The Music Maker Story

  "If someone calls in and wants some help, it's immediate," says Timothy Duffy about the Music Maker Relief Foundation's unique approach to meeting the needs of traditional blues artists. "If we have it, it's a phone call, bang, the check's out."(David Nelson, Living Blues #137 Jan/Feb 1998) That philosophy sums up what the foundation is all about. The Music Maker Foundation was founded in 1994 by Tim Duffy with the express purpose of helping elderly blues musicians who are down and out and in need of assistance. In addition to helping them financially Music Maker helps with purchasing instruments, setting up touring schedules and many other day to day concerns.

  The musicians Music Maker supports are those that represent an almost forgotten tradition and certainly one that is ignored by the major music labels. Since the 60's blues revival these artists have been mostly neglected except for small record labels who are unable to pay the artists hardly anything. Tim Duffy's has taken the opposite approach actively searching for big record deals and more money. To date he's been surprisingly effective getting touring support from Winston Salem and recording distribution through Sire Records.

   To date Music Maker has released several acclaimed recordings. Most recently they have released records by Cootie Stark, Neal Pattman, Guitar Gabriel and are soon to be putting out one by guitarist Beverly Watkins (click here for reviews). In addition the Music Maker tour has played successfully across the United States and Europe. For more information about the Foundation visit http://www.musicmaker.org.

The Artists

Cootie Stark: Cootie Stark is "the real success story of the foundation," says Timothy Duffy. "I met him in the spring of '97 and that same year he was headlining the Newport R&B Festival with Aretha Franklin, had been to Europe three times, spent the summer in the Hamptons... making lots of money." The blind guitarist and former street singer from Greenville, South Carolina, has an enormous repertoire that runs from Gary Davis tunes to soul classics to such unique songs as Jigroo-a New Orleans-style melody he picked up from an early guitar mentor.

Beverly Watkins: Beverly Watkins was the rhythm guitarist in Piano Red's popular early '60s outfit Piano Red & The Interns. The Atlanta native recorded with Piano Red on sessions from 1959-'66, including his popular singles Doctor Feelgood and Right String But the Wrong Yo Yo. Grounded in R&B, gospel, and jazz, as well as blues. Watkins is a regular performer at Underground Atlanta, and is known for her extensive bag of guitar tricks.

Neal Pattman: Neal Pattman can chop wood and play with the best of them even though he lost one arm in a wagon wheel at age nine. "66 years ago the Blues knocked on my door and they wouldn't leave." His testimony can be heard in a sound and a style his daddy taught him as a child in Madison County, Georgia.

  Special thanks to Acme Recording for the all the help they gave us with the interviews. We needed it!