Album Notes

The Music Maker Relief Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the forgotten heroes of Southern music gain recognition and meet their day to day needs. These artists have held dear to older musical traditions. Many of them have never been recorded or filmed, their music and stories heard only in their communities. Their art has been hidden and unseen. They have held onto archaic musical styles, yet when they perform their music remains fresh and new. Their art truly stems from the roots of America.

This four volume series, “Drink House to Church House: Songs and Stories from the Roots of America” explores both secular and sacred musical traditions from the American South. Each volume presents a CD of music and a DVD containing short films of interviews and performances of a group of Music Maker artists. This series will be completed with a full-length documentary film on the work of the Music Maker Relief Foundation featuring the music of many artists.

Filmmakers Chris Johnstone and Anna Ferrarie donated their time and skills in the creation of this series. Together with Music Maker founder Tim Duffy they spent four weeks filming artists in the Music Maker studio, in artists’ homes, and from drink houses to church houses! They documented the stories and songs of artists such as Cool John Ferguson, Drink Small, Adolphus Bell, Macavine Hayes, Captain Luke, Whistlin’ Britches, William Maxwell, Elder James and Mother Marie Goins, Little Freddie King, Alabama Slim, Pink Anderson, Sweet Betty, Essie Mae Brooks, Eddie Tigner and John Dee Holeman.

There is great urgency to the work of MMRF as each year several recipient artists pass on, taking with them their performances and songs that will never be heard again. We were very fortunate to capture these moments. MMRF is extremely proud to have been part of the creation of this historic series, which will provide insight for fans worldwide into the often-veiled world of Southern blues music.