‘Curious Conversations’ podcast: Patrick Salmons talks about the history of the banjo

Patrick Salmons joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the history of the banjo, including its origins, cultural significance, and the impact of racism and minstrelsy on its perception. Salmons also shared the music industry's impact on the instrument and highlighted contemporary banjo players who are reshaping its narrative.

“Curious Conversations” is available on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.

Takeaways

Salmons believes the banjo is a historical artifact intertwined with race and class in the U.S.

The banjo came to America from Africa through the transatlantic slave trade. Its use and reputation evolved during the 19th and 20th centuries and were heavily influenced by both minstrelsy and the music industry.

Salmons argues the banjo has been both a tool of oppression and liberation and that acknowledging its full history can be a step toward fostering solidarity among communities.

About Salmons

Salmons is the graduate programs coordinator and a communication specialist with the Department of Political Science as well as an instructor for the Appalachian Studies program. His research focuses on the intersection of music, history, race and class relations. In 2021, he wrote a dissertation titled “Hip Hop, Bluegrass, Banjos, and Solidarity: Race and Class Histories in Appalachia U.S.A.”

Learn more

Salmons’ dissertation, “Hip Hop, Bluegrass, Banjos, and Solidarity: Race and Class Histories in Appalachia U.S.A.”

Teaching history of Black music is integral to education, professor says

About the podcast

"Curious Conversations" is a series of free-flowing conversations with Virginia Tech researchers that take place at the intersection of world-class research and everyday life. Produced and hosted by Travis Williams, assistant director of marketing and communications for the Office of Research and Innovation, university researchers share their expertise and motivations as well as the practical applications of their work in a format that more closely resembles chats at a cookout than classroom lectures. New episodes are shared each Tuesday.