NON-PROFIT MUSIC MAKER RELIEF FOUNDATION PROFILED BY PBS NEWSHOUR, NPR HERE & NOW, AND CBS EVENING NEWS AS NEW BOOK AND 2CD RELEASED
PBS’ Jeffrey Brown profiled the Music Maker Relief Foundation on the Newshour last night as the non-profit organization – which supports elderly traditional southern musicians who live in poverty – celebrates its 20th anniversary. Brown spoke with organization founder Tim Duffy, soul/funk piano man Ironing Board Sam and New Orleans expat singer Pat “Mother Blues” Cohen, and former Chairman of the National Endowment of the Humanities and author William Ferris. The segment also features plenty of performance footage of the many artists involves in the Music Maker Relief Foundation Homecoming, as well as Ironing Board Sam playing at his home.
NPR’s Here & Now recently paid a visit to Duffy, Piedmont bluesman and tractor driver Boo Hanks, and baritone singer Captain Luke. The profile and online-only performances of “Highway Blues” and “Keep On Truckin’” aired and posted October 6, 2014.
PBS also ran a spread of photos from the book on its website with audio from the homecoming concert and an exclusive video of Ironing Board Sam performing a beautiful solo rendition of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow."
CBS Evening News also ran a profile, also speaking with Ironing Board Sam and Captain Luke, explaining how the organization helps its artists with paying gigs, instruments, and album sales so that they can work.
The wave of attention comes as a new book We Are The Music Makers! Preserving the Soul of America's Music (Nautilus Press) and the 2CD set ‘We Are the Music Makers,’ an overview of the Music Maker catalogue compiled by Dom Flemons, both were released last month. The museum exhibition of the same title is on tour for the next several years, presently on display at the BB King Museum in Indianola, MS through November 30.
Music fans may make a tax-deductible donation to the non-profit at this link.
Showing posts with label nautilus press. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nautilus press. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Thursday, May 22, 2014
NAUTILUS PRESS CONFIRMS SEPT 15 RELEASE OF “WE ARE THE MUSIC MAKERS” HARDCOVER BOOK WITH PHOTOGRAPHS AND STORIES BY TIMOTHY AND DENISE DUFFY
ROLLING STONE AND ERIC CLAPTON HIGHLIGHT SOUTHERN MUSICAL CULTURE NON-PROFIT’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY: http://rol.st/1k0MQ0k
Nautilus Press has confirmed a September 15 release date for the book “We Are The Music Makers: Preserving The Soul Of America’s Music.” Written by Timothy and Denise Duffy, the book features over 65 photographs taken by Tim Duffy over twenty years along with the stories and songs. Tim Duffy's previous book “Portraits and Songs from the Roots of America” was released in 2002 and sold 15,000 copies.
In related news, Rolling Stone recently highlighted the Foundation’s twentieth anniversary by posting an acoustic blues song by Duffy with Eric Clapton. Clapton said, "Music Maker is a fabulous project, real evidence that the music I have always loved is alive and well."
Of the book, B.B. King said, “We are the Music Makers highlights an essential part of our culture, providing us a glimpse into the lives of the amazing, and often little known, musicians of the American South. Tim Duffy has taken every opportunity to sustain a dimension of Blues culture that could easily be lost forever, and nowhere is that more apparent than in his new book.”
Bonnie Raitt added, “The photographs in this book are not only beautiful, but reflect the deep love and dedication The Duffys have for both preserving traditional Blues culture and providing real support and opportunity for these wonderful musicians who might otherwise be forgotten.”
Character sketches and black and white photographs of great American musicians Etta Baker, John Dee Holeman, Jerry ‘Boogie’ McCain, Taj Mahal, Willie King, Othar Turner, Little Freddie King, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, Ironing Board Sam, and the original guiding light for the Foundation’s formation Guitar Gabriel are shared in the book. The book also highlights other artists nestled deep in southern culture and telling a hidden story of American music. The book also highlights the musician’s place in the southern community, a vital role that serves the laborers.
Photos from the book are here.
In the introduction, Denise writes, “Tim acknowledges a deep obligation to these artists, ‘It is no small thing to ask a musician for their song and their story. The only way we can hope to make an equal exchange is if the documentarian and the artist have a genuine relationship; they must share more than just the moment the photo is taken or the song is captured…’
Days spent sharing songs, food, laughter and far too many miles in vans and airplanes have built the bridges of trust that allow these artists to give their wisdom and art so generously. These artists share their life lessons with us because we are dedicated to presenting their music to the world with reverence and to be partners in their struggle for a better life…
We concluded that our nations musical traditions were suffering from starvation and underemployment… We get gigs for those that want to perform, guitars for those who want to play, and feed the hungry. Our initial grassroots effort to meet the needs of a handful of blues musicians in Winston-Salem, NC, has grown to assist hundreds through the generosity and passion of our supporters, employees and volunteers.”
“We Are the Music Makers” runs 144 pages and will be for sale at bookstores nationwide and on Amazon.com. List price is $38. It can be pre-ordered here or here.
Nautilus Press has confirmed a September 15 release date for the book “We Are The Music Makers: Preserving The Soul Of America’s Music.” Written by Timothy and Denise Duffy, the book features over 65 photographs taken by Tim Duffy over twenty years along with the stories and songs. Tim Duffy's previous book “Portraits and Songs from the Roots of America” was released in 2002 and sold 15,000 copies.
In related news, Rolling Stone recently highlighted the Foundation’s twentieth anniversary by posting an acoustic blues song by Duffy with Eric Clapton. Clapton said, "Music Maker is a fabulous project, real evidence that the music I have always loved is alive and well."
Of the book, B.B. King said, “We are the Music Makers highlights an essential part of our culture, providing us a glimpse into the lives of the amazing, and often little known, musicians of the American South. Tim Duffy has taken every opportunity to sustain a dimension of Blues culture that could easily be lost forever, and nowhere is that more apparent than in his new book.”
Bonnie Raitt added, “The photographs in this book are not only beautiful, but reflect the deep love and dedication The Duffys have for both preserving traditional Blues culture and providing real support and opportunity for these wonderful musicians who might otherwise be forgotten.”
Character sketches and black and white photographs of great American musicians Etta Baker, John Dee Holeman, Jerry ‘Boogie’ McCain, Taj Mahal, Willie King, Othar Turner, Little Freddie King, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, Ironing Board Sam, and the original guiding light for the Foundation’s formation Guitar Gabriel are shared in the book. The book also highlights other artists nestled deep in southern culture and telling a hidden story of American music. The book also highlights the musician’s place in the southern community, a vital role that serves the laborers.
Photos from the book are here.
In the introduction, Denise writes, “Tim acknowledges a deep obligation to these artists, ‘It is no small thing to ask a musician for their song and their story. The only way we can hope to make an equal exchange is if the documentarian and the artist have a genuine relationship; they must share more than just the moment the photo is taken or the song is captured…’
Days spent sharing songs, food, laughter and far too many miles in vans and airplanes have built the bridges of trust that allow these artists to give their wisdom and art so generously. These artists share their life lessons with us because we are dedicated to presenting their music to the world with reverence and to be partners in their struggle for a better life…
We concluded that our nations musical traditions were suffering from starvation and underemployment… We get gigs for those that want to perform, guitars for those who want to play, and feed the hungry. Our initial grassroots effort to meet the needs of a handful of blues musicians in Winston-Salem, NC, has grown to assist hundreds through the generosity and passion of our supporters, employees and volunteers.”
“We Are the Music Makers” runs 144 pages and will be for sale at bookstores nationwide and on Amazon.com. List price is $38. It can be pre-ordered here or here.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
MUSIC MAKER RELIEF FOUNDATION CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERSARY WITH MUSEUM EXHIBITION, COMPREHENSIVE 2CD SET, NEW BOOK, AND MORE
Music Maker Relief Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit, which supports
traditional, southern musicians who are living in poverty, is
celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2014. Music Maker has assisted
hundreds of artists with emergency aid and performance opportunities,
and their label has released 166 albums since Tim and Denise Duffy
founded it in 1994.
Taj Mahal, Music Maker advisory board member and strong advocate of the organization, said, "Through the efforts of the Music Makers Relief Foundation, these amazing people and artists have been able to live dignified lives. In many cases they were rediscovered during their golden years by Tim and Denise Duffy, then given the joy of new recognition by their families, peers and fans world-over!"
Music Maker has planned a series of events to commemorate the anniversary:
+ April 4 – Kickoff event at The Crunkleton, Chapel Hill, NC featuring Ironing Board Sam.
+ April 14 – Performances by Ironing Board Sam and David Bryant at the Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale, MS.
+ July – August 2014 – We Are the Music Makers museum exhibit on view at New York Public Library
+ September 15, 2014 – Release of We Are the Music Makers: Preserving the Soul of America's Music book on Nautilus Press
+ September 30, 2014 – Release of 2CD set 'We Are The Music Makers.'
+ October 3 – Official Launch of We Are the Music Makers exhibit at the Arts Center in
Carrboro, NC.
+ October 3 – 4 – Music Maker Reunion Weekend in Carrboro and Hillsborough, NC.
Written by the Duffys, the book features over 65 photographs taken by Tim Duffy over the past 20 years of artists he has worked with, along with the stories and songs of these musicians. Tim Duffy's previous book, Portraits and Songs from the Roots of America, was released in 2002 and sold 15,000 copies.
A 20th Anniversary compilation album will also be released on the Music Maker label in September 2014. The 44-track collection includes Taj Mahal, Guitar Gabriel, John Dee Holeman, Etta Baker, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, Leyla McCalla, Ironing Board Sam, and many others, with over two hours of music.
The traveling exhibit will include photographs from the book alongside field recordings and music from Music Maker's archive and will lead viewers on a journey of discovery through the often-overlooked artists of the American South.
Watch a video about Music Maker's mission.
"Early on, while studying with tremendous blues musicians throughout the South, I realized that our nation's musical traditions were suffering from starvation and underemployment," says Tim Duffy. "We founded the Music Maker Relief Foundation as a nonprofit in 1994 to preserve America's music by directly supporting the people who make the music. We get gigs for those that want to perform, guitars for those who want to play, and feed the hungry. Our initial grassroots effort to meet the needs of a handful of blues musicians in Winston-Salem, NC, has grown to assist hundreds."
Their talents were hidden by poverty, but they did not ask the Duffy's for money – they wanted work. The Duffys created a model of support focused on helping the artists they encountered meet basic needs so they could concentrate on their art – you can't play your guitar at a gig if you've pawned it to pay for heat. While assisting with day-to-day essentials, Music Maker staff work with an artist to develop booking materials such as an album and photographs, and work to get them gigs around the world. A priority for the Duffys was also to document these artists' music for future generations, and their extensive field recordings are archived at the Southern Folklife Collection at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Taj Mahal, Music Maker advisory board member and strong advocate of the organization, said, "Through the efforts of the Music Makers Relief Foundation, these amazing people and artists have been able to live dignified lives. In many cases they were rediscovered during their golden years by Tim and Denise Duffy, then given the joy of new recognition by their families, peers and fans world-over!"
Music Maker has planned a series of events to commemorate the anniversary:
+ April 4 – Kickoff event at The Crunkleton, Chapel Hill, NC featuring Ironing Board Sam.
+ April 14 – Performances by Ironing Board Sam and David Bryant at the Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale, MS.
+ July – August 2014 – We Are the Music Makers museum exhibit on view at New York Public Library
+ September 15, 2014 – Release of We Are the Music Makers: Preserving the Soul of America's Music book on Nautilus Press
+ September 30, 2014 – Release of 2CD set 'We Are The Music Makers.'
+ October 3 – Official Launch of We Are the Music Makers exhibit at the Arts Center in
Carrboro, NC.
+ October 3 – 4 – Music Maker Reunion Weekend in Carrboro and Hillsborough, NC.
Written by the Duffys, the book features over 65 photographs taken by Tim Duffy over the past 20 years of artists he has worked with, along with the stories and songs of these musicians. Tim Duffy's previous book, Portraits and Songs from the Roots of America, was released in 2002 and sold 15,000 copies.
A 20th Anniversary compilation album will also be released on the Music Maker label in September 2014. The 44-track collection includes Taj Mahal, Guitar Gabriel, John Dee Holeman, Etta Baker, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, Leyla McCalla, Ironing Board Sam, and many others, with over two hours of music.
The traveling exhibit will include photographs from the book alongside field recordings and music from Music Maker's archive and will lead viewers on a journey of discovery through the often-overlooked artists of the American South.
Watch a video about Music Maker's mission.
"Early on, while studying with tremendous blues musicians throughout the South, I realized that our nation's musical traditions were suffering from starvation and underemployment," says Tim Duffy. "We founded the Music Maker Relief Foundation as a nonprofit in 1994 to preserve America's music by directly supporting the people who make the music. We get gigs for those that want to perform, guitars for those who want to play, and feed the hungry. Our initial grassroots effort to meet the needs of a handful of blues musicians in Winston-Salem, NC, has grown to assist hundreds."
Their talents were hidden by poverty, but they did not ask the Duffy's for money – they wanted work. The Duffys created a model of support focused on helping the artists they encountered meet basic needs so they could concentrate on their art – you can't play your guitar at a gig if you've pawned it to pay for heat. While assisting with day-to-day essentials, Music Maker staff work with an artist to develop booking materials such as an album and photographs, and work to get them gigs around the world. A priority for the Duffys was also to document these artists' music for future generations, and their extensive field recordings are archived at the Southern Folklife Collection at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
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