Banjos Pt. 1: From Gourds to Grammys
Today\u2019s episode has a lot of pluck! It\u2019s all about the banjo. For over 100 years, the banjo has been associated with country and bluegrass music, two genres that over-index with white musicians. But, with the help of Rhiannon Giddens, we find out that this uniquely American instrument traveled from Africa. The banjo\u2019s story is so rich, it can\u2019t be contained in just one episode, so we decided to make two! We\u2019re also going to string you along for an extra week to think about your answers to First Things First. The question comes in this episode, and the answer comes out in the next. No peeking!
Featured expert: Rhiannon Giddens is a Grammy Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning singer and instrumentalist. You can check out her website here!
Resources: REDLINING IN COUNTRY MUSIC: Representation in the Country Music Industry (2000-2020)