Pooling Pennies for a Pallet of Ensure

Music Maker's First Donation In 1991, Bluesman Guitar Gabriel and I became inseparable partners - each day playing at drink houses, bars, and meeting up with other blues artists. We were both very broke and worked very hard to keep things going. We would often find ourselves pouring out our bottles of change, counting pennies, nickels and dimes and rolling them up in change sleeves, and using the money to fill the tank, buy lunch, and get to another street corner to sell some tapes and shirts. The biggest and most common need that we were pooling our pennies to purchase was the drink "Ensure" for Guitar Gabriel. Gabe could not consume solid foods very well due to health problems, and Ensure was what kept him nourished. However, Ensure was expensive, and if gigs were scarce Gabe would go without. MMRF was founded in 1994, and the first thing we raised money for was a pallet of Ensure, which provided much-needed nourishment for Guitar Gabriel and Willa Mae Buckner. With this supply, both regained strength, some vigor and felt good. Nearly 20 years later, and thanks to supporters like you, Music Maker is able to go further in our support of these musical pioneers - buying heating oil, fixing roofs and even providing a new mobile home to Precious Bryant. But remembering how much good a donation of Ensure did for our artists, I am always humbled. We are always striving to help them more, and they are eternally grateful just because we care.   Please, support Musician Sustenance this year, and help us keep these deserving artists living in safety and improved health. -- Tim Duffy  Ben Payton in Hillsborough Tonight! Ben Payton is bringing some Mississippi Blues to our neck of the woods! He'll do a show at Hillsborough music venue Billsborough on 12/13 from 8-10pm! Scott Baretta of Living Blues said, "Payton writes many of his own songs but is also keenly interested in exploring - and exposing to new audiences - the music of Mississippi's blues pioneers." Don't miss is - located at 106 South Churton Street in Hillsborough, NC. See you there! Dickey Betts and Derek Trucks Photo of the Week by Tim Duffy Keep up with Music Maker!        Support Music Maker, and help keep the music alive!  Don't Forget  to shop the  Music Maker store for your gifts! Don't miss out on our special deals for all your Roots music needs! It's not too late to send CDs to your loved ones for the Holidays. Use our coupon codes to Buy One CD, Get One 50% Off! Or, get free shipping on an order of one CD! Make sure you order by Noon on Friday (12/14) to ensure delivery via USPS by Christmas! If you're shopping later and need it by the Holiday, please call our office at 919-643-2456 to arrange special shipping. We have great gift ideas - anything from the wildly popular Boo Hanks and Dom Flemons collaboration Buffalo Junction, to the classic Christmas album from Cool John Ferguson, Cool Yule. You can even get the special Cool Yule Membership, to combine a donation with your purchase. It makes a great corporate gift as well! When you purchase from Music Maker, you're supporting the elderly musicians that we work with to keep Roots music alive. Thanks for your support! Diggin: Cootie Stark "Come Home for Christmas" As Aaron puts it "this is the 'We Are the World' of Blues Christmas!" We have to admit, we wrote a Diggin' on this last year, but its worth repeating - if you don't have Cootie Stark's "Christmas with Cootie" album on your rotation this Holiday, you're missing out. The album, featuring Cootie and friends John Dee Holeman, Cool John Ferguson, Macavine Hayes, and Whistlin' Britches, takes a Blues spin on classic Christmas tunes. It's the closest thing to a traditional Christmas Special Music Maker has ever produced, described by Tim as "hilariously uplifting." We think you'll enjoy the Holiday track we have for you from "Christmas with Cootie." There's enough raw, Blues grit in "Come Home For Christmas" that it will delight even the most avowed Grinch. Happy Holidays! -- Corinne Listen:  Cootie Stark - Come Home For Christmas  Leyla's Kickstarter blasts through goal! Music Maker's Next Generation Artist Leyla McCalla reached her $5000 goal to fund her new CD in a record three days! She was a Kickstarter staff pick on the day she launched - out of hundreds of other projects - which helped her expand the Kickstarter's reach and achieve her goal. That means her album Vari-Colored Songs will be a reality in 2013 - but  you can still help! Any Kickstarter funds received after Leyla's goal has been met will help her promote the album - send it to radio stations, gain publicity, and make more people aware of her music. Music Maker does not provide Next Generation artists with financial assistance, so Leyla needs you to ensure her album is not only great, but that everyone knows it's great! Check out her Kickstarter here.

Upcoming Shows: Click here for more info on upcoming events  12/13 - Ironing Board Sam - The Crunkleton, Chapel Hill, NC 12/13 - Ben Payton - Billsborough, Hillsborough, NC 12/14 - Ironing Board Sam - The Depot, Hillsborough, NC 12/15 - Beverly "Guitar" Watkins - Northside Tavern, Atlanta, GA 12/20 - Ironing Board Sam - The Crunkleton, Chapel Hill, NC 12/27 - Beverly "Guitar" Watkins - Steve's Live Music, Sandy Springs, GA 12/27 - Ironing Board Sam - The Crunkleton, Chapel Hill, NC 12/31 - Beverly "Guitar" Watkins - Fatt Matt's Rib Shack, Atlanta, GA 12/31 - Cool John Ferguson - First Night, Raleigh, NC 1/04 - Boo Hanks - The Eddy Pub, Saxapahaw, NC 1/05 - Ironing Board Sam - G2B Gastropub, Durham, NC 1/13 - Ironing Board Sam - NC Museum of History, Raleigh, NC 1/18 - Big Ron Hunter - The Depot, Hillsborough, NC 1/26 - Shelton Powe - NC Museum of History, Raleigh, NC 2/01 - Ironing Board Sam - The Eddy Pub, Saxapahaw, NC   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.