A Banjo Player Winning the Pulitzer Prize? Now I've Heard Everything

Scrolling through the winners of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize, one name should stand out for banjo nerds like us: Rhiannon Giddens. The former Carolina Chocolate Drops member and renowned solo artist was awarded the Pulitzer for Omar, an opera about enslaved people brought to North America from Muslim countries.

Of course, Giddens is no stranger to awards. She has won two Grammy Awards as both a member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops and as a solo artist. She received the MacArthur Fellowship in 2017. She won the Steve Martin Banjo Prize in 2016. She has also won two International Folk Music Awards, three Living Blues Awards and several others, plus she's been inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, and she has been nominated for countless other accolades.

On the heels of the Pulitzer Prize news, Giddens also announced a new solo album.

Giddens collaborated with composer Michael Abels on Omar, which premiered on May 27, 2022, at the Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, S.C. Described by NPR as a "musical work that respectfully represents African as well as African American traditions, expanding the language of the operatic form while conveying the humanity of those condemned to bondage," Omar has also appeared at the LA Opera, University of Chapel Hill at North Carolina Southern Futures and Boston Lyric Opera, and is scheduled for debut at San Francisco Opera and Lyric of Chicago.

If Giddens isn't careful, she's going to make banjo players look respectable.

In Other News

In case you didn't see the post on the Facebook page, the latest issue of The Old-Time Herald is now available, and yours truly has six reviews within its pages. Be sure to get your copy or check out the online edition to read up on the latest news in old-time music.

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The Ultimate Banjo Joke Compendium

This post is dedicated to my friend Joel Specht. Ever since the Olitsky & Moskovitz concert last month, my son has been obsessed with banjo jokes. During one of the MANY tuning breaks, they asked the crowd to fill the time by telling their favorite quips about the old five-string. Joel told many that night. I've been trying to remember them, along with best ones I've heard over the years for when my son asks again, so I thought I'd make this list. Question: What's the difference between a banjo and an onion? Answer: Nobody cries when you cut up a banjo. Question: How do you know if the floor is level? Answer: The banjo player is drooling out of both sides of his mouth. Question: What's the difference between a banjo and trampoline? Answer: You take your shoes off to jump on a trampoline. Question: What's the definition of perfect pitch? Answer: When you can throw a banjo into a dumpster without hitting the sides. Question: How do yo...

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Clawhammer Picks and You: A Review

Clawhammer picks are a useful tool for increasing volume or to overcome fingernail challenges, such as broken, too short or weak nails. There are all sorts of commercial and homemade solutions available for banjo players, but it can be difficult to decide which options to choose. Thankfully, I've already done some of the work for you. Just to be clear, I prefer my natural fingernail for frailing. However, there was a time when I experimented with regularly using a pick, and there are instances now where I find that a pick is necessary. Today, I'll take you through the five options I've tried. These are all available online at prices ranging from about $1 to $13. Reversed/Reshaped Dunlop Pick ($0.75) This was the most common suggestion before other companies started addressing the gap in the clawhammer pick market. Take a bluegrass pick, flatten it out and wear it backwards. The problem is that it's hard to get the fit right. While Dunlop picks are cheap and r...

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Summer Blockbusters: Top 10 Banjo Movies

We’re nearing the end of the summer movie season, which this year has included blockbusters like Avengers: Infinity War , Solo: A Star Wars Story , Incredibles 2 and other movies, including some that weren’t produced by Disney. However, none of these films showcases a banjo in any way. It's not like the banjo hasn't been featured on the silver screen throughout film history. The five-string has starred in numerous movies, sometimes in its proper context as a musical instrument and other times as a comedic prop. Whether making a cameo or starring in the hands of the main character, it's well past time to present my Top 10 Banjo Blockbusters: O Brother Where Art Thou? (2000) Written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, this movie sucked me into the realm of old-time , bluegrass and country music in general. The banjo is featured in a number of songs on the soundtrack and shows up on screen a few times throughout the movie. Top Banjo Moment: Delmar picks the banjo b...

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The Glory-Beaming Banjo

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