Congratulations Carolina Chocolate Drops!

Carolina Chocolate Drops nominated for Grammy! Music Maker Next Generation artists and Board Members the Carolina Chocolate Drops have been nominated for a Grammy for their recording "Leaving Eden." This is the second nomination in the Best Folk Album category for the group, the first, in 2010, resulted in a win for their album "Genuine Negro Jig." The Drops have received acclaim internationally for their take on traditional folk music, and for drawing attention to the African-American contributions to American folk and traditional music. Don't miss the Grammys on CBS, 8pm February 10th! Good luck Drops! Ben Payton partners with Music Maker! Music Maker first met up with Ben Payton when working with him at the Southern Mississippi Roots Festival in October. Now, Ben is coming to our neck of the woods, and will perform at Hillsborough music venue Billsborough on 12/13 from 8-10pm! Scott Baretta, from Living Blues, says, "Ben Payton, from Brandon, Mississippi, has his roots in Chicago's Blues scene - playing with musical acts ranging from Bobby Rush to jazz pianist Randy Weston until the late 70's.  He returned to music in the early 2000s. He has since recorded two albums, performed in Europe, and appeared at prestigious venues across the States. Payton writes many of his own songs but is also keenly interested in exploring - and exposing to new audiences - the music of Mississippi's blues pioneers." Don't miss the Billsborough show on 12/13 - located at 106 South Churton Street in Hillsborough. See you there! Leyla McCalla launches Kickstarter to fund her new album! Music Maker Next Generation artist Leyla McCalla, currently on tour with the Carolina Chocolate Drops, has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund her new album, Vari-Colored Songs. It was featured as a staff pick on Kickstarter's main website this week! As Leyla describes it, the album is "an album of songs written to Langston Hughes' poetry, Haitian folk songs and original compositions."    Leyla received a $3000 grant from the Louisiana State Arts Council, but that only covers some of the costs. She needs to raise at least another $5000 to begin work on the album in January.  Leyla needs help to make this recording a reality and you can help! Check out her campaign here!   Keep up with Music Maker!        Support Music Maker, and help keep the music alive!  Upcoming Shows: Click here for more info on upcoming events  12/13- Ben Payton - Billsborough, Hillsborough, NC 12/14 - Ironing Board Sam - The Depot, Hillsborough, NC 12/15 - Beverly "Guitar" Watkins - Northside Tavern, Atlanta, GA 12/27 - Beverly "Guitar" Watkins - Steve's Live Music, Sandy Springs, GA 12/31 - Beverly "Guitar" Watkins - Fatt Matt's Rib Shack, Atlanta, GA 12/31 - Cool John Ferguson - First Night, Raleigh, NC 1/04 - Boo Hanks - The Eddy Pub, Saxapahaw, NC 1/13 - Ironing Board Sam - NC Museum of History, Raleigh, NC 2/01 - Ironing Board Sam - The Eddy Pub, Saxapahaw, NC   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.