“Practice makes possible the impossible.” Big Papi Ortiz.

I'm starting this blog just to keep track of whenever Tom Briggs gets a Google Books mention; he being such an important yet ephemeral figure...

http://books.google.com/books?id=Q-gEAAAAMAAJ&dq=tom%20briggs&pg=PA16#v=onepage&q=tom%20briggs&f=false

Interesting (1890) tidbit on "thimble" playing here, not that I want…

I had an amazing dream last night.  A musical, banjo dream.  And instead of it slipping into the ether when I woke up, I remembered some of it.  It went like this:

I was at a Civil War event of some kind.  I met George Wunderlich, who had some music he wanted me to listen to.  He took me to a tent, where he had a sort of reel-to-reel machine.  He said the music was of an early stroke-style black banjo player, who had recorded just before he died in the 1890's.  I kept looking…

Okay, people, last call for our Thursday the 23rd pre-event in Elmira, Ny.  Joel Hooks, Aurelia Perry, Kyle Pretzl and myself will hook up in Elmira to look for Frank Converse's ghost.  Actually, we have made several fascinating discoveries that will make our stay memorable.  Joel and Aurelia have found the original residences of the Converse and Maxwell families, and the houses still stand, so that will be a treat.  Also, the 1837 Presbyterian Church where father Maxey Manning Converse died…

http://books.google.com/books?id=NhwQAQAAMAAJ&dq=banjo%20twang&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q=banjo%20twang&f=false

Here's an interesting publication by Christy's Minstrels in England, who were a staple for years at St. James Hall in London under G. W. "Pony" Moore.  Frank Converse played with them in 1866 when he undertook his triumphal…