Remembering Precious

Legendary Blueswoman Precious Bryant Passes Away at Age 71 It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that Precious Bryant passed away this weekend. We thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and well-wishes you sent to Precious. She truly felt the warmth of the Music Maker community, especially in this past year. Precious will be missed by all of us, and our thoughts are with her family and friends in Georgia. We received these words from Taj Mahal yesterday, and wanted to share them with you. "Precious had a way of immediately pulling you into her soul! I'll never forget the first time I heard her I knew I could never get enough of how she sang,her voice and the intimate wisdom with which she chose topics for her songs!  Just so achingly perfect and all at once beautiful and personal!" Read the rest of Taj's words here. Precious' family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations to assist with funeral expenses would be so appreciated. Contributions can be sent to: Leonard's Funeral Home 735 Old Wire Road Talbotton, GA 31827 Your support ensures Music Maker is able to preserve Southern Roots music, assist elderly artists, and share the music of America with the world. Become a member with your gift today and keep the music alive. Keep up with Music Maker!      Diggin: "Fever" Our new intern Margot was listening to Precious' album this week, and wrote up her thoughts on Precious' version of "Fever." Though she never met Precious, her music has touched Margot all the same, just like many of Precious' fans around the world. Read Margot's thoughts on the album and "Fever" here. Ironing Board Sam helps students learn the Blues! Ironing Board Sam is starting a semester-long program at Orange County Charter School here in Hillsborough, helping the students broaden their musical knowledge! Sam will be working with students grades K-8 each week to develop musical arrangements that will culminate in a group performance at the end of the school year. This special enrichment program is sponsored by Music Maker Relief Foundation and funded by the Jazz Foundation of America's Jazz in the Schools initiative. Read more about Sam's project here! Robert Thomas's House Photo of the Week by Tim Duffy

Upcoming Shows: Click here for more info on upcoming events  1/17 - Ironing Board Sam - The Crunkleton 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 2/15 - Ironing Board Sam - The Depot, Hillsborough, NC 3/18 - Ironing Board Sam - The Depot, Hillsborough, NC 3/18 - Ironing Board Sam - Havelock Tourist and Event Center, Havelock, 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.

Precious Bryant has passed. My thoughts are with her family and friends.

George Mitchell: My friend Precious Bryant, the great blues singer and guitarist from Waverly Hall, Georgia, who I had the pleasure of first recording in the 1960's, died today, I am very sad to say. I have so many fond memories of her. To tell all of them would take a book. But she was a courageous country woman who continued to compose her own songs in the lower Chattahoochee Valley tradition, and they were fantastic! My friend Amos Harvey produced two superb albums by her issued by Terminus Records. Here she is at the National Downhome Blues Festival:

Keep Precious In Your Thoughts

Please Keep Precious in Your Thoughts Precious Bryant recently collapsed during a dialysis treatment and has been hospitalized since. Her family asks for your thoughts and prayers as they gather around Precious in the ICU. If you'd like to send cards or wishes to Precious, please send them to Music Maker so we can pass them on to her. PO Box 1358 - Hillsborough, NC - 27278. It's Flu Season! Follow Drink Small's lead in keeping the germs at bay If it's one thing a bluesman needs, it's his voice. Flu and cold season can really wreak havoc on the vocal cords if you get sick, and traveling on public transportation can expose you to all those germs and more! Read Drink Small's way of keeping those germs (and strangers, consequently) at bay while traveling. Read the story. Your support ensures Music Maker is able to preserve Southern Roots music, assist elderly artists, and share the music of America with the world. Become a member with your gift today and keep the music alive. Diggin: Glory, Glory Aaron explores Bishop Dready Manning and Sister Marie Manning's "Glory Glory" for this week's diggin'. In addition to being a great song, it's also got a bit of pep that helps us shake off the post-holiday doldrums. Check out the Diggin and the track here! Keep up with Music Maker!      George Higgs' Health Improving Photo by Jimmy Williams George Higgs has been in the hospital recovering from illness. We were told this morning that he's doing better, and that he's looking forward to possibly going home at some point in the near future. He thanks everyone who has kept him in their thoughts and prayers. Cootie Stark Photo of the Week by Tim Duffy

Upcoming Shows: Click here for more info on upcoming events  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 2/15 - Ironing Board Sam - The Depot, Hillsborough, NC 3/18 - Ironing Board Sam - The Depot, Hillsborough, NC 3/18 - Ironing Board Sam - Havelock Tourist and Event Center, Havelock, 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.