Music Maker News - Music Maker Relief Foundation

NON-PROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
Relief Foundation
PAID
www.musicmaker.org
PERMIT #10
DURHAM, NC
27701
Eno Valley Station
PO Box 72222
Durham, NC 27722-2222
Newsletter Credits: Written by Timothy & Denise Duffy, Design by Amy Nolan The Music Maker Rag is published by Music Maker Relief Foundation, Inc. email: [email protected] © 2005 MMRF. All Rights Reserved.
Vol. 11, No. 3
FALL 2005
Music Maker Relief Foundation strives to help the true
pioneers and forgotten heroes of Southern music gain
recognition and meet their day to day needs.We support
the health and well being of these legendary musicians.
Our organization provides the ways and means to expand
their professional careers and share their unique musical
gifts with the world. Music Maker does this for the betterment of their lives and for the preservation of our culture.
Board of Directors
Timothy Duffy - President
Denise Duffy
Taj Mahal
Ryan Costello
Daniel “Mudcat” Dudeck
Bill Puckett
Henry Slyker
Blane Wright
Advisory Board
B.B. King
Bonnie Raitt
Levon Helm
Dickey Betts
Jimmy Herring
Derek Trucks
Susan Tedeschi
Carey Williams
Tom Rankin
Sue Foley
Colonel Bruce Hampton
Pura Fé
Ken Shepherd
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Jerry Harrison
Pete Townshend
Lightnin’ Wells
John Price
David Thurber, Jr. MD
Music Maker Programs
Musician Sustenance - grants to meet basic
life needs and emergency relief.
Musical Development - grants and services
for recipient artist professional development and
career advancement.
Cultural Access - supports the preservation
and proliferation of American musical traditions.
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Music Maker Relief Foundation
has begun this fund as a
heartfelt response to aid the
New Orleans musicians.
Many artists have lost their
homes, are living in new cities
and are trying to figure out
what to do next.
This fund has been set up so
these musicians in need
can get help. Grants will be
made for basic living expenses
such as gasoline, food, rent,
clothing and instrument
replacement. We are sending
out care packages of t-shirts
and sweatshirts. Our Programs
Coordinator will help artists
connect with FEMA, the Red
Cross, Social Services and
MusiCares as well as passport
replacement, finding
performance opportunities
and relocation.
The more money we raise the
more artists we can help.
We are already assisting established Music Maker recipient
artists affected by Katrina and
Jan 29th- Feb 4th 2006
Playa Zancudo, Costa Rica • Fourth Annual
have identified several artists
that can use our assistance. We
have offered funds for gas and
food to a number of musicians
that are recipients of the New
Orleans Musicians Clinic.
According to Bethany Bultman
of the New Orleans Musicians
Clinic for the long term they
will be focused in rebuilding
musician's homes that were
devastated by Katrina. Bethany
is reaching out to church congregations all over the country
to pair with their local Habitat
groups to commit to rebuild
one home for one musician so
that they can resurrect
neighborhoods. We are committed to join NOMC in their
efforts. If any one wishes to
join us in this noble effort
please contact us.
We wish to
thank-you for your
contributions to
this cause.
The highly anticipated CD, Adolphus Bell, One Man Band
will be the D e c e m b e r R e c o r d C l u b r e l e a s e
Winter 2006
J a n 2 9 • Travel to Zancudo
J a n 3 0 - 3 1 • Fishin’
F e b 1• Fishin’ and Awards dinner
Feb 2 • Concert
F e b 3 • Travel to San José
F e b 4 • Depart for home
" I've fished in marlin
tournaments up and
down the East Coast,
and throughout the
Caribbean and Central
America. I can honestly
say that I've never had as
much fun as I did fishing the
Taj Mahal Fishin' Blues Tournament."
- Charlie Levine Marlin Magazine
Managing Editor
Last year our 23 contestants
caught (and released) 163 sailfish
and a 300 lb marlin in 3 days of the
best fishing in the Pacific.We fish by
day and listen to the best blues in
the world by night. Only the fishing,
music and camaraderie of our
Tournament surpasses the natural
beauty of Playa Zancudo!
We will only sell 120 tickets and there's no limit
on how many tickets you can buy!
Don't forget to tell all your friends.
This trip is the ultimate cure for your
wintertime blues and helps to keep the
bluest of the blues alive! Nearly half the
entrance fee is tax-deductible! Do
reserve your spot early, as we are limited to 28 fishermen
(we sell out every year).
Buy yours today, just enter
RAFFLE on our Order form and $100
for each ticket.
For more information call Denise or
Tim Duffy at 919-643-2456 anytime
or email [email protected]
Fishin’ Raffle • chance to win 2 slots for $100
For just $100 win a trip for 2 and be a
contestant in this winter's Tourney (an $11,000 value)!
(PS - because you can win, the IRS says this ain't deductible)
Givin’ it Back Record Club • RC100..$100 4 New Release CDs over the course of the year for $100 • musicmaker.org
Dear Friends,
he never knew he sounded so good until he
heard himself on the radio! Check out channel
74 on XM!
Adolphus Bell, George Higgs, Mudcat and
Willie King were all tremendously well
received by the audiences at the Cognac Blues
Festival.This was the first performance overseas by Adolphus Bell and Willie King and they
both truly enjoyed the experience.Very special
thanks to Debbie and Rick of the Alabama Blues
Project (Alabamablues.org) for their great help in
getting passports and performing and traveling
with Willie.
New Orleans is the cradle of American music. Katrina wiped out many neighborhoods that gave
birth to our Nation’s musical identity. Before the storm 5,000 musicians made their living in the
Crescent City.
At this time, musicians are without an instrument and need help with their daily needs. Many of
these artists have lost their homes.We are committed to doing what we can to help with this
situation. New Orleans musicians have given so much to the world, we must make sure they all
have a home and continue working in the Crescent City or a new city.
MMRF has set up the New Orleans Musicians Fund to
aid artists that have been devastated by Katrina. Read
about the details of this new program further on in this
Rag.
Little Freddie King
©Wacko Wade Wright
Music Maker Artist, Little Freddie King, is safe
in Texas. He has lost everything to the flooding, and will need our help to rebuild his life.
We wish to thank Billboard Magazine for mentioning
MMRF and our friends at the New Orleans Musicians
Clinic this September.We are also are so grateful to all
the organizations that have committed to helping raise
money for this mission. Fundraisers are being staged by
Legg Mason and Ramshead Line in Baltimore, the Cat's
Cradle in Chapel Hill,The West Michigan Blues Society,
RootsandBlues in Parma, Italy, Castel San Pietro Blues
Festival in Italy,The Cognac Blues Festival Association in
France and The Nancy Festival in France.We truly
appreciate all the hard work to help these musicians
rebuild their lives.
On another note, Music Maker has kept the blues on
the move this spring and summer. Our artists have traveled far and wide staging incredible shows.The CD output has been truly incredible.We continue to support women artists by helping release albums by Etta Baker & Cora Phillips, Precious
Bryant, Sweet Betty and new projects by Cora Mae Bryant and Essie Mae Brooks are on the
way. Adolphus Bell and Lee Gates will have new CDs out in the near future.
The Music Maker Treasure Box is a superbly designed Holiday Gift for your friends, family and
business associates.This presents 3 CDs with 52 songs, 38 artists, 41 tracks never issued before.
It comes with a 36 page booklet, poster, guitar pick in a very cool bag. As usual we will do all the
wrapping and shipping for you. Don’t miss this opportunity to share your love of America’s
music with the folks you care about.
Please donate today to the Music Maker Relief Foundation so we can keep our mission and programs alive and vital.
With warm regards,
Timothy & Denise Duffy
Artists Notes
We are very proud to have the legendary
Henry Gray as a new recipient artist. Henry
Gray has performed at virtually every New
Orleans Jazz & Heritage festival since it's beginning. A 1998 Grammy Nominee for "A Tribute to
Howlin'Wolf', who he played piano for from
1956-1968. He also performed at Mick Jagger's
55th birthday party in Paris, France in 1998.
Henry is in need of a van to get around town.
Check out Henrygray.com
Saxophonist Earle Brown of New Orleans who
is now in Roanoke,Virginia
had to leave many of his very
expensive instruments
behind. Music Maker is helping him with this transition
and will help him return to
New Orleans when it is
time.
MM has granted over 300
pre-release CDs to
Adolphus Bell and he is
selling them like hotcakes
down in Birmingham.
Adolphus, who has been living in his van for quite some
time just got his own apartment and MM was able to
help with the gas and electric
deposits. Adolphus is looking
forward to more shows.
Over 10 radio stations in
France requested and are
now playing his upcoming
album.
Congratulations to George
Higgs for traveling to France
three times this year to perform at the finest and
longest standing blues events
musicmaker.org 2
in that country.
Precious Bryant had a great loss this summer.
She lost her nephew, sister and then mother in
just a few weeks time. She has had a hard time
walking but she is feeling a little better. She tells
her audiences, “I have trouble with my legs but
nothing is wrong with my mouth.” Check out her
new MMCD; it is truly awesome!
Little Pink has relocated to San Diego and is
doing very well. He stopped by on his last East
Coast visit and recorded a stellar set with his
good friend Cool John Ferguson.We have
been able to help Pink with some small bills, but
what he really wants to do is get out and perform. Pink is the
only living son of
Pink Anderson
that recorded in
the 1920s and
1930s. He is carrying on his father's
legacy. A brilliant
singer and guitarist!
Calvin
“Dogman”
Blackman from
Tennessee checked
in and we were
able to help him
with some bills.
We have known
him for 9 years
but still have not
had the honor of
meeting in person.
He is a real deal
country bluesman.
Adolphus Bell, Heneseese Mansion, Cognac, France, ©Tim Duffy
David Butler of
Sanford, Florida
had an operation
on his prostate
Bob Margolin, Muddy Waters, Calvin "Fuzz" Jones -- 1975 Antone's,
Austin,Texas
Calvin "Fuzzz" Jones was the bass player for Muddy
Waters for many years. Bob Margolin made the introduction and Calvin is a new MMRF recipient artist.
but is doing well.We continue to help him
monthly with his living expenses.You can hear
two wonderful tracks of David on the MM
Treasure Box.
Benton Flippen (b.1920) stems from an
extremely influential generation of old-time musicians, a group of men from Surry County, North
Carolina by the names of Fred Cockeram,Tommy
Jarrel, Earnest East and Kyle Creed whose music
inspired generations of old-time music enthusiasts.The Fiddlers Conventions at which these
men performed in total obscurity in their youths
flourish in modern times.This group of music
makers each forged their own strongly unique
styles in the 30s and 40s. Only Benton still performs for square dances every weekend and in
2005 at the internationally celebrated Mt. Airy
Fiddler Convention stood as the sole survivor of
this fraternity. Benton, still competing, leads his
band, the Smokey Valley Boys, that he formed in
the 60s, disbanded in 85, and reformed at the
turn of the century. We continue to help Benton
out with grants and a new song he just wrote is
on the MM Treasure Box.
Music Maker CDs that have been finished and
await artwork are Lee Gates' “Deuces Wild”,
and albums by Mudcat, James Davis, Pink
Anderson and Cora Mae
Bryant, who actually is waiting patiently for three of her
sessions to be released.
Castel San Pietro Blues
Festival in Italy recorded
sets with Beverly “Guitar”
Watkins, Little Pink,
George Higgs and Lee
Gates.We have CD copies
and are hoping to mount
some of these tracks on our
website this fall.
Little Freddie King rode his
bike out of the 9th Ward as
the water was rising, met his
friend at a hotel, and they
evacuated to Texas. Freddie
lost everything.We need to
replace his Gibson BB King
Lucille electric guitar and his
Fender Twin guitar amplifier.
Anyone who wants to help
with this or help an artist
replace their instruments
please contact us.
Taj Mahal checked in the other day. He spent
his summer touring Europe and along the way
telling every reporter about MMRF and our mission. He has invited his friend Tito Jackson to
come along to the Fishin' Tourney this winter.
Dixiefrog, a French Record Company, has issued
an incredible box set of Music Maker artists.This
two-disc set comes in a beautifully designed digipack and a 36-page booklet.This will be sold in
France and Europe. Check it out on
www.bluesweb.com.We will have limited copies
for sale.
Captain Luke's transmission went out on his
car and the estimate was $1700 to repair it. John
Creech helped the Captain locate an affordable
car and MMRF was able to keep Luke on the
road.
Macavine Hayes has been invited to perform in
Italy next summer!!
Eddie Tigner is doing okay. He is in his late 70s
and still is working at the school cafeteria, as he
cannot afford to retire.You can catch him at Fat
Max's in Atlanta on Thursday nights.
Jerry “Boogie” McCain had a terrible car
wreck. It is a blessing that he is alive. He is doing
well, writing songs and hopefully will get back in
the studio soon to record some of them.
Ardie Dean took Essie Mae Brooks into a
studio in Macon, Georgia and
recorded another album for her.
He is presently mixing the session and adding some organ
parts.
Slewfoot and Cary B. are
staying with us at the MM head
quarters. Slewfoot while visiting
family in West Virginia, had to
have triple by-pass heart surgery. He is doing well despite
not being able to return to his
home in New Orleans and having an unclear future. He and
Cary have been busy picking up
performances in Virginia and
North Carolina.
Guy le American, Hillsborough, NC ©Tim Duffy
Guy le American has traveled from France
to the States well over 50 times. He visited Tim in Hillsborough, NC and convinced
Dixie Frog Records in France to release a
MM Box Set which Guy personally picked
the songs.
Algia Mae Hinton just had a birthday and she
is doing well. She is not performing as much as
she used to.
John Dee Holeman performed an incredible
opening set for Tift Merrit at the NC Museum
of Art in Raleigh earlier this summer. Zeke
Hutchins, the great drummer for Tift, soon after
took John Dee into the studio and has begun
work on a killer studio album for John Dee. John
has been feeling poorly as of late, and still carries
the enormous responsibility of caring for his
invalid wife Janet.
Carl Rutherford's lungs have
stopped processing oxygen, so
even the canned stuff does not
help. He is always positive and
amazingly is still performing. Call
him at 304 875 4483 if you want
to wish him well.
Cora Mae Bryant, the daughter of Georgia Blues legend Curley Weaver, is
still writing songs all the time.At the age of 79 she
has created her own totally unique and beautiful
guitar style to accompany her singing.
Glenn Hinson found a recording session with
Etta Baker from the 80s that predates her
Rounder Recordings. It appears that there are
plenty of banjo tunes on these sessions. Our hope
is to release an Etta Baker Banjo album in the
near future.
We wish to thank Marti Marek for donating a
beautiful custom shop Fender Telecaster to Lee
Gates after she read about his desire to own
one in our last Rag.
J.C. McCool the old-time fiddler that composed
“The Black Mountain Rag” is not doing very well,
he is greatly appreciative of the monthly checks
we have sent him for the last ten years. He
relates,“ I just do not know how I would have
made it with the help I have gotten from Music
Maker.”
Lee Gates loves his new Albert Collins Fender
Telecaster. He plays it all the time. Lee called and
he has subscribed to XM Radio! Bill Wax, the
DJ of Bluesville loves to get calls from Lee who
often requests songs from his CD. Lee exclaims
Larry Shores is in Kettle Creek,Washington; he
is disabled from years of hard work and hopes to
spend the rest of his time on his music. Check out
his genius banjo work on “Apple Picking Time” in
the MM Treasure Box.
Drink Small is still talking great junk, keeping
folks smiling, laughing and thinking.We have been
able to help the Blues Doctor this year when
work was slow.
Beverly “Guitar” Watkins is recovering nicely
from her operation. She was so pleased to
receive a get-well note from her sister in the
blues, Bonnie Raitt. Beverly will soon be back out
on the stages around the world.
designing our MM Treasure Box,
including Adolphus Bell and Lee
Gates CDs and assorted advertisements.
Worthington who are donating
the proceeds from a 50th birthday
party being held in Saxapahaw,
NC.
We wish to thank Anthony
Cross, Kris Handel,Tom
Simmons and Jonathan
Kirchner for their great help as
interns at MMRF.These folks have
all been a joy to work with and
they really have done excellent
work!
Donations are also pouring in
from all over.Thanks to the Paseo
Artists Association of
The Paseo Arts District of
Oklahoma City for their offer to
donate living space along with
exhibition and performance and
literary opportunities, creative
space, basic needs, and artistic
supplies and to Pam Rivers for her
offer of free temporary housing in
the suburbs of Boston.
We wish to welcome Dr. David
Thurber to our advisory board.
David has lent his invaluable
expertise to the service of many
of our artists.
We want to mount a MM radio
show on our website that
streams all the MM CDs randomly. If anyone can help us with this
then we all could be listening to
some great tunes on our computers.
Sol, Little Pink Anderson, and Cool John at Henry Slyker’s home ©Tim Duffy
Little Pink Anderson and Cool John Ferguson two incredible South Carolina blues men performed
incredibly at a party thrown at Henry Slyker's home.
Music Maker had a very active
year with many performances.
Music Maker Revue shows traveled to Australia, Italy,
Cognac and Paris, France,
Montana,Washington D.C.,
and Iowa.This October we go
back to Nancy, France and in
November George Higgs tours
France for two weeks. We are
already getting offers to travel to
Italy next summer.
We wish to thank Lightnin'
Wells and John Price for their
influential terms as board members of MMRF. Lightnin' Wells
served 10 years and was instrumental in our forming relationships with artists such as Big Boy
Henry, George Higgs, Algia Mae
Hinton and offering his invaluable
insight into the lives of the artists
that we served. John Price's
George Higgs, Adolphus Bell, Mavis Staples, and Willie King, Cognac, France© Tim Duffy
three-year term had a profound
impact on MMRF. He befriended
Sol has just produced an incredible rock and roll dozens of MM artists and literally introduced
CD by Abe Reid and the Spike Drivers.
them all to thousands of blues fans by sponsoring
them at the Portsmouth Blues Festival. John was
Haskell Whistlin' Britches, who signs his
instrumental in developing our public relations
name Whisper Pants, has been suffering this
program that led to articles in the NY Times and
summer with his sugar and high blood. Capt.
being featured on ABC News. John and Lightnin'
Luke has a hard time getting him to the doctor,
have pledged to continue to champion our misbut amazingly this week he is doing well and it
sion and will now join our advisory board.
making it to his gigs and driving crowds wild.
We’d like to thank Rod Stewart for donating
$25,000 to the New Orleans Musicians Fund.
We want to thank the City of Durham and the
Durham Herald Sun for their awesome support of the Warehouse Blues Series. Artists Abe
Reid & the Spike Drivers, Benton Flippen, John
Dee Holeman, Drink Small, Cool John Ferguson,
Pura Fé, George Higgs, Lightnin' Wells,The Tim
Smith Band, Macavine Hayes, Captain Luke,
Whistlin’ Britches, and Skeeter Brandon all gave
command performances to terrific audiences.
We wish to thank Bill Lucado, Mike Hatchet
and all the other people who have offered homes
or apartments to musicians displaced by Katrina.
Heating costs are going to be very high this
winter with at present costs.This is serious: costing artists up to $300 -$500 a month to stay
warm.Your contributions help. If anyone has the
means or an idea to keep MM artists warm this
winter, contact us.
We are happy to accept your gifts of appreciated stock. Please contact [email protected].
Patricia Aldrich from Chicago called
to order our lowest-selling CD. She
said she just wanted to support a lesser-known and lesser-selling artist.
MusiCares, a nonprofit agency that is part of
the Grammys has also been granting money to
musicians in need.We congratulate them!!
Thanks to all the offers of help we've
gotten for our New Orleans
Musicians Fund. In just the past two
weeks we've been inundated with calls
from people wanting to hold benefit
events to support this fund.
Volunteers holding fundraisers to
directly support the NOMF include:
We wish to thank Fred and Mary Jane Peace
who have put up permanent installations of our
poster of David Johnson's hand and our mission
statement in Applebee's in Idaho, Alabama,
Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, and two in
Georgia, one in Savannah and Warner Robbins.
Drink Small, Durham, NC,Warehouse Blues ©Tim Duffy
We are extending our $10 CD sale into the fall,
so please continue to stock up and get a wall of
MM releases on your shelf. Also take note of the
Music Maker Treasure Box as a Holiday Gift
this coming season.This is an incredible set of
tunes the majority of which have never been
released before.
We traveled to the Byron Bay Blues Festival
early this spring.This festival has three huge tents
side by side and we were proud to be scheduled
to perform with the Dave Matthews Band on
our left and Solomon Burke to our right.To our
amazement our middle tent was full of people
and the next day Beverly “Guitar” Watkins was
featured in the national paper. Event director
Peter Noble said; “It was a fantastic festival with
many high points. Australian acts like Missy
Higgins and the Beautiful Girls absolutely stood
out alongside international acts like Dave
Matthews Band,The Frames, REM and Gomez.
The Music Maker Foundation was also stunning.”
We wish to thank HendersonBromsteadArt of
Winston-Salem, NC for their great help in
Bob Edwards did a 40-minute interview with
Tim Duffy about his work for XM Radio. Listen
The Basic Motorcycle Club in Norway is
having a Blues Barhang to raise money for our
New Orleans Musicians Fund!
Ferdinando Vighi, the vice-president of the
Roots'n'Blues Association from Parma, Italy has
taken on the mission to promote American
Roots music in Italy.They have pledged to help
MMRF with our mission and we truly appreciate
their support.
Many thanks to Dino Perrucci for
calling Gibson Guitars and convincing
them to donate a beautiful Les Paul
guitar to Little Freddie King.
Music Maker News
Writer Robert Coltman is writing a biography
on the very influential folksinger and ballad scholar Paul Clayton. Tim Duffy is conducting
interviews for Bob with Paul's closest friends.
to this great piece on our website.
Billie Shambley and the General
Store Café in Pittsboro, NC; Matt
Schroeder and Dan Johnston from the Town
Pump Tavern in Black Mountain, NC; Bill
Broussard in Austin,TX; Lisa Hearns from the
Berklee College of Music in New York; Michelle
and Geoff Achison in Melbourne, Australia;
Pete Evans and the Door Community
Auditorium in Fish Creek,Wisconsin; Deborah
Self in Berkeley, CA; Mike Lucas and the MidOhio Valley Blues, Jazz and Folk Music Society in
Marietta, OH; Karl Reifschneider and the
Blues Society of Western NY; Cindy Floyd in
Eureka Springs, AK; Joanne Mullen and her
son's band, Blackbyrd, in Warwick, NY; Elisa
Goldman, a student at Concordia University in
Montreal,Quebec; Tristan Allen and her
boyfriend's band, Miracle Train in Warren,VT; and
Lee Hall Worthington and John
Offers of instrument donations
have come from Mina Carson of
Corvallis, OR; Jill Simmons from
Pittsburgh, PA; Julia E Babb's
donation of a pocket trumpet;
Karen Pinzolo's 15yr old son's
alto sax; and Sara Bell's offer of a
guitar, banjo, and mandolin.
Blues for
a benefit for the
the Bayou
Robert Randolph
and the Family Band
Cool John Ferguson
Little Freddie King
Abe Reid and the Spikedrivers
Slewfoot & Cary B with Earle Brown
7:30pm
Tickets available
at ramsheadlive.com
Support the New
Orleans
Musicians Fund
Come out for a
great night of music
Rams Head Live • 20 Market Place • Power Plant Live • Baltimore, MD
410-244-8854 • ramsheadlive.com
EVENTS
Oct ! " Americana Series " Europa Jazz#
featuring Katharine Whalen at Fowlers#
$% S Duke St# Durham# NC
Oct &"' " Pura Fé and the Deer Clan
Singers# UNC"CH#Chapel Hill# NC
Oct $( " Lightnin' Wells# Blanch# NC
&:))"':()pm# Danville Community
College
Oct %% " Americana Series " Check
website for talent " at Fowlers# $% S
Duke St# Durham# NC
Oct* $! " Cool John, Essie Mae Brooks,
Adolphus Bell, Eddie Tigner, George Higgs,
Tim Duffy, Ardie Dean, Sol, Nancy
Festival in France
Oct %) " Cool John, Macavine Hayes,
Captain Luke, Whistlin’ Britches, Slewfoot
and Cary B, Raleigh# NC# Meredith
College# &:()pm
Oct %% " Slewfoot and Cary B. #
Roanoke# VA# The Club at Fiji Island
Oct %' " New Orleans Musicians Fund#
Baltimore# MD# Come out for a night
of music and help the musicians of the
Gulf Area* Visit musicmaker*org for
more info*
Nov + " Cool John Ferguson# Durham#
NC# Northgate Mall
Music Maker Rag 3
The Ultimate
For the
Gift O
$35 Music Maker
Treasure Box: 3 CDs, 36
pg booklet, poster and guitar
pick in a cool bag, a donation in
the recipient’s name & subscription to the Music Maker Rag.
CD Reviews
Etta Baker with Taj Mahal
Pura Fé
by: James Calamine
Music Maker Relief Foundation is a nonprofit organization
dedicated to helping pioneering southern musicians with food, shelter, medical needs,
tour support, and instrument acquisition.
Tim Duffy founded Music Maker in
1994. In addition to recent re-issues of
old projects (Guitar Gabe, Cootie Stark,
Neal Pattman), Music Maker recently
released two new classic collections by Etta
Baker and Pure Fé.
Etta Baker was born in 1913 amid the hills of
Morganton, North Carolina. She began playing
guitar at age four. Baker remains the premiere female
Piedmont blues guitar instrumentalist in the country.
Taj Mahal, tireless Music Maker consultant, elucidated on Baker's musical prowess.“Because she was a
stunning beauty, Etta's husband refused to let her
travel and perform away from home. She never
stopped playing music! This gracious grandmother was the source of a great deal of joy
and surprise when I found out that she still
played guitar after I heard her early recordings in the
sixties. One of the signature chords of my guitar vocabulary
comes from her version of “Railroad Bill”.This was the first guitar-picking style that I ever learned.”
The first ten songs on this new release epitomize classic
Appalachian-tinctured instrumentals. Baker's masterful guitar
playing, accompanied by Mahal, provides an earthly, organic
sound that creates a fine front-porch soundtrack no matter the
location.
“Paul Clayton had a cabin outside of Charlottesville,Virginia, and
he would bring his musician friends down from the folk scene in
New York to visit Etta. Paul, a friend to Bob Dylan brought Bob
and Suze Rotolo to visit Etta in 1962 to celebrate Bob's 21st
birthday. Bob soon after rewrote Clayton's song “Whose Going
To Buy You Ribbons,When I'm Gone” into “Don't Think
Twice, It's Alright” which you can clearly hear Etta's guitar influence.” This Etta Baker collection emerges as a
classic blues mantra.
…
Pure Fé is her birth name. In Spanish it translates,
“Pure Faith”. Born in 1959, Pure Fé was named
by her Puerto Rican father, and raised by her
Tuscarora mother in a family of female singers.
“We can count four generations of seven
singing sisters in a row, through our maternal
line. Our voice stems out of North Carolina, the ancestral homeland of the Tuscarora Nation.”
Pure Fé founded Ulali, a premiere
Native singing and drum group, 18
years ago. Ulali's music has appeared
in MIRAMAX's Smoke Signal,The
TURNER documentary The Native
Americans, and Robbie Robertson &
The Red Road Ensemble. She continues
spreading the indigenous musical influence
of her people across the country.
Follow Your Heart's Desire features Cool
John Ferguson-- the Music Maker guitar wizard, legendary guitarist Willie Lowry, and the
Deer Clan Singers who originate from the
Tuscarora community.
These songs blend various musical influences from Ferguson's
blues-laced licks or tribal harmonies of the Deer Clan. Pure Fé
recently opened for Neil Young, and she continues to gain exposure through the great organization of Music Maker. For more
information on this indelible cause, visit www.musicmaker.org
Track 11, a 21-second “Poem”, remains the only lyrics on this
collection.The first 13 tracks were recorded from 1998-2004.
The last six songs were recorded in 1956.
Music Maker's president,Tim Duffy, wrote in the CD liner notes:
Little Freddie King:
You Don't Know What I Know
Little Freddie King = RL Burnside + Junior
Kimbrough
Dirty, messy blues, stripped down, devoid of flash, sequins
and marketing campaigns, primal as hell-that's where it's at,
and that's what Little Freddie King does so well. All blues
artists sick to simplicity, but Little Freddie's brand of simplicity is dripping with soul, feeling, groove and passion.That
groove is his strength: harmonica, guitar and steady drumming combine to make a head-bobbing infection that'd
spread faster than the bubonic plague, if only people knew
musicmaker.org 4
about it. Let them eat Bizkit. Now I know where The Fall got
their notion of one repeating riff for an entire song and
tossing choruses and bridges-the blues; and that's part of the
reason The Fall were so powerful. “Chicken Dance Remix”
gets harder and more boogie-woogie; lotsa jangly piano's
thrown in. Little Freddie, an annual performer at the New
Orleans Jazz Festival, dejunks his songs, generally sticks to
one riff with some raw, ragged soloing, lets the naked emotion shine through-nudity was never so appealing, ladies and
gentlemen. --- Rebecca Vernon
Please order CD from www.fatpossum.com
$50 Music M
Treasure B
John Fergu
Yule” (or an
your choice) a
recipient’s name
to the Music M
e Cure
e Holiday Blues
Music Maker Treasure Box
ptions
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ox plus Cool
son, “Cool
MM CD of
donation in the
& subscription
ker Rag.
$135 Music Maker
Treasure Box and a Givin’
it Back Record Club:
Adolphus Bell, One-Man Band &
three more new MM CDs shipped
throughout 2006, a donation in the
recipient’s name and a subscription
to the Music Maker Rag.
Music Maker
Treasure Box
Support Music Maker by gifting this holiday season with the
Music Maker Treasure Box for
only $35.This is an anthology
of the greatest hidden purveyors of roots music in the South
featuring blues from the early
years of last century, electric
blues, R&B, Indian music, oldtime country, singer-songwriter,
folk, jazz and spoken poetry.
Nearly four ours of music in
three CDs presenting 38
artists, 53 tracks, 41 of the
songs never before issued!
Cool John
Ferguson
“Cool Yule”
Cool Yule has a universal
appeal that stretches beyond
the borders of Christmas.This
set will stay in your player until
the New Year. This instrumental masterwork performed and
arranged by Cool John
Ferguson is a never-ending
source for listening pleasure
Givin’ it Back
Record Club
By joining, you help issue
CDs for recipient artists. Most
of these men and women have
spent a lifetime performing
their music and have never
recorded.
Join the Givin’ it Back
Record Club and you will
receive a new Music Maker CD
every three months for one
year.The CDs are mailed out in
December, March, June and
September.You will be the first
to receive a brand new release
prior to it’s issue on our website or retail stores. Adolphus
Bell, One-Man Band is our
December selection.
Adolphus has been playing
street music for 35 years. He
explains, “ I am the world’s
greatest One-man band, I sing,
talk, play the harp, guitar and
beat the drums all at the same
time!” In this set Adolphus
presents the greatest blues and
R&B from the 60s with his own
ingenious songs.Through the
aid of our programs he has
begun touring Europe and the
United States and has earned
enough income to get his own
apartment. He has a promising
career on his horizon.
musicmaker.org
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any MM CD)____________________________________
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SALE
all CDs $ 1 0 • shipping $ 5 per address • musicmaker.org
Little Pink Anderson •Carolina Bluesman
showcases a masterful country blues player
displaying some exceptional guitar chops and
soulful vocals. Little Pink evokes the relaxed
charm of his father tackling songs he obviously played with the old man.
Etta Baker •Railroad Bill “One of the signature
chords of my guitar vocabulary comes from her
version of Railroad Bill. Enjoy this beautiful
album of guitar instrumentals.” -Taj Mahal
Etta Baker with Taj Mahal A set of timeless
beauty, spanning almost half a century, from
a great lady of American vernacular music.
Etta Bker is credited with helping spark the
folk music revival in the 60s- no small feat
for someone who didn't become a professional musician until she was in her 60s. This set
includes duets with Taj Mahal plus all of her
classic 1956 recordings.
New Release Etta Baker & Cora Phillips •Carolina
Breakdown This set was recorded in the late
80s when Etta Baker was in her prime. Her
older sister Cora Phillips backs her up on guitar while Etta plays the banjo. Etta sings two
songs on the release!
New Release
Sweet Betty: Live and Let Live. Betty grew up
singing gospel, blues and popular songs of the
day. In the mid 1380’s, she met saxophonist,
Grady “Fats” Jackson. Jackson was so
impressed with Betty’s voice that he began
featuring her on his shows throughout
Georgia. Sweet Betty has since traveled
thoughout the United States and Europe and
is considered the finest blues singer in
Atlanta.
Essie Mae Brooks •Rain in Your Life Essie Mae raises her voice and expresses her faith in her original collection of gospel songs. Cool John
Férguson accompanies her on most of the album
with his light and masterful improvisations on
guitar and piano.
Cora Mae Bryant • Born with the Blues Cora Mae
Bryant is the daughter of Georgia guitar legend
Curley Weaver. The combination of her father's
and her own songs, accompanied by expert
Georgia blues guitarist Joshua Jacobson, make
this a very entertaining set.
Cora Mae Bryant •Born in Newton County "is a
stunning record featuring exceptional guitar playing that owes a strong debt to her father but
also to his frequent partner Blind Willie McTell.
New Release Precious Bryant • My Name is Precious In this
CD we did not hold back, we went through hours
of recordings and have presented 26 songs showcasing Precious’ unique voice and infectiously
charming style. The recording quality is absolutely stellar, among the finest audiophile recording
quality one will ever stumble across.
Mr. Frank Edwards • Chicken Raid A career
that spanned nine decades, Edwards saw
blues music evolve. This CD captures his last
recording session the day of his death. That
day he played the strongest of his career.
Pura Fé •Follow Your Hearts Desire Native
chanteuse Pura Fé didn't just chance upon the
myriad music styles you hear on her debut.
They flow in her blood…Robbie Robertson
recently said Pura Fé has 'the voice of an
angel.' Believe the hype! -Toronto Sun
Cool John Ferguson Here is Cool John
Férguson, a previously uncelebrated musician,
laying down tracks that led Grammy winner
Taj Mahal to proclaim him one of the world’s
finest guitarists.
musicmaker.org 6
born in 1915, was a sawmill worker, a tobacco sharecropper, moonshiner, and blues and
old-time guitarist. He made these recordings
at the age of 78. Preston weaves stories of
his life through both secular and sacred
songs.
Lee Gates and the Alabama Cotton Kings One
New Release
must rejoice in the "happening" of this CD,
especially the glorious tone of Lee’s guitar.
After performing for 52 years I have a feeling
that Lee is just beginning his recording career.
Guitar Gabriel • Volume One "Guitar Gabriel
ventures well beyond drink houses into his own
private Birdland, an improvisational crossroads
where the starkly pre-modern meets the startlingly postmodern and the Devil's "got his
hair tied up in a ponytail/ to keep all the
drunks confused." -Cree McCree
Guitar Gabriel • Toot Blues
“This CD is not for the faint of heart. It is raw,
unembellished, and drenched with feeling-liable
to elicit whoops, hollers, and spontaneous banging on whatever furniture is handy.” -David
Nelson
Algia Mae Hinton • Honey Babe “Algia Mae is a
great example of what is called in and
throughout the African Diaspora, "Original
Joe." This is an innovative character that survives and creates anew under all circumstances. Algia Mae Hinton is someone not to
be missed!” -Taj Mahal
John Dee Holman • Bull Durham Blues “John Dee
Holeman is a wonderful carrier of the southeast blues tradition.”
-Taj Mahal
Clyde Langford • High Steppin’ Momma Everyone
needs an dose of his East Texas Blues!
Capt. Luke & Cool John • Outsider Lounge Music
Here is Captain Luke, singing like a disenfranchised Dean Martin, rumbling low and
wise enough to make Barry White sound
pre-adolescent. Features a beautiful 20 pg.
Booklet.
Jerry "Boogie" McCain • This Stuff Just Kills
Me No one plays a harp or sings the blues
quite like Jerry "Boogie" McCain. Backed by a
stellar rhythm section, Jerry's accompanied by a
lineup of guest musicians including Johnnie
Johnson, Anson Funderburgh and Jimmie
Vaughn.
Mudcat • Kickin’ Chicken Guaranteed to make
you want to get up and dance!
Carl Rutherford • Turn Off the Fear
Here is grandfatherly Carl Rutherford’s devastating take on “The Old Rugged Cross” and other
jewels that showcase his unique blend of Buck
Owens-styled twang, old time gospel numbers
and harrowing mining songs making him a
true American original.
Macavine Hayes • Drinkhouse
A powerful, raw release after 50 years of playing the blues. Cool John Ferguson, Ardie Dean,
Michael Parrish and Tim Duffy create a tight
combo that perfectly matches Macavine Hayes'
pure juke-joint blues.
George Higgs • Tarboro Blues
Acoustic Piedmont blues by George Higgs, a
North Carolinian, who was inspired to take up
the harmonica as a child after hearing Deford
Bailey on the radio and seeing Peg Leg Sam
at medicine shows and then learned to play
guitar as a teenager. Voted the best blues
album of 2001 by Living Blues.
Mudcat • I’ll Be Young Once Too a tremendous
slide guitarist, and most of all a god-gifted entertainer. I have witnessed him light up packed houses at the Great American Music Hall in San
Francisco, at the Irving Plaza in New York, to open
air concerts in front of 10,000 folks in Lugano,
Switzerland, to sitting on a curb in San Jose, Costa
Rica entertaining dozens of young kids. Mud is
born to make people smile
and enjoy life
Neal Pattman • Prison Blues Featuring
Taj Mahal & Lee Konitz Neals harp
playing ad vocals have that classic sound that
can only come from someone who has been
steeped in the blues all of his life. He plays joyous, animated harp that recalls the whoopin'
sound of Sonny Terry and an equal amount of
country thrown in for good measure.
Guitar Gabriel • Deep in the South
Guitar Gabriel boogies and cries heart-felt
country blues in this set. He knew Blind Boy
Fuller in his youth, traveled with medicine
shows.
Big Boy Henry • Beaufort Blues
He is one of the sweetest, most gentle men ever to
sing the blues. A patriarch of the Carolina Blues, Big
Boy has recorded a collection of timeless songs,
respectfully backed by a group of friends.
Dave McGrew • Fruit Tramp Ballads of the
Great Northwest tells the stories of the fruit
tramps. Day jobbers during the fruit harvesting
season. A beautiful yet uneasy folk album.
New Release
Slewfoot and the Angels • Grasshopper Pie
Slewfoot's debut release for MM showcases his
incredibly diverse and original song writing.
With vocal partner Cary B, "Grasshopper Pie"
features a stellar array of New Orleans' finest.
New Orleans second-line, the blues and even
Hawaiian slack-key combine to bring a fresh
new flavor to the Music Maker lineup.
Slewfoot and Carrie B • Rainin’ in New Orleans
Slew and Carrie rainin' in new Orleans: In this
second release Slewfoot is joined by his muse
Carrie B. These are real songs from the streets
of New Orleans. Slewfoot is a great poet, both
are wonderful singers and musicians, a must
have.
Sol • volume blue While many young, white
musicians attempt to replicate the blues masters' art, sol steers clear of imitation in favor
of excavation and transport. Sounds carry
beyond genre, beyond origin and often beyond
the grave. Ancient truths of the blues arrive
in some new place, through some new voice,
through some kid who is sol.
Cootie Stark • Sugar Man Featuring Taj
Mahal & Lee Konitz Sugar Man doesn’t merely proclaim "Cootie Stark was here."
It is evidence that Stark was, and is, an idiosyncratic, tremendously talented musician. It’s
a sonic monument, and a mirror that immediately blurs the textbook pages dedicated to
Piedmont Blues. It’s a big deal.
Lightnin' Wells • Ragged but Right
Lightnin'' Wells has been performing his
Piedmont-tinged variety of American roots
music for 35 years. His vibrant, good-natured
vocals and melody-rich guitar playing recall
the sounds of 1930's and '40's string bands
and barrelhouse bluesmen. Producer Tim
Duffy, Cool John Ferguson and Taj Mahal and
Ardie Dean sit in on a few tracks.
A Living Past This was the first album in the
Music Maker series and has been heralded as
a classic recording by reviewers throughout
the world. This album is a superb sampler of
the traditional blues scene in North Carolina.
Blues Came to Georgia Music Maker's Tim
Duffy has assembled this collection of 15
songs to illustrate the continuing vitality of
grassroots blues in Georgia at the turn of
the century.
Came So Far This CD presents eighteen selections by twelve astonishing blues and gospel
artists. This album was made in the field, in
old trailers, kitchens, living rooms and nursing homes.
Expressin' the Blues This collection features 21
songs by 21 of the most talented and unsung
heroes of the blues. Here is a collection of
some of the most emotional, gut-level music
available on disc, the feelings intensified by
the immediacy of the recordings.
Music Maker with Taj Mahal Blues legend Taj
Mahal backs up Music Maker artists on
upright bass, hambone, banjo, piano and guitar. Plus two wonderful solo acoustic tracks by
the great man himself.
Sisters of the SouthThe music covers a wide
spectrum, from gospel and country blues in
the Piedmont style, to the modern blues of
Beverly "Guitar" Watkins. Original recordings. Women, too, do have the blues…
Songs from the Roots of America II
A companion to the book "Music Makers:
Portraits & Songs from the Roots of America"
this CD presents 21 songs by 21 artists, the
majority of which are otherwise unreleased
recordings.
Music Maker Book with CD $30
The story of Music Maker comes to
life in this beautiful collection of
photos and writings. The 70 musicians profiled in this book take you
on a soulful ride you’ll never forget.
Includes a 23-track CD and a forward by B.B. King.208 pages, 11" x
8", 160 b&w photographs, hardcover.
Music Maker Book with 2 CDs $40 Get the Book plus CD AND Songs
from the Roots of America II, an additional 21 track CD including
Taj Mahal's version of "Creole Belle"...all but two tracks previously unreleased.
MM Treasure Box $35
3 CDs, 36 pg booklet,
poster and guitar pick in a
cool bag, a donation in the
recipient’s name & subscription to the Music Maker
Rag.
Cootie Stark • Raw Sugar Cootie is one of the
last great bluesmen from the Piedmont
Tradition. Taj Mahal joins Cootie on hambone,
piano, bass, harp, banjo and guitar. 72-minutes of the best blues and old-time music.
MM Treasure Box &
Tremendous recording, a masterpiece, buy this Cool John Ferguson, “Cool Yule” (or any MM$50
CD of your choice) a donaCD!
tion in the recipient’s name & subscription to the Music Maker
Eddie Tigner • Route 66Eddie Tigner performed Rag.
as an Ink Spot for over 30 years. In this $135 MM Treasure Box and a Givin’ it Back Record Club: Adolphus
album Eddie and his band exuberantly nail a Bell, One-Man Band and three more new Music Maker CD releases
set of timeless standards.
shipped throughout 2006, a donation in the recipient’s name and a
Cool John Ferguson • Cool Yule Cool John’s
incredibly innovative arrangements make this
album of Christmas instrumentals so wonderful you will play this disc all year long!
Jerry "Boogie" McCain • Unplugged Jerry
"Boogie" McCain is the greatest post war
harp player alive today. This is Jerry's one
and only acoustic album. Jerry shines with
his brilliant song writing in this intimate set
of down home blues.
Beverly "Guitar" Watkins • Back in Business Here subscription to the Music Maker Rag.
Givin’ it Back Record Club: Join
is Beverly "Guitar" Watkins, previously heard
the Givin’ it Back Record Club
from as one of Dr. Feelgood’s interns,
and
you will receive a new
decreeing herself "Back in Business." This is
Music Maker CD every three
a highly charged record by this powerful
months for one year. The CDs
performer.
Cool John Ferguson • Guitar Heaven Taj Mahal
tells, "He’s up there with Hendrix, Wes
Montgomery, Django Reinhart, people like
that, he’s an incredible player!”
Jerry "Boogie" McCain • My Name is Boogie
McCain is the last true master of the amplified
blues harp, a good singer, and a crackerjack
songwriter.
The Feelings of Beverly “Guitar” Watkins
Beverly is the leading woman guitar player of
her generation. Beverly is a pyrotechnic guitar maen whose searing, ballistic attacks on
the guitar have become allegorical tales within the blues community.
Preston Fulp • Sawmill Worker Preston Fulp,
are mailed out in December,
March, June and September.
You will be the first to receive
a brand new release prior to
us issue on our website or
retail stores. Adolphus Bell,
One-Man Band is our
December selection.
was in his sixties. Although Burnside had made
occasional appearances at European blues festivals, and had been recorded by the folklorist
George Mitchell in 1968, he came to public attention only after 1991, when he was the first act
signed to Fat Possum, a Mississippi-based label
that has become famous for rejuvenating lost - or
previously non-existent - blues and country music
careers.
Silent String
R.L. Burnside
I met R.L. Burnside in the early 90s, we hung
around Memphis for a day with his friend Junior
Kimbrough, and they both invited me to their
Juke joint out in the hill country of Mississippi. I
went and had an incredible time.They were both
such gracious men. At that time the Fat Possum
record label was just forming and they were
interested in signing Guitar Gabriel and issuing an
anthology of the blues artists I was working with.
Matthew Johnson and I were both disillusioned by
the blues scene, record companies, festivals and
folklorists. At that time artists such as RL were
working for low pay and had very little recognition. Soon after I founded the nonprofit and
Matthew continued with his label that within a
few years had unprecedented commercial success. R.L. became the world's greatest known
country-blues artist. Here is an obituary, which
was sent to me, I am sorry that the writer is not
credited,
RL Burnside, who died on Thursday aged 78, was
one of the last of the Mississippi hill-country
bluesmen, and won public recognition only late in
life when he was taken up by the pioneering blues
recording label, Fat Possum.
The singer and guitarist plied his raw blues round
Mississippi in relative obscurity, while scraping a
living as a sharecropper and fisherman, until he
Described by Fat Possum's founder, Matthew
Johnson, as "a happy-go-lucky nihilist", Burnside
became the label's best-selling artist. He also
found an enthusiastic following among young rock
fans, thanks to his association with the Jon
Spencer Blues Explosion, with which he collaborated on an album - A Ass Pocket of Whiskey - in
1996. (When Burnside's wife heard it she asked
him: "You mean you do that stuff in public?")
Two years later, in an attempt to capitalize on
Burnside's new, younger audience, Fat Possum
released a hip-hop remix of his material called
Come On In; this also did well, selling 50,000
copies, although it upset the purists.
Born at the town of Harmontown, Mississippi,
into a family
of sharecroppers on
November
23 1926, RL
Burnside
learned to
play blues
from Fred
McDowell,
who lived
nearby. In the
1940s he
spent several
years in
Chicago,
where he
worked in a
foundry and
got to know
Muddy
Waters, who
had married
his first
cousin.
After Burnside returned to Mississippi, he shot a
man who, he claimed, had been attempting to run
him out of his home. Although he was convicted
of murder, the story goes that he had served only
three months in jail when a plantation owner persuaded a judge to release him, saying he needed
Having been signed to Fat Possum, Burnside
released a live album, Bad Luck City, in 1992, following this two years later with Too Bad Jim. His
raw, one-chord progression blues on songs such
as Death Bell Blues and Shake 'Em On Down
received critical acclaim.
Burnside's band, the Sound Machine, included several members of his family. In all he released more
than a dozen albums, and by the late 1990s he
was said to be earning more than $100,000 a
year. He continued, however, to live in a cockroach-infested, tumbledown house near
Chulahoma, Mississippi, whose front garden was
home to a collection of old tires, engine blocks
and wrecked cars.
His last record was A Bothered Mind, which came
out last year.
In 1999 one
of his songs
was featured
on the
soundtrack
of The
Sopranos. RL
Burnside is
survived by
his wife, Alice
Mae, and 12
children. In
later life he
was nostalgic
for the old
days, before
civil rights
improved the
circumstances of
black people
in the Deep
South. "The
biggest
change I've seen in my life is more crime," he said
in 1999. "A 15-year-old chopped up his grandmother here so he could pawn her TV set.That
don't look like progress to me."
Make Sure you have all the NEW Music Maker Releases!
Thanks for asking! Slewfoot and Cary B live
in New Orleans and right now they are
staying in the MM guest house. He
came up to my office and was so touched
by everyone checking up on him and
related:
"Since I snuck this triple bypass to get out
of the hurricane, my biggest problem is to
continue milking this heart operation for
sympathy. Everybody’s sympathy is all used
up over that damn hurricane! It just ain’t
right! My lower lip is extended beyond
normal capacity. I’ve learned to talk like I
am really weak and sorrowful, you know.
But nobody wants to hear it. So, I guess I
will just have to recover. On a serious note
I can only just look at everyone I have contact with and say thank-you. The government took away my faith and the people
gave it back. What else can I say but thank
you to everyone we met. Total strangers
have seen our license plate and offered up
places to stay, money and any other kind of
assistance. MMRF has enabled myself and
Cary B. to actually help instead of just sitting doing nothing and this is probably the
best therapy and help anyone could give us.
Musicares and the American Red Cross,
Chapel Hill gave us enough money so that
we can survive and concentrate on helping
others."
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How is Slewfoot and Cary B doing, I hear
he had some troubles? Don’t they live in
New Orleans?
- Clamedia Washington, Upper Derby, PA
Gift TWO
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Email your questions to
[email protected]!
Sweet Betty was raised in Duluth, Ga and took an early interest in music listening to
her mother sing in church. Betty grew up singing gospel, blues and popular songs of
the day. In the mid 1380’s, she met saxophonist, Grady “Fats” Jackson. Jackson was so
impressed with Betty’s voice that he gegan featuring her on his shows throughout
Georgia. Sweet Betty has since traveled thoughout the United States and Europe and
is considered the finest blues singer in Atlanta.
Macavine Hayes: Drinkhouse, Precious Bryant: My Name is Precious, Etta
Baker & Cora Phillips: Carolina Breakdown, and Sweet Betty: Live and Let
Live
Attach additional page for orders over 8 CDs.
Ask Amy
Burnside to work during the cotton-planting season.
"I didn't mean to kill nobody," Burnside later said
of the murder. "I just meant to shoot the sonofabitch in the head. Him dying was between him
and the Lord."
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Music Maker Rag 7