"America tells its stories through song. Consolation to the lovelorn, courage to the oppressed, warning to the naive, or a ticket to the Promised Land, a great song can deliver the wisdom of ages directly to our souls. We Are the Music Makers! presents black-and-white portraits of artists who carry these songs from past to present: fathers and mothers, uncles and aunts, daughters and sons, grandparents and neighbors, who continue to lovingly stir the South's musical stew and feed American culture outside the realm of ...
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"America tells its stories through song. Consolation to the lovelorn, courage to the oppressed, warning to the naive, or a ticket to the Promised Land, a great song can deliver the wisdom of ages directly to our souls. We Are the Music Makers! presents black-and-white portraits of artists who carry these songs from past to present: fathers and mothers, uncles and aunts, daughters and sons, grandparents and neighbors, who continue to lovingly stir the South's musical stew and feed American culture outside the realm of conventional fame and fortune. Newly available in paperback, this book features intimate photographs that will make you look more closely at the unrecognized greatness that surrounds us all"--
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Seller's Description:
Good-Bumped and creased book with tears to the extremities, but not affecting the text block, may have remainder mark or previous owner's name-GOOD Oversized. PAPERBACK.
I was lucky enough to find this book "We are the Music Makers: Preserving the Soul of America's Music" in the public library. The authors,Timothy and Denise Duffy, founded in 1994 a non-profit organization, the "Music Maker Relief Foundation", based in Hillsborough, North Carolina. The Foundation has the goal of assisting Southern roots musicians -- performers of old-time blues, hollers, folk songs, and gospel. Some performers of this music are well-known, but many musicians, particularly the elderly, play in their communities and often just get by. The Foundation aims to preserve their musical legacy, to provide financial and material assistance (such as a new guitar), and to give exposure to the musicians in the form of concerts and recordings. Some well-known musicians, such as Taj Mahal, provide support to the organization as do many volunteers.
The body of the book consists of black and white photographs taken from 1994 -- 2013 by Timothy Duffy. The photos are accompanied by a short page of text giving information about the performer's life and music, often together with a revealing quotation. The performers live throughout the South in cities and rural areas and the photos offer a brief glimpse of their lives and environs. They perform on the piano, the guitar, the harmonica, and they sing in music that ranges from soul and religion to sin. Most but not all of the performers are African American. One of the down on his luck white performers in the book recounts how the Foundation's assistance helped cure him of lifelong prejudice and led to his joining a church open to and welcoming of all people.
Denise Duffy offers an insightful introduction to this collection of photos and to the influence of Southern roots music. She points out that most of the musicians will likely be unknown to the reader and frequently were difficult to locate and to interview. She and Timothy Duffy share a passion and love for their subject and a commitment to their role in preserving the music and helping the performers. Ms. Duffy writes: "We see the rebellions, loves, sorrows, and joys these cultural treasures express in their stories, songs and pictures as reflections of our identity as the American people." The performers in their turn have shown their commitment to their music with their lives, in many instances playing and bringing joy to people with little remuneration or recognition. Some of the music by the musicians featured in this book has become accessible and I have been enjoying listening to and exploring it.
This book brought me back to the blues, which I loved for many years. I also play classical music on the piano. The book reminded me of my own joy in music-making and the feeling of expression, love, and discipline that comes from playing an instrument because one needs and wants to do so.
One of the performers I learned about in this book is Guitar Gabriel who is insightful about his music as well as a fine musician. Guitar Gabriel said: "Music is made to make happiness, make you smile and forget your troubles, In the Good Book it says to make a joyful noise, It does not say what kind of noise, just as long as you make one."
This book reminded me of what Denise Duffy described as the "unrecognized greatness that surrounds you" in the artistic talent and commitment of many unheralded Americans. It also reminded me of my own love of making what Guitar Gabriel called a "joyful noise" in my own efforts with Beethoven, Schubert, and other composers on the piano.