Henry Thomas (the supreme), Charlie Patton, Lightnin' Hopkins, Gus Cannon, JP Beausoleil, Bob Dylan, Dave Van Ronk, Phil Ochs, Blind Willie McTell, Roy Acuff, Howlin' Wolf, Pete Harris, Sydney Stripling, The Memphis Jug Band, Sonny Terry, Mike Seeger, Pete Seeger, Spider John Koerner, Gwen Foster, Cat Stevens, Van Morrison, Compay Segundo, Feral Foster, Jelly Roll Morton, Sidney Bechet, Louis Armstrong, King Oliver, Papa Charlie Jackson, The John Lusk String Band, Hubby Jenkins, Ma Rainey, Peg Leg Howell, Stovepipe 1, Will Slayden, Lucius Smith, Dink Roberts, John Dee Holeman, Tim Duffy, Algia Mae Hinton, Joe Thompson, Boo Hanks, Peter Siegel (yeah to the Even Dozen Jug Band), Eli Smith, The Blue Sky Boys, Jimmie Rodgers, Uncle Dave Macon, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, Murray Lerner (director of "Festival!",if you haven't seen it, see it!) Elizabeth Cotten, Etta Baker, Rhiannon Giddens, Odetta, Alan Lomax, Cece Conway, Doc Watson, The Beatles, the whole crew from Karoo Kitaar Blues, The Zombies, Emmett Miller, Rev. Louis Overstreet, Pastor Raymond Flemons (my grandfather), Sun Records, Louie Bluie, R. Crumb, Taj Mahal, Dock Boggs, The Fairfield Four, The Persuasions and more to come...
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 Med 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
And here's "Bye, Bye Policeman"
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).
I got to play bones with the East River String Band, John and Eden. John is the ones whose filmed these performances. We're playing "Keep It Clean"
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, Bye Bye Policeman and Keep It Clean). 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.
For more video look up youtube.com/domflemons
Sounds Like
One Thing to mention: These are all my versions of the tunes. Though I have sources that influence me toward a song or a style these still belong to me. I write as well as re-write. I tell all of my sources out of the hope that someone likes my version and looks to the older source to gain additional stylistic information and compare the things I have changed in the piece myself.
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 on 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. This track will be on the next album which is almost done. I'll have more info soon.
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 last year (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".
Dom Flemons is a multi-instrumentalist and a songster. Playing in a broad range of old-time blues, country, string band, rock and jazz, he has impressed audiences with his outrageous performance style. "I always try keep the audience guessing," Dom says, "it makes the performance more interesting." Dom has recently moved from Chapel Hill, North Carolina and landed in upper Manhattan. As a member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Dom has toured all over the world going as far as Ireland, England, Scotland, France, Holland and Belgium. He is up for most any type of gig having played from coffee houses to street corners to house parties to the big-time venues.
Dom has performed at such venues as the National Folk Festival, the Newport Folk Festival, The Grand Ole Opry, Prairie Home Companion, Merlefest, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Spoleto Music Festival, Rockygrass, Symphony Space in New York, The Ryman Auditorium, Winnipeg, Vancouver and Ottawa Folk Festivals, The Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, The Sage in Gateshead, England, The New Morning in Paris, The Paradiso in Amsterdam, The Carter Family Fold, Old Town School of Folk Music and Bristol Rhythm and Roots just to name a few. "I have been very fortunate to play in so many places because I know for a fact that many before and after may not get the opportunities to do so. I do not take it for granted. It is just a thrill to be here as fan and music collector myself."
Though he has studied music performance independently for the past 10 years, he has been making it a point to study with elders in the North Carolina community and beyond. He has met and played with such figures of traditional music as Joe Thompson, John Dee Holeman, Mike Seeger, Sule Greg Wilson, John Hammond, Lightnin' Wells, Algia Mae Hinton, Odetta, Jools Holland, Marty Stuart, Sharon Jones, Alvin "Youngblood" Hart, Boo Hanks and has even played on stage with Old Crow Medicine Show a few times. Dom has volunteered several different projects including work with the Music Maker Relief Foundation, filmmaker Murray Lerner and the legendary Club Passim in Cambridge. Though given all of these great opportunities, Dom is still as always an avid music collector with a collection that contains over 2000 albums of every genre. He is always open to people getting in touch with him and is ready to hear from you.
Dom Flemons now has a CD, "Dance Tunes, Ballads and Blues" available for $12 on the Music Maker Relief Foundation Label. Use this link to buy a CD directly from Music Maker (or even enjoy some of the label's brilliant albums):
Dom's new album, American Songster is now completed... more info when the audio breaks out of the cocoon of production...
Along with his bandmates from the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Dom is featured on the soundtrack to the Denzel Washington Movie, "The Great Debaters". We are featured on four tracks including "Blood In My Eyes For You" where Dom is doing a vocal duet with Alvin "Youngblood" Hart. The movie is now available on DVD and in the 2-DVD set you can find Dom with his bandmates being interviewed on the documentary "A Heritage of Music" about the soundtrack to the movie.
An article in Yes! Weekly named "I've Got Blood In My Eyes For You" 71 on its list of the 100 Greatest Songs of North Carolina. See the aricle on-line at http://www.yesweekly.com/article-6297-the-100-north-carolina-songs.html
There is a recording of Dom Flemons doing "The Roots 'N' Ruckus Show" at the Jalopy Theater in Red Hook, Brooklyn, NYC available online at
"I believe in the things that are going on in New York. I enjoy the work that Feral Foster & Eli Smith do as well as the owner of the venue. They are helping a small resurgence and interest in the old folk-styles come to the forefront. I would recommend anyone in New York on a Wednesday night to take a trip down there and see what its all about."
For some samples of Dom's live performances on video through the ages as well as some of his back-up work check out youtube.com/users/domflemons.
For information on booking Dom for gigs and workshops please contact his booking agent Chris Colbourn with Concerted Efforts. Please be aware that the gigs have to be worked around the Carolina Chocolate Drops schedule. Do consult the CCD myspace before inquiring about Dom as a solo.
Chris Colbourn, Concerted Efforts
chris@concertedefforts.com
(617) 969.0810
www.concertedefforts.com
I also do back-up work. If there anything that you think I could add to your recording then please contact me. I play guitar, banjo (four, five & six), jug, harmonica, kazoo, quills (panpipes), bones, snare drum and bass drum.
This is a photo collage that Rhiannon (in the CCDs with me) made. It tells the story of the Black Banjo Gathering and how that sparked our group to be what it is today. The music is Sankofa Strings (an earlier version of the group) with vocal by Sule Greg Wilson (I'm playing lead guitar).
Dom, Thanks for the add!! You need to come back to Alabama with the rest of the Chocolate Drops. I'll stand back out in the pouring rain to watch y'all again LOL.
Dom-- It's Susan. Glad you played with OCMS--great bunch of guys,some used to live in our neighborhood. Also, I like your version of "None of My Jelly Roll" A WHOLE LOT!
Thanks for approving my friend request! I am a big fan of your music and the Chocolate Drops. I am very excited because I will get to see you guys perform for the first time, at Merlefest next week! Keep up the great music-making!
hey dom, i just heard these 2 newer songs for the first time. i love the pan pipes and that charming betsy is killer. who's that you're singing with? sounds like the girl that was in forge mt. diggers, i forget her name... hope you're good. ~charlie.
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