News

1995 Eric Clapton Recording Rediscovered. Listen Here!

18 May 14

Tim Duffy, Executive Director of the Music Maker Relief Foundation, has made a recording of “Mississippi Blues” that he cut with Eric Clapton in 1995 available to mark the charity’s 20th anniversary. Music Maker was established in 1994 by Duffy and his wife, Denise, to preserve the musical traditions of the American South by directly supporting the musicians who make it, ensuring their voices will not be silenced by poverty and time. To date, it has assisted over 300 artists. Over one million people worldwide have had the opportunity to experience traditional music live, and 150 CDs have been issued on the Music Maker label. The Southern Folklife Collection at the University of North Carolina houses Music Maker’s archive of recordings, photographs and artifacts. Speaking about the foundation, Eric has said, ““Music Maker is a fabulous project; real evidence that the music I have always loved is alive and well.” 

Learn more about the Music Maker Relief Foundation and it’s work at http://www.musicmaker.org

Tim Duffy told the story of how the recording of Willie Brown’s “Mississippi Blues” with Eric came about to Rolling Stone upon its release on SoundCloud. Both musicians were in a New York City brownstone in 1995 when Eric spied a 1930 Martin 00-18 sitting in the corner. Tim told Rolling Stone, “When Eric began to play, it was spellbinding and among the most amazing musical moments of my life. I picked up my guitar and quickly tuned it a half-step up to match his and began to play some back up guitar licks that I learned from Guitar Gabriel.”

For those visiting New York City this summer, the exhibit “We Are The Music Makers” will be at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts as part of the foundation’s 20th anniversary celebration from July 9 to August 29. It features artists Tim Duffy has worked with over the last two decades, with 30 panels displaying photography accompanied by audio that leads viewers on a journey of discovery through the roots musicians of the rural south. In October, the exhibit will travel to Carrboro, North Carolina.

On September 1, a book and double CD also called “We Are The Music Makers” will be released worldwide. The book features text and more than 65 photographs of musicians by Tim Duffy. The CD, on the Music Maker label, will include tracks by Taj Mahal, Etta Baker, Guitar Gabriel and more.