Music Maker Relief Foundation Newsletter

Music Maker Success in 2011 As 2011 comes to a close, we at Music Maker are looking back at the past year and are so thankful for the friends we've made and the artists we've been able to work with. In the past year we've gained two Board members, Rich Henneberry and Rick Teller, as well as Advisory Board member Don Was. We recorded twelve albums, some of which have already been released. 190,000 people worldwide experienced a performance by Music Maker artists, who traveled to 9 countries and 80 cities this year, spreading traditional music to new audiences. in 2011 Music Maker provided 629 grants to artists in need, providing food, medical expenses, housing and transportation to ensure they can meet their needs and continue to focus on their art. We were able to increase monthly support to artists in need by 38% thanks to generous donations from supporters like you. Through our booking support and career development services, Music Maker increased partner artists' earned income by 54%. We hope to do all this and more in 2012!  Listen:  Whistlin' Britches and Cool John Ferguson-   Cool's Click Photo of the Week Guitar Gabriel  by Axel Kustner      Quick Links:     Website  Merch  Music   Donate by December 31st to ensure your tax deduction! We want to thank you for supporting Music Maker's efforts to preserve traditional music and sustain elderly American musicians. Your generous donations enable us to document traditional musicians and ensure they live in safety and comfort during their elder years. With your help, we have been able to elevate the careers of partner musicians so they were no longer reliant on our Musician's Sustenance program and were earning their own living. You have also made possible the presentation of these musicians around the world, educating and entertaining audiences about American Roots music. We hope you will continue to support Music Maker with a donation today to ensure you receive a tax-deduction in 2011. We thank you for your generous support, and wish you a Happy New Year! Digging through the stacks: Cool's Click Our dig of the week features Music Maker Artists  Whistlin' Britches and Cool John Ferguson. Corinne and I agree that there is a quality in this musical partnership that is disorienting and ultimately satisfying.  Cool's funky acoustic guitar and Whistlin's unique vocal styling are so tightly grooving there's no way to tell who is leading who in this spontaneous recording.  The other day, while checking in with Cool, I asked him about the experience of playing and recording together with the inimitable Whistlin' Britches.  Cool recounted, "It was the first time I ever played with somebody clickin'- we had fun. He kept good time clucking with a count and together we would dance around the beat. In between takes, everybody was always busy laughing at Whistlin's jokes." Your support helps brings great artists like Whistlin' Britches and Cool John Ferguson together and enriches the texture of our vibrant American musical culture. Enjoy this track, you made it happen!  -- Aaron

Upcoming Shows: Click here for more info on upcoming events  12/31 - Pat "Mother Blues" Cohen, Robert Lee Coleman, Captain Luke, Cool John Ferguson, Ironing Board Sam, Big Ron Hunter, Albert White, Nashid Abdul Khaaliq, Ardie Dean, Hook Herrara - The Hamilton, Washington, D.C. 1/08 - Lakota John Locklear - NC Museum of History 1/13 - Ironing Board Sam - The Depot, Hillsborough, N.C.  1/28 - Ironing Board Sam - NC Museum of History  2/03 - Ironing Board Sam - The Blue Note Grill, Durham, N.C. 2/03 - Boo Hanks - The Eddy Pub, Saxapahaw, N.C.  2/12 - Boo Hanks - PineCone presents  Music of the Carolinas   3/09 - Pura Fé, Deer Clan Singers - UNC Pembroke   3/10 - Shelton Powe - St. Anne's Chapel & Event Center, Tarboro, N.C.  3/23 - Leyla McCalla - Carrboro Arts Center 4/14 - Big Ron Hunter - North Dakota Museum of Art    Music Maker Relief Foundation, Inc. helps the true pioneers and forgotten heroes of Southern music gain  recognition and meet their day to day needs. We present these musical traditions to the world so American culture will flourish and be preserved for future generations.