As reported by Bman on December 19, Whistelin' Britches has died. Music Maker Update

Whistlin' Britches Joins Silent Strings Thank you to all of you who sent well-wishes when we last mentioned Whistlin' Britches was unwell. Haskell Thompson a.k.a. Whistlin' Britches passed away Monday, December 19th, succumbing to throat cancer. Services have yet to be announced. Haskell Thompson was born in Winston-Salem, NC in 1932, and lived there until his passing. His friend and fellow Music Maker, Captain Luke gave him the name, Whistlin Britches, years ago. Known for his unique rhythmic clicking, joke telling and general merriment, Whistlin' was a beacon of laughter and joy wherever he went. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him. Photo of the Week New Year's Eve at The Hamilton Hook Herrera, Big Ron, Albert White, Nashid Abdul-Khaliq, Robert Lee Coleman, Sol Creech by Aaron Greenhood Music Makers at The Eddy Pub for Black History Month MMRF and The Eddy Pub are celebrating Black History Month by presenting four Music Maker artist performances in February, 2012. Boo Hanks, Ironing Board Sam, Shelton Powe and Big Ron Hunter will all perform at The Eddy Pub, in Saxapahaw, N.C., each Friday in February starting at 8pm. The Eddy Pub will accompany the performances with menus featuring regional cuisine. From the food to the music, these shows will truly immerse the audience in the musical traditions of North Carolina. It's not to be missed! 2/3: Boo Hanks 2/10: Ironing Board Sam 2/17: Shelton Powe 2/24: Big Ron Hunter The series will take place on Fridays in February at The Eddy Pub, 1715 Saxapahaw-Bethlehem Church Road. Music will start at 8pm. More information can be found at musicmaker.org. Music Maker Blues Revue Rocks The Hamilton! The biggest Music Maker Blues Revue in years helped ring in 2012 at new music venue and restaurant The Hamilton in Washington, D.C. Non-stop, high energy performances by Cool John Ferguson, Captain Luke, Ironing Board Sam, Pat "Mother Blues"Cohen, Big Ron Hunter, Robert Lee Coleman, Albert White, Nashid Abdul Khaaliq, Ardie Dean, and Hook Herrera kept the crowd rocking from 9pm to 3am. If you weren't at the show, we hope your New Year's Eve was as rockin' as the Revue! Listen: Whistlin' Britches Interview with Karen Michel- Cool's Click Lakota John Plays N.C. Museum of History MMRF Next Generation Artist Lakota John Locklear will be at the N.C. Museum of History on January 8th for PineCone's Music of the Carolinas Series. Fourteen-year-old Lakota John is a Lumbee/Lakota Native American musician blending traditional styles of the Delta and Piedmont acoustic blues with bottle-neck slide guitar and a mix of Chicago electric blues. Locklear's unique sound is also sprinkled with a bit of harmonica and influences from his indigenous heritage, including sounds of the Native American flute. Since 1998, PineCone and the North Carolina Museum of History have partnered to present The Music of the Carolinas Series - a series of nine FREE concerts featuring some of the state's finest folk musicians and tradition bearers. Lakota John will perform in Daniels Auditorium at 3pm on Sunday, January 8th. More info available at pinecone.org. Quick Links: Website Merch Music

Upcoming Shows: Click here for more info on upcoming events 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.