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You can find more videos of myself or the group, The Carolina Chocolate Drops in the archives on youtube:

www.youtube.com/user/domflemons

www.youtube.com/user/ccdrops

Or just search "dom flemons" or "carolina chocolate drops"

I am now officially a fan of this man, Rowan Corbett. I called him out to jam on the bones at the Folk Alliance this year and he brought it. Luckily, someone was there to catch it on tape. In he background, you an see Alvin "Youngblood" Hart and Scott Baretta. After this meeting a few months later, Scott contacted me to get the Carolina Chocolate Drops into the "Great Debaters".

On the 27th of January of 2008, the group was invited to play at The Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago for their Traditional Music Festival. At the end of the weekend, we were part of a benefit concert to help raise money to get Jug Band leader and organizer Will Shade (Memphis Jug Band) a gravestone placed in Memphis. I arranged 5 tunes for the group (which you can hear for free on the CCD myspace at the moment) and we played them for a great crowd of people who wanted to help one of the great musician of Memphis out. The Chicago based group Devil In A Woodpile asked me to join them on jug and here is one of the tunes we did "Jug Band Waltz". For more info on the tribute and more videos including the kazoo debut of Rhiannon Giddens on "Memphis Shakedown" look up www.willshadetribute.com.

Here is a new video that a fellow took of me at Merlefest 2008 playing in the Gibson truck. The guitar is an Arlo Guthrie model. Great little guitar. I'm playing a tune I heard Leadbelly do called "I'm Sorry Mama". As usual, I made up the guitar with his spirit in mind.

Here we have me sitting in with Old Crow Medicine Show at the famous Ryman Auitiorium (2nd Home of the Original Grand Ole Opry). I have to really emphasize how wonderful the boys are. When we did Merlefest, Justin, Jimmy (our tour manager) and I introduced ourselves backstage and it was a pleasant meeting of the minds. Ketch jumped up and said, "You all wanna do a show with us at the Ryman? We'd love to have you." Of course, we said yes and that was it. Good guys and great players. Having been a fan of O.C.M.S. for several years (like a lot of folks) it made my heart happy to play bones with them on stage now two times. Hopefully, we'll do it again soon.

In this video, the group was playing in Flagstaff, AZ (my first time playing in three years) and I invited Bill Burkett, my old jamming buddy and good friend and my favorite mandolin player, up to join me on our favorite number, "San Francisco Bay Blues"

Here is a video from a show I did with the East River String Band at Googie's lounge in the East Village playing "Fishing Blues" with the quills, John from the East River string Band put up quite a few of the performances from the whole night of not just me but also the Legendary Otis Brothers, The East River String Band and Blind Boy Paxton. Look them up on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/user/suprovalco A sad note to add is that this one of the last filmed performances of The Legendary Otis Brothers since Bob Guida, Jr. passed away recently on March 11,2009. He will be missed. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=138334245593

Here's a performance of "Po Black Sheep" from Banjo Jim's the other night. The excellent clapping is Peter Stampfel (of Holy Modal Rounders fame).

June 14, 2009 was a part of a great weekend that included a set at the Chicago Blues Festival. The show put the East River String Band, Blind Boy Paxton and myself on the same stage. It was a wonderful time. We actually got this gig after Barry Dollins met us in New York at Googie's Lounge (see Fishin' Blues above). We pretty much did a round robin with a few that we all played together. Here is one of the three videos that are currently on youtube from this performance.

Here is a video from the performance that I did with the East River String Band and R. Crumb at the Stephen Talkhouse. What a wonderful time! We definitely raised a ruckus there!

For more video look up youtube.com/users/domflemons

Viper Mad - This is a song that I learned off of a Sidney Bechet when he was with Noble Sissle's Swingsters. I adapted the tune to work with slide four-string banjo. I've overdubbed a jug on here. (from Dance Tunes, Ballads and Blues by Dom Flemons and a different version is available on Colored Aristocracy by Sankofa Strings. Both albums available at musicmaker.org or iTunes.

Stackalee- A combination of Dave Van Ronk, Furry Lewis and John Hurt. I've tried my best to pull together a good story with this one. (from Dance Tunes, Ballads and Blues by Dom Flemons available on musicmaker.org or iTunes)

I've Got Blood in My Eyes For You (with Alvin "Youngblood" Hart)- Featured in soundtrack to the movie "The Great Debaters", I am sharing a vocal with Alvin 'Youngblood' Hart as well as play my four-string and harmonica. It was a joy to do this cut. I've enjoyed Alvin's work for years and it was great to be able to work with him. Also included are Rhiannon Giddens' soaring fiddle and Justin Robinson solid and subtle mandolin playing. I've not set this one on download because the movie needs the support. Go out and check the film and try out the soundtrack. The group and I are ..s of the soundtrack and you can catch us in the first couple of minutes in the movie and now with the release of the DVD you can find us on the special features talking about our experience working on the movie. The doc is called "A Heritage of Music". It was also 71 on the 100 Greatest Songs of North Carolina in Yes! Weekly. Here's a link to the story http://www.yesweekly.com/article-6297-the-100-north-carolina-songs.html (from soundtrack to "The Great Debaters" available on iTunes, etc.)

Earl King- This is my adaption of Schubert's piece of the same name. I had this notion to make the text into that of an Appalachian banjo ballad ala Dock Boggs or Clarence Ashley. With my four-string clawhammer style, here it is. (from Dance Tunes, Ballads and Blues by Dom Flemons available at musicmaker.org or iTunes)

That's It- My friend Russ Comer passed me a fife and this Mississippi Sheiks tune happened to be one of the first tune I could find on it. I've always loved the tune and it takes on a whole new shape in the 'fife and drum' style. Overdubbed some bass drum to make the 'band' complete. (from American Songster by Dom Flemons available at http://www.musicmakerstore.org/dom-flemons-american-songster.html

Charming Betsy (with Allison Williams)- I've known Allison a few years from her association with the Forge Mountain Diggers and toward the end of 2007. She asked me to back her up on her newest solo album, Give Me The Roses. Of course, I said yes and it was a grand old time in Asheville. She also asked me if I wanted to do a duet with her on "Charming Betsy". I said sure. We smashed together two different versions of the song that we knew (Henry Thomas and the Georgia Organ Grinders) and here's what we got. I'm playing guitar, and the quills as well as singing with Allison. On other tracks, I am playing harmonica, and snare drum as well. For more info on the album, Give Me The Roses or Allison in general check out her myspace at http://www.myspace.com/allisonwilliamsmusic.

Girls Crazy About Me (backing up Boo Hanks)- This is Boo Hanks, an 80 year blues singer and guitarist from Buffalo Junction on the border of North Carolina and Virginia. On the first day that Boo came into the Music Maker office we had a great musical connection. Whenever I can, I play harmonica and guitar with Boo and its just a ball. Here I am playing jug with him. (from What Can An Old Man Do... But Sing The Bluesavailable at Dixiefrog www.bluesweb.com)

I Ain't Gonna Give Nobody None O' My Jelly Roll- I sat in with the Lose Marbles Jazz Band at the Radegast Hall in Williamsburg and this was a song I got to sing with them. I first met the clarinetist, Mike Magro, when I visited in New York 4 years ago and the two of us have kept up since. He nows lives in New Orleans and his band, Loose Marbles, are tearing up wherever they go. For more info on the Loose Marbles, just check their facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Loose-Marbles/11899051115 or look them up on "youtube".

Bye, Bye, Policeman- Here is my version of this Jim Jackson classic. I was immediately drawn to the text of this piece. Here's to "old-time hip-hop". (from American Songster available at musicmaker.org)

Ol Cindy Gal- This is a piece I learned from Joe Thompson. In the setting of the Carolna Chocolate Drops I sing it and play bones. I've played this tune on harmonica for quite a while as well and I decided to put the two things together. (from American Songster available at musicmaker.org)