Little Freddie King

If you want the real blues - and I'm not talkin about some long-haired hippy beatin' on a National Resonator guitar or a mustachiod, Italian-suited slickster blowin' on a chromatic harmonica - baby, you'd better call Little Freddie King, Normally only seen once a month at BJ's Lounge located in the lowest bowels of the mighty Ninth Ward, where he shares floor space with a pool table and various carpet remnants, don't think for a second that his band won't be able to create the proper mood without their usual scrappy surroundings. The minute Freddie straps on his guitar and strikes up his gnarled chord and drummer "Wacko" Wade makes his presence known with a definative cymbal crash, this lean, mean, swampy aggregation of gut-bucket wild men transforms the poshest of venues into a back-of-town beer joint.

Born in McComb, Mississippi in 1940, Fread E. Martin grew up playing alongside his blues guitar-picking father (Jessie James Martin), then rode the rails to New Orleans during the early fifties where he crossed paths with itinerant South Louisiana blues man such as "Poka- Dot" Slim and "Boogie" Bill Webb whose unique country-cum-urban styles would influence his own. Honing his guitar chops at notorious joints like the Bucket of Blood (which he later immoralized in song), he jammed and gigged with Bo Diddley and John Lee Hooker, and also played bass for Freddy King during one of the guitarist's stints in New Orleans.
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Little Freddie King's album re-released, MMRF heads to Jazzfest!

Music Maker heads to Jazzfest! Music Maker is headed to Jazzfest! Artists and staff leave this week to prepare for some awesome shows! Big Ron and Ardie Dean will be down at Jazzfest backing up Ironing Board Sam for his long-awaited return to the festival. Who knows what tricks Sam has up his sleeve this year - last time he was at Jazzfest, in 1980, he performed underwater! Don't miss MM artists at their shows: 4/27 Leyla McCalla, Lagniappe Stage 2:20-3:20pm 4/27 Guitar Lightnin' Lee, Lagniappe Stage 5:15-6:25pm 4/28 Carolina Chocolate Drops, Sheraton New Orleans Fais Do-do Stage 4:20-5:35pm 4/29 Ironing Board Sam, Blues Tent 1:50-2:45pm 5/4 Little Freddie King, Blues Tent 5:45-7:00pm Photo of the week Two of MMRF's spring interns: Christy Ray and Matt by Aaron Greenhood The 78 Project benefits MMRF Don't miss out on tickets for The 78 Project at City Winery in New York City on May 20! The event benefits MMRF with a Benefit Auction, and there will also be a live music revue featuring Dawn Landes, The Reverend John Delore & Kara Suzanne, Vandaveer and more special guests. Tickets range from $25 to $65, and you can purchase them here! To read more about the 78 Project, check out their website! We thank the 78 Project for supporting our mission! Quick Links: Website Merch Music MMRF Advisory Board member Levon Helm will be missed Levon Helm, a Music Maker Advisory Board member and supporter, passed away last week at the age of 71. He will be missed by all of us, but his contributions to music will live on, and we will remember him fondly. Click here to read Music Maker Founder Tim Duffy's account of first meeting Helm. We will always be thankful for all he did for our mission, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family. Listen: Little Freddie King - Mardi Gras Stomp Diggin: Little Freddie King album re-released A true innovator, Little Freddie King is recognized as one of the first musicians to bring the electric blues to New Orleans. His landmark 12-track album At Home in the New Orleans Musician's Village celebrates Little Freddie's return to the blues, as it was his first completed recording since 1970. Featuring what King calls 'gut bucket blues,' the record is an important step toward preserving his unique style for future generations. Music Maker is re-releasing this album with new artwork - and we're hoping you'll enjoy this track! Check out the song above and click here to check out the whole album. --Corinne NC Youth Tap Ensemble performs at the Carolina Theater! Love dance? Enjoy rhythm? Then go see the North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble (NCYTE) in "Gotta Dance" at Durham's Carolina Theater this Saturday, April 28th at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 29th at 2 p.m! Music Maker musicians and NCYTE performed together in the fabulous "Tap the Blues" in November. This show promises to be just as good. "Gotta Dance" features the company members, ages 8 to 18, performing cutting-edge contemporary choreography along with traditional rhythm tap, accompanied by live music. Special guest performers: NCYTE alumna and Bessie Award winner Michelle Dorrance and Austin-based Travis Knights. Tickets -- $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and students -- are available online at www.carolinatheatre.org. For more info, call 919-260-7585.

Upcoming Shows: Click here for more info on upcoming events 4/27 - Cool John Ferguson, Captain Luke, and Shelton Powe - Havelock Blues Festival, N.C. 4/27 - Beverly "Guitar" Watkins' Birthday Bash - Northside Tavern, Atlanta 4/27 - Guitar Lightnin' Lee, Leyla McCalla - New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 4/27 - John Dee Holeman - Cat's Cradle, Carrboro N.C. 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.

Little Freddie King's At Home in the New Orleans Musician's Village released in time for Jazzfest 2012

HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. - Music Maker Relief Foundation is pleased to announce the April 24th re-release of Little Freddie King's Live at Musician's Village. A true innovator in blues, King is recognized as one of the first musicians to bring the electric blues to New Orleans. This landmark 12-track album celebrates Little Freddie's return to the blues, as this is his first completed recording since 1970. Featuring what King calls 'gut bucket blues,' the record is an important step toward preserving his unique country-style blues for future generations.

Born Fread E. Martin in McComb, Mississippi in 1940, King is the son of a bluesman. A self-taught and skillful guitarist, he was dubbed early on as Little Freddie King for his similarity in sound to legendary blues guitarist and singer Freddie King. Collaborating with such artists as Harmonica Williams and Polka Dot Slim, Little Freddie was a regular in the New Orleans blues circuit. Musicologist Dr. Ira Padnos says, "If you want the real blues-and I'm not talkin' about some long-haired hippy beatin' on a National Resonator guitar or a mustachiod, Italian-suited slickster blowin' on a chromatic harmonica-baby, you'd better call Little Freddie King."

Little Freddie King continues to bring his 'get bucket blues' to the stage having performed at every New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival since its start in 1970. King will also be playing at Jazzfest May 4, 2012 from 5:45-7 pm in the blues tent. Do not miss this opportunity to see one of blues' greatest treasures in concert.

Visit http://www.musicmaker.org/artists_profile/Little-Freddie-King to learn more about Little Freddie King and his upcoming events.

About Music Maker Relief Foundation:

Music Maker Relief Foundation, Inc. is a tax exempt, public charity under IRS code 501(c)3. Music Maker aims to keep our Southern culture vital by directly supporting senior

(over 55) American roots musicians in need, expanding their professional careers, and assisting Next Generation artists in the development of their professional careers. Since the organization's

founding in 1994, Music Maker has assisted hundreds of musicians who represent the traditions of Blues, Gospel, Old-Time String Band, Jazz and more. Music Maker's programs ensure the

talents of these cultural treasures are accessible so that our rich musical heritage can be shared with the world and preserved for future generations.

The Things That I Used To Do - LITTLE FREDDIE KING

Little Freddie King (born Fread Eugene Martin, July 19, 1940, McComb, Mississippi) is an American Delta blues guitarist. His style was based on Freddie King, although his own approach to country blues is original
The cousin of Lightnin' Hopkins, King learned guitar from his father, but in 1954 moved to New Orleans at the age of 14. He played in many juke joints with his friends Babe Stovall, Slim Harpo, and Champion Jack Dupree, playing both acoustic and electric guitar.

He recorded an electric blues album with Harmonica Williams in 1969. In 1976, King undertook a European tour alongside Bo Diddley and John Lee Hooker.[5] His next recording opportunity came some twenty seven years after his first in 1996, with the release of Swamp Boogie. King's Sing Sang Sung (2000) was recorded live at the Dream Palace in Faubourg Marigny.

King played the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival for 32 consecutive years. He is a member of the Music Maker Relief Foundation Inc.

King's most recent album, Gotta Walk With Da King was released in 2010.
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