the ebony hillbillies live at lincoln center
DESCRIPTION
One of the last black string bands in the US and the only one currently based in NYC, the Hillbillies keep an important legacy alive with a rootsy, homegrown style that was a key element in the genesis of "American" music. "Documented fiddling by black players goes back to the 1600s in New York," fiddler Henrique Prince says. "And nobody but black players played a banjo until the early part of the 19th century. They were all handmade instruments." The banjo, of course, came to these shores from West Africa, where it was fretless and made from a gourd. The African version of the fiddle has one string. "String music is the folk music of Africa, not drums," Prince said.TRANSCRIPT
theebonyhillbillies
theebonyhillbillies
theebonyhillbillies
the ebony hillbillies at lincoln center out-of-doors with henrique prince [funky fiddle], norris benner [banging banjo],
“salty bill” salter [boss bass], newman baker [wailing washboard], gloria gassaway [bad-ass bones],
plus: dancing girls, surprise guests, the big fat daddy song,
and a (mostly) enthusiastic audience
the ebony hillbillies at lincoln center out-of-doors with henrique prince [funky fiddle], norris benner [banging banjo],
“salty bill” salter [boss bass], newman baker [wailing washboard], gloria gassaway [bad-ass bones],
plus: dancing girls, surprise guests, the big fat daddy song,
and a (mostly) enthusiastic audience
