Sisters of the South contains 13 songs performed by 12 different female Music Maker artists. Every song on this amazing compilation pays for the price of purchase—a tax deduction.
The Branchette’s “I Know I’ve Been Changed” emits a golden sound of a Sunday morning church hymn. Beverly “Guitar” Watkins’ “Baghdad Blues” stands as a political song. 90-year old Etta Baker’s silvertone instrumental “One-Dime Blues”, inspired odes to the eternal mother.
Willa Mae Buckner’s risqué “Yo-Yo” spices the collection’s varied musical content with an eternal female lure. Bob Margolin appears on Sweet Betty’s “Coffee Drinking Blues” playing guitar, and John Ferguson showcases amazing piano work on graceful Essie Mae Brooks’ “I Feel Like My time Ain’t Long”. The final track, Cora Fluker’s soul-confessing “Testimony”, transcends this earthly sphere.
Other musicians featured on this CD include Precious Bryant, Cora Mae Bryant, Marie Manning, Algia Mae Hinton, and Lucille Lindsey. Music Maker president Duffy mentioned upcoming events for some of these artists: Beverly Watkins, Essie Mae Brooks, and Sweet Betty are traveling to Lugano, Switzerland this summer.
Music Maker president Tim Duffy talks about some of these original artists in our interview from Insured Beyond The Grave. These sisters of the south prove they’re masters of the trade.