Page 79 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2019

What music do we lose to obscurity simply because the programming, and maintaining a multi-media archive for
artists, the bearers of these traditions, are overlooked, not given historic preservation, it builds knowledge and appreciation of
the opportunity to share their talents? The nonprofit Music Maker these almost-lost traditions. It promotes artist music development
Relief Foundation has forged a people-centered approach to by providing professional career development, an in-house
preserving the musical traditions of the South by helping pioneers booking agency, tour management and instrument, equipment
and forgotten heroes of Southern music gain recognition and and merchandise grants. Ultimately, the Foundation improves the
meet their day-to-day needs. This year, the Foundation celebrates lives of artists by affording monthly stipends for food, shelter and
its 25th anniversary. medical care, supplying emergency aid for artists in crisis, and
Music Maker preserves these musical traditions by providing connecting artists with nonprofit and government resources. For
resources to elderly Southern musicians living in poverty, Captain Luke, for example, Music Maker has provided grants
recording albums, arranging concerts, organizing museum for sustenance and emergency relief, a monthly stipend for
exhibitions, publishing books and more. In the past 25 years, the prescription medicine, help with car maintenance, assistance in
Foundation has directly supported 435 musicians through more setting up European and U.S. tours and production of his own
than 12,000 musician grants, over 7,000 performances and the two albums.
release of over 2,400 songs, thus ensuring that these musicians This people-centered approach to musical preservation has
not be silenced by poverty and time. proven successful time and time again. The little bit that Music
The seeds of Music Maker were planted while Tim Duffy was Maker gives artists gets multiplied exponentially as the artists
studying folklore at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. sharpen and share their gifts, build and nurture community, and
Here, he was inspired by the vibrant community of traditional rekindle a passion for traditional music among themselves, their
blues musicians to find a way to preserve their traditions – not peers and their fans.
just through documentation and archiving, but by first taking care As part of the Music Maker Relief Foundation’s 25th
of the artists themselves. After a prolonged search, Duffy heard anniversary celebration, several special projects were released
the elusive legend Guitar Gabriel, and set to work trying to in early 2019, including the book Blue Muse: Timothy Duffy’s
introduce Gabe and his music to any possible audience. Gabe Southern Photographs and its companion album, Blue Muse.
introduced Tim to a community of artists steeped in the kinds of Featuring 21 tracks mostly recorded by Tim Duffy, Blue Muse
Southern traditions that had been overlooked or given up on captures the complexity of traditional American music – from
by many folklorists, like his fellow performer Captain Luke. The the hill-country blues of North Mississippi native Willie Farmer,
two artists had been acquainted since the early ‘70s, and had to the gospel of southern Georgia’s Theotis Taylor, to Piedmont
became fixtures in the Winston-Salem drink-house scene in North blues artists Algia Mae Hinton and John Dee Holeman, to old
Carolina. Other artists like Willa Mae Buckner, Preston Fulp, Mr. favorites like Guitar Gabriel and Captain Luke. The book and
Q and Macavine Hayes also played music that tapped deep into album are truly testaments to Music Maker’s history and its deep
the circulatory system of American culture and identity, yet they commitment to sustaining the roots-music heritage of the South.
lived in total poverty. Duffy tried to get them all gigs and help Through its efforts, the Music Maker Relief Foundation not
with their bills. But he wanted to do more. only changes the lives of these blues artists, but it presents
So, in 1994, Tim and Denise Duffy officially founded the these musical traditions to the world – building knowledge and
Music Maker Relief Foundation. “The Foundation started as a appreciation of America’s musical treasures and giving future
very heartfelt response to the very real needs of a small group generations access to their heritage. To learn more and support
of people,” says Denise Duffy. Once Music Maker was off the the Music Maker Relief Foundation, visit musicmaker.org.
ground, bookings began rolling in. Music Maker artists regularly
toured Europe and the States and graced high-profile stages
like Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center. The organization Ironing Board Sam is just one of many artists
aided by Music Maker, having received
broadened its circle, connecting with artists from Mississippi, financial help with medical care, vehicle
Georgia, Alabama and other places throughout the South. repairs and relocation to Chapel Hill, NC.
Not only did Music Maker help these artists with their basic Photo courtesy of the
Music Maker Relief Foundation
needs and careers, but the artists developed relationships with
each other. It is one of the “most significant things” about the
organization, says Denise. “We didn’t even intentionally plan
on doing it. [But] in playing together, they build this really strong
community of artists. They become friends independent of the
organization. And that’s meant more to artists a lot of times than
even the financial help.”
Music Maker strives towards its mission through several
initiatives. By bringing live performances to underserved
populations, offering free access to music and educational

Blues Festival Guide 2019 77