Episode Details

Patrick Salmons joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to talk about the history of the banjo, including its origins, cultural significance, and the impact of racism and minstrelsy on its perception. Salmons also shared the music industry's impact on the instrument and highlighted contemporary banjo players who are reshaping its narrative.

Salmons is the graduate programs coordinator and a communication specialist with the Department of Political Science, as well as an instructor for Appalachian Studies. His research focuses on the intersection of music, history, race and class relations. In 2021, he wrote a dissertation titled, “Hip Hop, Bluegrass, Banjos, and Solidarity: Race and Class Histories in Appalachia U.S.A.”