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major banjo history ommission on your site
- Posted: Sunday April 16 2006, 03:18 (NZST)
- By: mark stampley
Then I noticed a shocking ommission on your "Masters" list. JAMES BLAND "worlds greatest minstrel" banjo master, pianist, wrote over 600 songs, including "Carry me Back to Old Virginny" and "Oh Dem Golden Slippers", (you here it played in all the old cowboy movies when they are in a lively saloon),"Hot Time in the old town Tonite" he wrote a lot of campaign music too, for politicians in Washigton at the time.
He was born in about 1854 a freeman in Washington D.C., to middle class professional parents, parents wanted him to become a teacher or attorney i think but learned to play bajo and piano,and went on the road with the Christy Minstrels in the early 1870's.
He became, I beleive, the first internationally famous, and wealthy, black musician that this country produced, he got ripped off , but managed to receive a lot of his income from his performances and song writing, too.
He had his ups and downs like every body else but, was an amazing groundbreaking artist that i hope you will include in your pantheon of banjo players, cause i'm sure the great you mentioned, new of, studied and revered him.
I am a working performer,guitarist, vocalist,songwriter, educator, based now in Louisville, Kentucky. I'll be glad to furnish more info if you need it
markstampley@yahoo.com or my new site www.markstampley.com