Great article; thanks for posting! I’ve never particularly paid attention to Mumford and Sons; now, I may have to check out some of their music.
“He talks about the common misconceptions of the banjo, first that it was invented in Appalachia, and second that it was invented in Africa.”
“It wasn’t until the mid-nineteenth century that they were fretted, that steel wire was used instead of gut strings, and that the awkward high-G resonator string completed the package.” He knows banjos.
Here’s a direct link to Marshall’s X post:
https://x.com/MrWinMarshall/status/2073470057502388432
Thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks for making me look for it. Such a charming and smart young man.
Sweet!
Bump for later. This hispanic city boy had an uncle from Kentucky (who served on a bomber crew in WWII) who loved bluegrass. He and my hispanic uncle used to sit out on the porch on warm San Diego evenings, drink whiskey and tequila, and sing and play Western songs together. Sometimes my grandfather would bring out his twelve string and join in. One of my most cherished memories.
Mr. Mark Twain once defined a gentleman as someone who knows how to play the banjo but doesnt.
I have seen this guy do political podcasts/videos on Youtube, never realizing he was with Mumford and Sons.
The banjo was almost as annoying as the bagpipes until Charlie Poole invented the Three-Finger Roll, of which Earl Scruggs became the virtuoso.
Strummed or played hammerclaw, a banjo is nothing but an accompaniment. Played three-finger roll and done expertly, it is the star of the show.
And the three-finger roll damn sure was an invention of the Appalachian hillbillies, and its brassy twang is the very sound of Appalachia’s beating heart.
If he had lived long enough to hear the Foggy Mountain Breakdown or even just the Ballad of Jed Clampett I dare say Mark Twain would have changed his tune.
Thank you for sharing that.
It was worth the watch.