Hand the banjo man a stringed instrument, and he'll pick you a tune fine enough to make Bill Monroe, the so-called father of bluegrass, perk up his ears. Hand him a cigar box, a car tag and a guitar ...

Originating with enslaved Africans, the banjo is now being reclaimed by Black musicians in contemporary music ...

Unless the room is ultra-hip -- meaning, its occupants know something about Don Vappie or Bela Fleck -- banjo gets a bad rap. The new PBS documentary titled "Give Me the Banjo," narrated by Steve ...

The loss in Aug. 2007 of the famed transplanted NH resident, Irish singer/songwriter and national folk hero of the Emerald Isle at 74, Tommy Makem, alerted me recently to a news photo of Tommy with ...

Musical instruments bring delight to players and listeners alike. Creating the voice—or characteristic style and tone—of an instrument is an exquisite balance of physics and craftsmanship. To date, ...

The banjo gets a bum rap. A staple of American country music, its bright tone and rhythmic clangor threaten to overwhelm musical gatherings of other, milder string-band instruments, such as guitar, ...

Banjo hero Bela Fleck has long been ahead of the curve when it comes to the often misunderstood stringed instrument that’s now become a practical necessity to forming an indie hipster band. You see, ...

Bob Carlin first played a banjo at age 15. Having already learned his way around other string instruments, it seemed like a natural fit. Nearly five decades later, he’s still picking and wants to ...