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 2014 – Release of We Are the Music Makers: Preserving the Soul of America's Music book on Nautilus Press
+ September 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.
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