While being active countrywide, in Philadelphia and its surrounding suburbs they are a huge part of its musical culture and traditions, appearing, among others, in the yearly Mummers Parade.
Although African American old-time string bands recorded history is that of the early 20th century, the beginnings of the music started much earlier.
Many people once believed that the role African Americans played in the upcoming of old-time string band music was either nonexistent or to interest the Middle Ages or medieval times.
Lonnie Johnson also recorded duets with Eddie Lang during the late 1920s and set the precedent for string band jazz, which included Bull Frog Moan/A Handful of Riffs from 1929.
[4] Strings in jazz continued with the standout duet album, "Blues and Ballads," recorded in 1960 with Lonnie Johnson and guitarist Elmer Snowden, a renowned banjoist/guitarist from the 1920s.