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Kestergram number 8, Joel Walker Sweeney who? The man of my downfall.

Hello my friends,

This blog is entitled Joel Walker Sweeney who?  The man of my downfall. 

Joel Sweeney is, as you may know, the man credited with popularising and remodelling the banjo.  He took the African akonting and replaced the gourd body with a drum head but there is little or no evidence that he added the fifth bass string .  So, Joel Sweeney is not the creater of the banjo, but the populariser of the banjo with his Minstrel show.  

The banjo has been providing a theme tune and chase music for all 'good' no-good scoundrells for over 150 years.   Did Joel Sweeney have this in mind?   

I would be really interested to know what you know about Joel Sweeney.  I have investigated the internet and I have found lots of really interesting information but it is all quite generic.  I am keen to learn a different perspective to the man.  So, I have a question for you.  Who was Joel Sweeney and in what kind of world did he live?  If you have anything to add, no matter how small or insignificant you think it is, I would like to hear it!

Kester

P.s. since this blog was first written I have revised parts.  The parts revised were those parts which had raised questions and doubts.  I have also added interesting pictures in my default photograph album which you may like to see on this subject.

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