Diamond Joe, in this song, is a riverboat.  Later, a different Diamond Joe was recorded by Mike Seeger and the New Lost City Ramblers in the sixties ,  and recently made  popular by Bob Dylan.  Diamond Joe was a person in that song.
This version was sung by Big Charlie Butler ( convict # 1033 ), and recorded in 1927 by Alan Lomax, at the Parchement Work Farm, Louisianna State Penitentiary.  Talk about paying your dues!
Back in the day, a man named Joe Renolds had a line of riverboats with a big diamond painted on the bow. He liked to be called Diamond Joe.

I'm playing the Bowlin  1867fretless banjo,

DiamondJoe ( Dan Gellert's version )

This is a collection of banjo tunes/songs.  Some friends are accompanying me on some of the tunes. I often leave my little recorder running when I play, and I play mainly for relaxing / stress relief. Its always running when I am learning new tunes.
Nearly all of these tunes are snippets taken from memory cards.
I am simply exploring my interest in old time banjos, the tunes that were played on them, and history of those tunes , which are surprisingly interesting. 
The banjos are interesting as well. The one in the profile avatar is an Acme Professional, made by a popular manufacturer, exclusively for the Sears Catalogue. This particular one was featured in the 1906 catalogue. I bought it on EBay for $200.

All but one of the banjos played on here have skin heads, two are fretless, and all have Nylgut strings.
You are welcome to share my addiction.
F. Rand






DiamondJoe ( Dan Gellert's version )

Gutstring Forrest

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