Rhiannon Giddens/Carolina Chocolate Drops

Subject: Carolina Chocolate Drops lineup change
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 12:22 PM

Grammy-Nominated Chocolate Drops Shuffle Lineup

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
New York Times
February 5, 2011

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Grammy-nominated Carolina Chocolate Drops have made a lineup change on the eve of the awards.

Nonesuch Records spokeswoman Melissa Cusick told The Associated Press that founding member Justin Robinson has left the band. Beat boxer Adam Matta and multi-instrumentalist Hubby Jenkins are coming aboard to join Rhiannon Giddens and Dom Flemons, she said.

The Chocolate Drops announced the change at a show last week. No reason was given for the switch.

"The Carolina Chocolate Drops have been playing together and touring the world for more than five years," Robinson said. "During those years, we have experienced great successes, heartbreaks, trials and triumphs. It is, however, time for me to take a separate road and though it is bittersweet, it is the best choice."

Robinson said he won't be touring with the band full-time, but may show up on stage every once in a while.

The Chocolate Drops are a North Carolina-based folk group in the old string band tradition that grew out of friendships made while playing with Piedmont string musician Joe Thompson and at the Black Banjo Gathering. The band is up for best traditional folk album for their critically acclaimed fourth album "Genuine Negro Jig" at the Feb. 13 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.

"Folks can still expect great music from our group the same way a jazz band can change personnel without sacrificing the quality or the talent on stage," Flemons said.

---

Robinson is the fiddler. I'm impressed that this would show up in the New York Times.

~ Becky in Long Beach

Subject: RE: Carolina Chocolate Drops lineup change
From: mg
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 04:16 PM

I believe that Rhiannon Giddens is on you tube with the women music box project. I;ll post a link later if I find her. Or someone else can beat me to it as I am on my way to laundromat. mg

Subject: RE: Carolina Chocolate Drops lineup change
From: mg
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 04:21 PM

here she is singing in Gaelige ??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aChSCpczhzo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aChSCpczhzo

Subject: RE: Carolina Chocolate Drops lineup change
From: BanjoRay
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 07:41 PM

I hope one of the new guys plays fiddle as well as Justin..
Ray

Subject: RE: Carolina Chocolate Drops lineup change
From: Cuilionn
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 08:12 PM

MG-- She's singing in Scottish Gaelic (Gaidhlig) in that clip. Before she linked up with the fellows to start the Chocolate Drops, she was a classically-trained singer (arias and all that!) and took a nice side trip into Gaelic singing. I was a fellow student in a few Gaelic song workshops led by tradition-bearer Catherine Ann MacPhee at Feis Shiatail (The Seattle Feis) back then--I think it must have been 2002 or 2004. I marveled back then at Rhiannon's already considerable grace, skill, and presence.

--Cuilionn

Subject: RE: Carolina Chocolate Drops lineup change
From: Arkie
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 08:50 PM

I believe that Rhiannon also plays fiddle.

Subject: RE: Carolina Chocolate Drops lineup change
From: Janie
Date: 06 Feb 11 - 09:11 PM

It will be interesting to see how the new line-up influences their music.

Bunch of fine musicians.

Subject: RE: Carolina Chocolate Drops lineup change
From: Charmion
Date: 07 Feb 11 - 08:11 AM

Rhiannon also plays not only the banjo, but also -- with considerable skill -- the fool.

Subject: RE: Carolina Chocolate Drops lineup change
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 06:11 AM

Interesting that a beatboxer's joined. 'Mouth music' in the South Bronx tradition!

Subject: RE: Carolina Chocolate Drops lineup change
From: Janie
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 07:15 PM

I had to google beatboxer to know what it meant. The wiki article is pretty interesting. ain't nuttin' new about it at all!

Subject: RE: Carolina Chocolate Drops lineup change
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 13 Feb 11 - 07:25 PM

They WON! They WON!

Very exciting. I'm so happy for them.

Dani

Subject: RE: Carolina Chocolate Drops lineup change
From: BanjoRay
Date: 13 Feb 11 - 07:52 PM

A great achievement for an Old Time band...
Excellent stuff
Ray

Subject: RE: Carolina Chocolate Drops lineup change
From: Janie
Date: 13 Feb 11 - 07:57 PM

Whoohoooo!

And Mavis Staples, another favorite of mine, won a well deserved Grammy for Best Americana album.

Subject: RE: Carolina Chocolate Drops lineup change
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 03 May 11 - 04:46 PM

A post-Grammy appearance on Mountain Stage via NPR.

~ Becky in Long Beach

Subject: RE: Carolina Chocolate Drops lineup change
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 05 May 11 - 05:59 PM

During that appearance they explained that the original fiddler, Justin Robinson, wanted to be at home more with his animals and is pursuing a graduate degree in forestry.

~ Becky in Long Beach

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens/Carolina Chocolate Drops
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Jun 16 - 02:16 PM

Here's a CBS video that marks September 2013 as the transition between Carolina Chocolate Drops and the solo career of Rhiannon Giddens, accompanied by the Chocolate Drops:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFCWQHoFf2o

Rhiannon still does "roots" music, but she's also doing a lot more music that might be considered commercially popular.

Whatever the case, it's a pleasure to listen to her. I came across her YouTube channel today, and was hooked for hours. Take a listen:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTQvn1-6IhiMo994ivalgmA

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens/Carolina Chocolate Drops
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Jul 17 - 04:32 PM

I came across this gem today - a musical TED Talk by Rhiannon Giddens: Songs that bring history to life

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbeekjZP-CI

Alternate, with transcript: https://www.ted.com/talks/rhiannon_giddens_3_songs_that_bring_history_to_life/transcript?language=en

Subject: ADD: Come Love Come (Rhiannon Giddens)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Jul 17 - 05:21 PM

You'll find this song in the TED talk I linked to above.

COME, LOVE, COME
(Rhiannon Giddens)

Come, love, come, the road lies low
The way is long and hard I know
Come, love, come, the road lies free
I'll wait for you in Tennessee

When I was four, my loving mam
Was cornered by the boss's man
She turned her head, and got struck down
They buried her in the cold, cold ground

Come, love, come, the road lies low
The way is long and hard I know
Come, love, come, the road lies free
I'll wait for you in Tennessee

When I was twelwe, my father dear
Was strong of arm and free of fear
Until the day he raised his hand
Then he was sold to Alabam'

Come, love, come, the road lies low
The way is long and hard I know
Come, love, come, the road lies free
I'll wait for you in Tennessee

When I was sixteen, found my bloom
And found my man, we jumped the broom
We pledged each other the rest of our lives
And on Saturday nights we were man and wife

Come, love, come, the road lies low
The way is long and hard I know
Come, love, come, the road lies free
I'll wait for you in Tennessee

When I was eighteen, bugles called
And boys in blue came o'er the wall
I took my chance, and followed free
They led the way to Tennessee

Come, love, come, the road lies low
The way is long and hard I know
Come, love, come, the road lies free
I'll wait for you in Tennessee

So here I sit, in a tiny shack
With thirteen others at my back
I've sent you word, so all I can do
Is wait, and wait, and wait... for you

Come, love, come, the road lies low
The way is long and hard I know
Come, love, come, the road lies free
I'll wait for you in Tennessee

I'll wait for you
I'll wait for you
I'll wait for you
I'll wait for you


from the album Freedom Highway (2017)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-DTNHh-iA0

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens/Carolina Chocolate Drops
From: Stewart
Date: 15 Jul 17 - 10:47 PM

Joe, thanks for this. Rhiannon is one of my favorite folk artists.

Cheers, S. In Seattle

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens/Carolina Chocolate Drops
From: GUEST,gilltmor
Date: 16 Jul 17 - 06:46 AM

What a song! Ms. Giddens is a treasure.

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens/Carolina Chocolate Drops
From: Janie
Date: 16 Jul 17 - 07:35 AM

Indeed. Thanks Joe!

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens/Carolina Chocolate Drops
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 16 Jul 17 - 06:31 PM

She was at the Blue Mountains (New South Wales) music festival in 2016, and she's a terrific entertainer. I hope you get the chance to see her perform.

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens/Carolina Chocolate Drops
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 16 Jul 17 - 09:23 PM

I started a thread on July 3rd with this link to an NPR interview with Rhiannon. http://www.npr.org/2017/07/03/534887214/rhiannon-giddens-speaks-for-the-silenced

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens/Carolina Chocolate Drops
From: mg
Date: 17 Jul 17 - 01:21 AM

she is an actress on nashville also

Subject: ADD: At the Purchaser's Option (Giddens/Ryan)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Sep 17 - 06:14 PM

Here's another powerful song from Rhiannon Giddens:

"Last year I came across an advertisement from the 1830s for a young woman; thinking about her, and how she had to maintain her humanity against horrific odds inspired this song named for the end of the ad: 'She has with her a 9-month old baby, who is at the purchaser's option." -- Rhiannon



AT THE PURCHASER'S OPTION
(Rhiannon Giddens/Joey Ryan)


I've got a babe but shall I keep him
'Twill come the day when I'll be weepin'
But how can I love him any less
This little babe upon my breast

You can take my body
You can take my bones
You can take my blood
But not my soul

I've got a body dark and strong
I was young but not for long
You took me to bed a little girl
Left me in a woman's world

Day by day I work the line
Every minute overtime
Fingers nimble, fingers quick
My fingers bleed to make you rich


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vy9xTS0QxM

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens/Carolina Chocolate Drops
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Jun 20 - 10:22 PM

Somehow, David Holt seems to find a way to interview some of the most fascinating performers. Here's his interview of Rhiannon Giddens"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_H7DtIh8akk

Subject: ADD: Julie (Rhiannon Giddens)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Jun 20 - 11:14 PM

Another powerful song:

Rhiannon Giddens - Julie lyrics

JULIE
(Rhiannon Giddens)

Julie, O Julie, won't you run?
'Cause I see down yonder the soldiers have come
Julie, O Julie, can't you see?
Them devils have come to take you far from me

Mistress, O Mistress, I won't run
'Cause I see down yonder the soldiers have come
Mistress, O Mistress, I do see
And I'll stay right here till they come for me

Julie, O Julie, you won't go?
Leave this house and all you know?
Julie, O Julie, don't leave here
Leave us who love you and all you hold dear

Mistress, O Mistress, I will go
Leave this house and all I know

Mistress, O Mistress, I will leave here
With what family I got left, they're all I hold dear

Julie, O Julie, won't you lie?
If they find that trunk of gold by my side
Julie, O Julie, you tell them men
That trunk of gold is yours, my friend

Mistress, O Mistress, I won't lie
If they find that trunk of gold by your side
Mistress, O Mistress, that trunk of gold
Is what you got when my children you sold

Mistress, O Mistress, don't you cry
The price of staying here is too high
Mistress, O Mistress, I wish you well
But in leaving here, I'm leaving hell

https://lyrics.az/rhiannon-giddens/freedom-highway/julie.html

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens/Carolina Chocolate Drops
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Jun 20 - 11:42 PM

Fresh Air (Terry Gross) replayed a 2017 interview with Giddens on yesterday's program (June 19, 2020). It was originally timed with that album Joe mentioned.

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens/Carolina Chocolate Drops
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Oct 20 - 12:20 AM

"Cry No More," a new song from Rhiannon Giddens, posted September 30. As you might expect, it's a powerful song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQUhqB8hMR0

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens/Carolina Chocolate Drops
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Nov 20 - 05:12 AM

Another new song from Rhiannon Giddens, "Don't Call Me Names," premiered August 23:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H_oHAqTbbs