This is a tribute music myspace for Doc Stevens & Marilyn. My name is Tondeleo Lee Thomas and I put this site up for them so that the world could hear their music.
Even though they are only 2 musicians, they have a VERY full sound! Doc has 2 bass strings he added on his Fender "Frankenphantom" guitar, which is made from all kinds of old parts. He also uses his stomp box, which is an old fruit crate with a tambourine screwed into it, held on by a Volkswagen hubcap. Marilyn plays harmonica and the two of them sing as loud as a bus!
I'm a freelance writer and get to travel a lot. I grew up in SE 13 (Lewisham) and now rent a flat in Bromley in Kent, which I nearly never stay in.
When I get to go to the States, if I am on the East Coast I try to stay with Doc Stevens and Marilyn, his niece. I enjoy this aspect of American culture; being with simple country people that we don't usually get to view on the telly or in movies from Hollywood.
Doc is an uneducated man, but he is not stupid. He dropped out of school when he was 15 when his father died. He's a hard worker and will do what he can to make a living, though he mostly falls back on panel beating (body and fenderwork, he calls it) and busking or playing music wherever he and Marilyn can get work. He took custody of Marilyn when she was 11 1/2 and his brother died, and her Mum was in Tennessee staying with what Doc calls "a piece of garbage."
They live in a little house in a rural area in Southern Maryland, about a half hour from a mobile phone signal. A while back, I began recording our conversations and transcribing the best I could. Last Spring, I began to put some of them on a blog site for Doc, at http://docstevens.blogspot.com These get updated whenever I get a few minutes and a wireless signal.
I have some video of our talks and may upload some of them as I get time. By the way, Doc is VERY aware of his limitations socially and musically, but, like he says, "a man needs to eat, and I will do whatever I can what's legal to put food on the table."
"I ain't that good at playin' or singin' but people have been good to me an' Marilyn an we 'ppreciate it."
If you have any videos of Doc Stevens and Marilyn, I'd love to have them to post them here.
I really dug your videos! Nice work. Is that an old Kalamazoo guitar you are playing? Looks great! Glad you are out there keeping roots blues alive. All the best, Curtis
Hey! Thanks for adding us! If you wouldn't mind, we'd love it if you could take a couple minutes and check out our tunes. If you're into Dave Matthews Band/Matchbox Twenty kinda music, you'll probably enjoy Facepaint. Leave us a comment and let us know what you think! Thanks a lot!
This is a tribute music myspace for Doc Stevens & Marilyn. My name is Tondeleo Lee Thomas and I put this site up for them so that the world could hear their music.
