Early Irish-American Banjo Book/CD Set: From 19th Century Banjo Publications, by Rob MacKillop. Here is the Lost Heritage of the Irish-American Banjo! The Irish-style Tenor banjo has become immensely popular of late, yet the roots of Irish influence on American banjo music extends right back to the 1840s, when the legendary Joel Sweeney picked up a gourd banjo from Black American banjo players, and proceeded to perform 'jigs, reels and breakdowns'.