THE STRYCHNINE BANJO
©2019 CW BAYER
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The book tells the long-lost story of the most important mining song written in the far West during the 19th century–“The Days of ’49′”. Composed as a parody for a minstrel-show burlesque in Virginia City, Nevada, during 1868 by professional banjoist Charley Rhoades, “The Days of ’49” became the anthem of the “pioneers”–the 49ers as they aged through the remainder of the 19th century. Full of colorful quotes, this book provides a fascinating glimpse into four wild years of minstrel show-business on the Comstock at the height of the early minstrel-banjo era. About 180 pages.
If you have an interest in the banjo, you may also find another book here of interest. Click to go to: Happy John And The Defense Of Frolic.
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You can scroll through the book below and read it for free. Or, buy a downloadable copy here. This will be a pdf that you can print. About 180 pages.
A 15 minute video about the book:
The Strychnine Banjo. Copyright 2019 CW Bayer