July 8th, 2024

Good mornings folks,

     This past week marked the 248th birthday of the United States of America. The 4th of July is always filled with patriotism, flag flying, loud and colorful explosions of fireworks (to remind us of bombs bursting in air) and copious consumption of beer and barbecue. It is truly a uniquely American holiday, and speaks volumes to the culture that we present to the world.

     Of course, we realize that America is currently at a dangerous and important crossroad. The political divide that is across the country is abominable and is driving a wedge in the populous. Now I try, at all costs, to avoid political discourse, in any public venue. I think most political opinions should be kept to oneself, just as the voting booth is a private area where people make personal choices. So this is not about politics. This is about baseball…and baseball is about America….and America is about banjos.

     The event that we dreamt up a few months  ago is becoming a reality. On July 31st we will be joining the Rochester Red Wings for an afternoon game to celebrate everything baseball and banjo. All of the traditional baseball music will be played on the banjo by Gavin Rice on the rarest of all banjos….the one of a kind 1931 Gibson All-American. We will have banjo players of all styles at the entrances to greet people. We will have a table set up with T-shirts for sale as well as raffle for a Gold Tone banjo. We have tickets for sale at the store for the special pregame price of only $10!

     Banjos and baseball have an intertwined history with each coming of age in the Northeastern part of America in the 1840s. The first baseball game was played in Hoboken, NJ in 1848 and the first banjos went into production in Baltimore around the same time. Baseball started as a pastoral sport… played outside…in a field, and the banjo was a simple instrument often made from a grain measure or gourd with a tacked calf skinhead and an attached neck. The banjo has a rich and complex history with its origins tracing back to West Africa. The banjo's ancestor, the akonting, was a stringed instrument played by the Jola people of Senegal and Gambia. When slave trade extended to the Americas, enslaved Africans brought their musical traditions to the New World, where the banjo evolved and was adapted by European colonizers. In the post Civil War era the banjo became extremely popular in the southern United States, particularly in minstrel shows, which often perpetuated racial stereotypes. Meanwhile, baseball grew in organization and popularity. Leagues were formed BUT baseball was also segregated, with African American players excluded from the major leagues. The Negro Leagues were established as a separate entity, featuring talented players like Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, and Jackie Robinson, who eventually broke the color barrier in 1947. The connection between banjos, baseball, and segregation serves as a reminder of the painful history of racism and discrimination in the United States.
    
     But this connection also highlights the resilience and contributions of musicians, athletes, and communities who continued to excel despite systemic oppression. In the late 19th century the banjo underwent significant changes, including the addition of frets and a metal rim, giving it a brighter, louder sound. By the 20th century, the banjo became modern "machine" an integral part of bluegrass, jazz and folk music, popularized by musicians like Earl Scruggs, Eddy Peabody and Pete Seeger. Over the same time baseball changed. It became THE American sport and our NATIONAL pastime. It also became a large and powerful business which often displayed a bigoted side. Today, the banjo is enjoyed in various genres, from traditional folk to contemporary styles, and its history is recognized as a powerful symbol of American cultural heritage. Baseball and banjo history are a testament to the resilience and creativity of American cultural blending, and their evolution continue to inspire musicians and athletes alike. The banjo and baseball may seem like an unlikely pair, but their relationship reflects the beauty and complexity of American culture – a culture that continues to evolve, adapt, and harmonize.

With peace,

John Bernunzio

Take me out to the Ball Game….