Joel Sweeney
Joel Walker Sweeney (* 1810, † October 29, 1860 ), also known as Joe Sweeney, was American musician and representatives of early blackface minstrel shows genre.
Life and career
Born into a family of Buckingham County (now Appomattox in Virginia), Sweeney has learned the banjo playing of local African Americans by its own account; he is the first, named in written documents, banjo player with white skin color and also the first banjo player, known by the stage performances. In addition to his role in popularizing this instrument the construction of the modern five-string banjo is often attributed to him. While previously there was a resonance chamber of the instrument from a gourd (like the African precursors of the banjo and related instruments), Sweeney led a drum-like resonance chamber. The legend has it that he used for a cheese box. To him, the introduction of a fifth string banjo is attributed beyond. However, no evidence is known that these inventions were actually introduced by Sweeney; a high-pitched, thumb or drone string ( the modern banjo the fifth ) can already be seen on instruments from the 18th century and pictures from before Sweeney.
Up to the 1830s, the banjo was played exclusively by African Americans. Some musicians performed towards the middle of the decade with songs in "Louisiana Banjou style" on, but rely a violin, a .. 1839 Sweeney appeared in several blackface minstrel groups in New York. The earliest documented appearance, in which he played on stage banjo, was in April 1839. During the same month, he played alongside James Sanford at the Broadway Circus in New York City with a blackface burlesque The Dying Moor 's Defence of His flag names " Novel duets, songs, & c ." This performance was accompanied by a " comic Border Morris by the whole company" ( a comic Border Morris dance). After Billy Whitlock of the Virginia Minstrels, Sweeney gave this some banjo lessons.
From 1841 Sweeney popularized the banjo as a musical instrument for the middle class. In its ads, the " well-founded scientific perfection" was praised, with which he plays the instrument. " Only those who have heard Sweeny know what music is in the banjo. " Claimed another. For several years, put Sweeney match the standard, were measured on the other players. After an appearance by Dan Emmett at the Bowery Amphitheatre Circus of the New York Herald wrote, " Emmit 's [sic ] Banjo game may be located at the Jo [sic ] Sweeney's measure, and outperforms the other banjo player from the United States by far. " Jenny Get Your Hoe Cake Done and knock a nigga down were two of Sweeney's signature pieces.
With the onset of his success in 1843 Sweeney embarked on a grand tour of Europe with performances in London and Edinburgh. In July 1843 Sweeney played while the curtain ( entr'acte ) at the Adelphi Theatre in Edinburgh. There he met Frank Brower, a member of the Virginia Minstrels, know and played during his performance the Brettchenklapper (English Bones ). Then they toured together and performed in October at the Theatre Royal in Birmingham and later in the same month in a circus in Leicester on. Brower separated for a while from Sweeney to perform with Dan Emmett; until he appeared again in the spring with him.
At that time, met to appoint a new Dick Pelham with Sweeney and Brower, after which decided the trio, the Virginia Minstrels with Sweeney as banjo player. They persuaded Emmett and convinced this joing although Sweeney should now be the band leader. The new Virginia Minstrels were in Dublin at the Theatre Royal during the main curtain, between 24 April and 7 May on, then to the end of May, both as Entr'acte as well as with complete Minstrelshow in Cork, Belfast, then in Glasgow on. This was followed by shows at the Adelphi Theatre in London, and later in the Waterloo Rooms in Edinburgh, followed by another appearance, this time in the Glasgow City Hall at.
Joe Sweeney died in 1860 in Appomattox; His grave can be visited at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park.
Even Joe Sweeney's younger brothers Sampson ( "Sam" ), Richard ( "Dick" ), and his sister Missouri were as talented banjo and Fiddlespieler.
Songs that Sweeney attributed to or have been performed by him
- Jonny Boker
- Jim Along Josey
- Lynchburg Town
- Alabama Joe
- Jenny Get Your Hoecake Done
- Old Tar River
- Where Did you Come From? (Knock a nigger down )
- Old Jim River ( Mr. Brown )
- Lucy Long