Ernie Williams remembered

John Dee Holeman gifted Martin guitar! photo by Jimmy Williams John Dee Holeman worked with world-renowned photographer Jimmy Williams to shoot an ad for Martin Guitars several months ago, and as a thank you Martin sent John Dee this wonderful guitar! (Pictured above with John Dee, as well as Aaron Greenhood and Tim Duffy.) It all started with Williams' series on Music Makers, particularly the photo of John Dee. It captured the attention of Martin Guitar's PR team, who contacted Williams to shoot their next campaign. Now John Dee is featured in a mainstream ad campaign and has a brand new Martin guitar! Thank you to Martin Guitars and Jimmy Williams for making all of this possible! Listen: Cora Mae Bryant- Empty room blues Ironing Board Sam plays Art with a Heart today in DC Ironing Board Sam will perform at Art with a Heart tonight! The fundraising event benefits Bread for the City, a non-profit that provides vulnerable residents of Washington, D.C., with comprehensive services, including food, clothing, medical care, and legal and social services. Tim Duffy will accompany Sam onstage, and they're looking forward to the performance that follows up Music Maker's Capitol Blues Night at Clyde's of Gallery Place this past Tuesday. Quick Links: Website Merch Music Music Maker Artist Ernie Williams passes away MMRF Artist Ernie Williams passed away last week, on March 21st at the age of 87. Williams played his first guitar in 1938, at the age of 13. His performing career included playing the Apollo in New York City during the 1950s to scraping by in Albany with day-jobs to support his family over the next few decades. Ernie still played when he could and became a fixture in the Albany Blues community. In the 1990s Williams formed yet another band and realized his dream of performing full time - he was a force to be reckoned with and opened for artists such as B.B. King and was featured in a Canon ad campaign. Williams never forgot his days as a starving artist, and would often play benefit concerts for hunger relief organizations in recent years. He will be missed by many, but his music will live on through the artists he worked with and the people he played for. Photo of the week Cora Mae Bryant by Tim Duffy

Upcoming Shows: Click here for more info on upcoming events 3/29 - Ironing Board Sam - Art with a Heart, Washington D.C. 4/07 - Ironing Board Sam - The Whiskey, Durham, N.C. 4/13 - SOOTS 6th Annual Blues Review featuring John Dee Holeman, Tad Walters, & Justin Robinson & the Mary Annettes 4/13 - Ironing Board Sam - The Depot, Hillsborough, N.C. 4/14 - Big Ron Hunter - North Dakota Museum of Art 4/21 - Music Maker Blues Revue - Shakori Hills Festival, N.C. 4/27 - Cool John Ferguson, Captain Luke, and Shelton Powe - Havelock Blues Festival, N.C. 4/27 - Guitar Lightnin' Lee, Leyla McCalla - New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 4/28 - Carolina Chocolate Drops - New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 4/29 - Ironing Board Sam - New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 5/11 - Music Maker Blues Revue - Back Porch Music, Durham, N.C. 5/11 - Ironing Board Sam - The Depot, Hillsborough, N.C. 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.