I am new to classic banjo playing and I need some advice.</p>
<p>I have a steel strung Epiphone MB 100</p>
<p>open back banjo with ebony topped maple bridge. </p>
<p>I think bridge is 5/8" (about 1.5 cm.)</p>
<p>I recently ordered Aquilla medium gauge classic banjo strings strings from eBay.</p>
<p>Now,I think I should get the maple bridge.</p>
<p>Do you think that 1/2" is the right height?</p>
<p>Unfortunately,I cannot order any Clifford Essex stuff because I'm from…</p>
<p>Hello everybody,</p>
<p>I am new to classic banjo playing and I need some advice.</p>
<p>I have a steel strung Epiphone MB 100</p>
<p>open back banjo with ebony topped maple bridge. </p>
<p>I think bridge is 5/8" (about 1.5 cm.)</p>
<p>I recently ordered Aquilla medium gauge classic banjo strings strings from eBay.</p>
<p>Now,I think I should get the maple bridge.</p>
<p>Do you think that 1/2" is the right height?</p>
<p>Unfortunately,I cannot order any Clifford Essex stuff because I'm from Zagreb,Croatia.</p>
<p>I found two interesting offers on eBay,so please tell me what you think.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/BANJO-BRIDGE-5-string-2-feet-maple-1-2-/260295775973?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Sting_Instruments&hash=item3c9ad656e5">http://www.ebay.com/itm/BANJO-BRIDGE-5-string-2-feet-maple-1-2-/260295775973?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Sting_Instruments&hash=item3c9ad656e5</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/THREE-NO-TIP-BANJO-BRIDGES-FOR-5-STRING-VERY-OLD-UNUSED-/190582691682?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item2c5f9d1762">http://www.ebay.com/itm/THREE-NO-TIP-BANJO-BRIDGES-FOR-5-STRING-VERY-OLD-UNUSED-/190582691682?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item2c5f9d1762</a></p>
<p>Thank You.</p>
<p> </p> Original Classic banjo recordings onlinetag:classic-banjo.ning.com,2013-09-21:2667446:Topic:829152013-09-21T12:19:58.056ZLuka Renićhttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/profile/LukaRenic
<p>Hello everybody,</p>
<p>I am interested where can I get original recordings by Fred Van Eps,Vess Ossman and other original players available to download for free or buy an mp3 copy.I am interested in recordings like ones available on the jukebox on this site.</p>
<p>Thank You</p>
<p>Hello everybody,</p>
<p>I am interested where can I get original recordings by Fred Van Eps,Vess Ossman and other original players available to download for free or buy an mp3 copy.I am interested in recordings like ones available on the jukebox on this site.</p>
<p>Thank You</p> Home Circle Music Seriestag:classic-banjo.ning.com,2013-03-03:2667446:Topic:695642013-03-03T23:43:13.614ZMarcus Ailstockhttps://classic-banjo.ning.com/profile/MarcusAilstock
<p>I found this Banjo music book at my local Antique store. I was wondering if anyone has seen this before or has any information on it?</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/103552236?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/103552236?profile=original" width="500" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p>I found this Banjo music book at my local Antique store. I was wondering if anyone has seen this before or has any information on it?</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/103552236?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/103552236?profile=original" width="500" class="align-center"/></a></p>