Happy Independence Day from Music Maker!

Roots and Leaves Series wraps up, thank you for all who came out! Our Roots and Leaves Concert Series in Chapel Hill has concluded, and, despite one performance canceled by a sudden thunderstorm, it was a wonderful month of shows! The program, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Strowd Rose Foundation, with support from Market Street at Southern Village, Aloft Hotel of Chapel Hill and the Carolina Brewery Van, explored the music local to the Triangle. Over 1000 people were reached by Blues, String-Band, Gospel and Native music during the series. Despite the incredible 107 degree heat last week we still had a great show with Lakota John and Kin, the Pura Fé Trio and surprise guest Charlie Lowry of Dark Water Rising. We hope to continue the program next year, but for the next little while we're going to stay indoors in the A/C! Diggin': "Bring It On Down To My House Honey" One thing that I find interesting about traditional music is how sometimes different songs are the same tune with different lyrics. When I first heard Pink Anderson's version of "Bring It On Down To My House Honey," I recognized it as being similar to the chords and melody as Robert Johnson's recording of "They're Red Hot." It's also strikingly similar to "Come On In, Ain't Nobody Here But Me" by Mozelle Alderson, Georgia Tom Dorsey, and Big Bill Broonzy. So what about the song's origins? I called Pink and asked him what he knows, and he told me this: "I got it from my dad...not 100% sure where he got it from. I think it was a variation of a ragtime song. It's 1920 or 1930s era, more mainstream than juke joint. If you go back and listen to old ragtime music, you'll find the core of that chord progression in a lot of songs." He went on to say that a lot of musicians heard other musicians doing chord progressions and liked them, so they did their own variation in the chord progression, or if they didn't vary the chords then they varied lyrics. If anyone has any more info on this song's origins, please let us know! -- Ben Ben Davidson is a writer, editor, and fingerstyle guitarist from Durham, NC. He has been volunteering with Music Maker, lending his writing and editorial skills to our web content and newsletters. Happy 4th of July! All of us here at Music Maker hope you had a great 4th of July! This is a great time for us to remember and give thanks for everyone who has served or is serving to protect our country. Music Maker artist Eddie Tigner enlisted in the military as a young man, and that experience turned him into the musician he is today. During his service, his familiarity with all kinds of music got him a special service assignment booking bands for the club on the base at Aberdeen. He took up the piano, got to know a lot of musicians and began to develop his own musical style in the company of folks like Les Paul - young enlisted men who had time to play music during their off-time. We thank all our current and past service men and women for their sacrifices, and remember them this 4th of July! Cora Fluker by Axel Kustner Listen: Little Pink Anderson - Bring It On Down to My House Honey Quick Links: Website Merch Music

Upcoming Shows: Click here for more info on upcoming events 7/4 - Lakota John and Kin - Carrboro July 4th Celebration, Carrboro, NC, 12:30pm 7/6 - John Dee Holeman - The Eddy Pub, Saxapahaw, NC, 8pm 7/13 - Ironing Board Sam - The Depot, Hillsborough, NC, 8pm 7/14 - Pura Fé - Harrison Hot Springs Festival, Harrison Hot Springs, Canada, 3:40pm 7/14 - Ironing Board Sam - The Whiskey, Durham, NC, 9pm 7/15 - John Dee Holeman, Captain Luke, Big Ron, Ironing Board Sam - Jimmy Williams' "Music Maker" at Waverly Artist Group, Cary, NC, 5-8pm 7/20 - Pura Fé - Folk on the Rocks, Yellowknife, Canada 7/21 - Ironing Board Sam and Big Ron - Saxapahaw Farmer's Market Stage, Saxapahaw, NC, 6pm 7/27 - MM Blues Revue with Beverly Watkins, Albert White, Shelton Powe, Robert Lee Coleman, Nashid and Ardie - Haw River Ballroom, Saxapahaw, NC, 7pm (doors) 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.