Annotation:Zeek Backus Reel

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ZEEK BACKUS REEL. American, Reel. G Dorian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AA’BB. Zeek Backus, or Zeke Backus, was a contributor to several of the tunes in the Howe and Ryan publications from the mid-to-latter 19th century. Many of those Howe collected tunes from were New England and New York musicians, bandleaders and minstrel performers, and Backus was among them (he was both a bandleader and a minstrel performer). While little is known about him, apparently he spent some time in San Francisco as well. An article in the New York Clipper of 6 September, 1862, lists Ezekiel Backus, "violinist," as among those minstrel performers who had recently passed away, recording his place of death as "New York State."

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Howe (1000 Jigs and Reels), c. 1867; p. 52.

Recorded sources:

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