Music Maker Relief Foundation

A paragraph on the Music Maker Relief Foundation's newsletter states that their mission is to "help 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 an be preserved for future generations."

Tim Duffy, president of the Board of Directors for Music Maker Relief Foundation must be doing something right. Taj Mahal is on the Board of Directors and the Advisory Board includes B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Levon Helm, Dickey Betts, Tift Merrit, Jackson Browne and Pete Townshend among others.

Music Maker Programs include:

Musician Sustenance-grants to meet basic life needs and emergency relief.

Musical Development-grants and services for recipient artist professional development and career advancement.

Cultural Access-supports the preservation and proliferation of American musical traditions.

New Orleans Musician's Fund-assistance to musicians effected by Hurricane Katrina.

Adolphus Bell aka "The One-Man Blues Band" is just one example of what the Music Maker Relief Foundation has accomplished. Three years ago Adolphus was homeless and had been living in a van for 15 years. With help from Tim Duffy and MMRF, Adolphus toured Europe and released a cd titled One Man Band! Adolphus proudly proclaims that he is "the onliest man in the world that beats the drums, plays the guitar, sing, talk, harmonica, all at the same time!"
Last summer I saw Adolphus perform in Durham, NC and yes, he is "the onliest man"! The 62 year old Adolphus graciously signed cds, thanked the crowd and put on an energetic show performers 40 years (the length of his career) his junior could take a lesson from.

The Carolina Chocolate Drops are a young African-American string band who play old-time traditional Piedmont music. They've toured with Taj Mahal and their disc "Dona Got A Ramblin' Mind" is the disc Springsteen wished he could've made picking on his porch. I've seen them in concert twice and CCB not only plays traditional music but they also teach it, weaving stories and anecdotes about the songs, their mentors and their instruments into the performance.

The Music Maker Relief Foundation website has downloads from Adolphus Bell, The Carolina Chocolate Drops and other MMRF musicians. Check out the MMRF Jukebox, sign up for their Newsletter, then buy a disc or two or send a donation to this worthy non-profit foundation that makes a real difference in the lives of many of our struggling blues heroes.