DAPHNE, Ala. — The Daphne Public Library announced that Joyce Cauthen will present “Fiddlers, Banjo Players and Strawbeaters—Alabama’s First Pop Musicians” in the Library Community Room at 4 p.m. on Friday.

Cauthen is the executive director of the Alabama Folklife Association, a statewide organization that sponsors research, promotion and preservation of Alabama’s folk culture.

In her presentation, Cauthen will discuss the early fiddles of Alabama, the musicians who played them and the popularity of this music in their communities. Discussions will also surround the pivotal role played by African Americans in developing the music at the roots of today’s bluegrass and country music.

Cauthen will demonstrate use of the banjo, “straws” (a technique in which broom straws or knitting needles were beat on the strings as the fiddler played) and guitar in backing up the fiddle.

Her talk will include the presence of fiddler Jim Cauthen, who will demonstrate fiddle tunes that have been specifically mentioned in historical writings, slave narratives and early newspapers of Alabama.

This presentation is part of the Alabama Humanities Foundation 2010-2011 Road Scholars speaker program and is offered free to the public.