The true American Banjo was invented around 1831 by a fellow named Joel Sweeney. He took the ole West Africa four stringed Banjar and added the fifth string and made it a higher pitch than the others and right next to the lowest pitched string. I don't know if he was smart or just lucky. By 1940 the five string banjo was starting to loose its popularity. Most of the banjo players who remained playing on the radio were billed as a single act. Then in 1945 on the Grand Ole Opry, Earl Scruggs introduced what is known as Scruggs Style Picking. His style spread rapidly and within two years the demand for the five string banjo increased dramatically. Today you can even hear the banjo on the country stations.....just listen. UPDATE
I have received emails telling me the previous paragraph is wrong.
If it is... then blame the text books and websites that I got the info
from. Not me!! If you dont like the way history is...not my problem!!
Funny thing is....the complaints are from other countries....not the
country that BLUEGRASS originated in!

Hey, Check Out.............

The band I am in is called "THE LESTER BROTHERS" . We formed awhile back and are enjoying every minute of picking.

But it has to be fun....it's BLUEGRASS!!

GIZMO'S BREAKDOWN

is one of my originals. Here is the Lester version of it.

To hear GIZMOS BREAKDOWN.......The full version just click HERE

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Here is a James Brown song we had a lot of fun with....which we call... BrownGrass

We have a NEW CD out called " Four For The Road". I will get
The order page setup very soon. We have been told that it is
Our BEST CD to date!!

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DVDs made especially for your Cats and Dogs To order CLICK HERE