The Banjo - Not Just For Rednecks Anymore

Scary banjo kid from "Deliverance"

Back in 1972, the movie "Deliverance" debuted and from that moment on, you couldn't paddle down a river in the backwoods of Georgia without hearing "Dueling Banjos" and consequently fearing the worst redneck nightmare imaginable.  Burt Reynolds ruined the reputation of banjo players forever.  But wait!  Not so fast!  It turns out the banjo is making its big comeback thanks to a few great musicians.

Pete Seeger

All joking aside, Pete Seeger has been rocking the banjo for years - long before "Deliverance."  He wrote a book in 1948 about how to play the banjo that most banjo players today still use and even invented his own banjo sometimes called the Seeger banjo that has an extra three frets.  He is pretty much the godfather of American folk music.  I don't know anyone who would dispute that.  And he recently celebrated his 90th birthday at Madison Square Garden with a few friends, including Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews, Joan Baez, Richie Havens, and Arlo Guthrie.

Flatt & Scruggs

Earl Scruggs played banjo with Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys beginning in 1945.  This was at a time when big bands ruled the airwaves.  He popularized his own 3 finger picking style, which strayed from the typical strumming style that was most often used before this time.  Scruggs and guitarist Lester Flatt went on to form their own band, the Foggy Mountain Boys, and eventually recorded the theme song for the Beverly Hillbillies, "The Ballad of Jed Clampett" in 1962.  Their tune "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" is also a standard among bluegrass players.  And he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammys in 2008.  Not too shabby.

Bela Fleck

Bela Fleck heard the banjo playing of Earl Scruggs and decided to learn how to play the banjo as well.  His banjo teacher was Tony Trischka, who is also widely admired amongst banjo players. Check out his "Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular." Fleck and Trischka have worked together on various projects over the years, and have released a great album of banjo duets.  In my oprinion, Bela is probably the best banjo player living today.  He is certainly the most innovative and progressive.  He started his career with bluegrass supergroup New Grass Revival, and eventually formed his own group, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.  The Flecktones are much more jazz oriented, and Bela often uses an electric banjo with various effects when playing with this group.  It was Bela's playing that made me fall in love with the banjo and realize what a diverse instrument it could be.  Bela has been nominated for Grammy Awards in more categories than any other musician in the history of the awards.  He has won a total of 12 between 1995 and 2011.  His various projects include an album with jazz pianist Chick Corea, several albums and tours with bassist Edgar Meyer, a classical album, and a project tracing the banjo's roots back to Africa and playing with African musicians.

Steve Martin - a wild and crazy guy

You may know Steve Martin as the "Father of the Bride," or "The Jerk," or unfortunately maybe for his role in "Cheaper By The Dozen."  He is also a "wild and crazy guy!"  But you may not know that he is also a great banjo player.  He just released a new album of straight-up bluegrass music.  His banjo music is no laughing matter.




Kermit knows what's up

 There are lots of younger players that are beginning to step up and take the reigns.  There has been a revival of bluegrass and folk groups recently.  It is somewhat becoming trendy, and that's cool with me.  Check out the young banjo players in Yonder Mountain String Band, the Punch Brothers, and Mumford & Sons.  Heck, I think I've even heard banjo on a Taylor Swift song or two.  And let us not forget Kermit the Frog and Andy Bernard (on "The Office").


Bottom line - banjos are awesome.  They are way better than our good friend and beloved mustache enthusiast Burt Reynolds would have us believe.  And having a name like Jethro or Billy Bob is not a pre-requisite.  You don't need to fly a confederate flag while sitting on your rocking chair on your front porch and drinking moonshine to appreciate it.  Although if you do, that's cool too - I'm not judging.