CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS
Durham, North Carolina
African-American Old-Time String Band
Think of traditional African-American music, and the genres that come to mind are gospel, blues and jazz; few people think of old-time string band music. But the antebellum combination of banjo and fiddle used to be a tradition in most black rural communities in the South. The Carolina Chocolate Drops, a band of three young and talented musicians, are part of the revival of this venerable musical tradition. The Carolina Chocolate Drops honed their skills under the tutelage of octogenarian fiddler Joe Thompson, a North Carolinian who is one of the last black traditional string band players from the previous generation. Thompson, who grew up playing at barn dances, "frolics" and corn shuckings, wound up performing in venues across the country, including Carnegie Hall.
The Carolina Chocolate Drops is made up of two Carolina natives, Rhiannon Giddens (banjo, fiddle, and voice) and Justin Robinson (fiddle, voice), as well as Arizonan Dom Flemons (guitar, banjo, jug, harmonica, snare, and voice). The band's name and style of playing pays homage to the 1920s band, The Tennessee Chocolate Drops, of which the late Howard Armstrong (a Michigan Heritage Awardee and past GLFF performer) was a key member.
Rhiannon Giddens grew up with the sounds of bluegrass from one side of her family and classic blues and jazz on the other. A graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, she fell into contra dancing and became inspired by the Roundpeak-style old time bands she heard at dances.
Justin Robinson grew up in a house full of musicians and played classical violin from the age of 9 until 13 but then became interested in bluegrass and old time fiddle music.
Dom Flemons has thoroughly immersed himself in the sounds of yesterday, acquiring knowledge of the different playing styles of the blues, country, and string band traditions.
Giddens, Robinson and Flemons first met in 2004 at a Black Banjo Gathering on the Appalachian State University campus in Boone, North Carolina, where they also met Joe Thompson. "After we met Joe," says Robinson, "we started going down to his place on the weekends to play. He learned from his father who learned from his father, so this is a traditional style that goes back a long time."
Links
http://musicmakerstore.stores.yahoo.net/cachdrdogotr.html
http://www.mountaintimes.com/mtweekly/2006/0223/chocolate_drops.php3
ccdhttp://www.sankofastrings.com/ccd/
Links
Return to Music and Dance page
Go to Next Artist- MICHÈLE CHOINIÈRE
