“Getting into the banjo and discovering that it was an African-American instrument, it totally turned on its head my idea of American music - and then, through that, American history.”

American musician, actress, and author

Rhiannon Giddens is an American musician, actress, and author known for her eclectic folk music. She first came to wide notice as a founding member of Carolina Chocolate Drops, where she sang lead and played fiddle and banjo. Her work blends traditional American sounds with a broad, searching approach to folk music. Through Carolina Chocolate Drops and her later work as a solo artist, she has been recognized for performance rooted in old forms, with words and music that often reflect history, identity, and memory.