We sometimes chuckle at all of the names given to the tenor banjo back in the day. "Tango Banjo"; Banjorine Mandolin: Cello-Tango Banjo; etc. Well here is a new one I've never seen before (attached) in a 1922 C. & G. Conn ad featuring the Isham Jones Orch. Charles McNeil was the tenor banjoist in this band.
According to, "The Ludwig Book", he was the head of the Ludwig banjo program, & "... personally tested every Ludwig banjo that was shipped"
John, One can occasionally find the origin of a word or phrase, but I think "African harp" may be a one-off usage by some clever PR writer, or a quip of some musician, & has never entered the lexicon of history until you revived the term.
If the tenor banjo is an "African Harp," what is an RB or PB?
i have been known to call my tenor banjo a "%^&$#@ piece of *#@$+!!!"
Nice photo, John!
quote:
Originally posted by tdennisJohn, One can occasionally find the origin of a word or phrase, but I think "African harp" may be a one-off usage by some clever PR writer, or a quip of some musician, & has never entered the lexicon of history until you revived the term.
Yes, there are African harps, but this term has not been applied to the modern banjo.
“African Harp” was often used in articles throughout the late 19th century for regular banjo.
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