Buffalo Gals are gals from Buffalo
Posted August 20, 2007
I was born near Buffalo, N.Y., in Erie, Pa., so I always assumed that a Buffalo Gal is a gal from Buffalo, but I've met a lot of people who never made the connection between the city and the song. They think a buffalo gal is a frontierswoman.
The leading folklorists of the 20th century, the Lomax brothers, said that the song was popular in minstrel shows in the 19th century, and the performers would change the name of the song to match the city they were in, and Buffalo was the one that stuck. It certainly sings better than "Cleveland Gals" or "Erie Gals."
I bought a new banjo, a Gold Tone Whyte Layde Plus. Its design is based on an antique banjo, the Vega Whyte Layde. It has a darker, sweeter, longer-sustaining tone than a bluegrass banjo. I love it. T share its beautiful sound with you, I recorded "Buffalo Gals" on it for you and made it downloadable. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
