THE EBONY HILLBILLIES/ EH music - EH EPK for Bookings

EH Bio

THE EBONY HILLBILLIES

"...The Premier African-American String Band In America!"

From the street corners of Manhattan to the hallowed stages of Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center to TV appearances on the BBC and ABC’s “Good Morning America,” The Ebony Hillbillies are a true phenomenon!

The Ebony Hillbillies are not only one of the last African-American string bands in AMERICA, but they are the only String band based in NYC keeping an almost forgotten American musical legacy alive. Consisting of fiddle, banjo, washboard and bass fiddle, they have successfully created a following that has bridged a gap in audiences in pop, country, bluegrass, folk, jazz, blues and beyond while maintaining their grassroots credibility.

This 19th-century string dance band sound was made popular in the 1920's and 1930’s. And was a key element in the genesis of jazz and virtually everything after (blues, bluegrass, rockabilly, rock & roll, country, etc...). This over 300 year old musical history lesson allows us to travel the world bringing people together educating and entertaining audiences about this important piece of Americana through concerts, workshops, festivals, etc…

Since string bands in tradition had to play for everyone, “We magically put together music that covers centuries, that’s modern and ancient at the same time." - says EH fiddler. To be at their show - "Everyone at a Hillbillies show has to dance" - says EH vocalist, Gloria Thomas Gassaway - "Cause honey, Ain’t No Party Like A Hillbilly Party!”

"...We specialize in some good old American foot-stomping toe-tapping bring people together on the porch music!"

The Ebony Hillbillies are currently in the studio finishing up on their next project,"What Your Name Is...?". A recording of their music is held in the archives of the Smithsonian Institution's Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.

www.Theebonyhillbillies.com

EH Music

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BOUND TO GO [TAKEN FROM THE EBONY HILLBILLIES' UPCOMING ALBUM, WHAT YOUR NAME IS...? - EH MUSIC] 3:05

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SPOONFUL'' [TAKEN FROM THE EBONY HILLBILLIES' UPCOMING ALBUM, WHAT YOUR NAME IS...? - EH MUSIC] 3:00

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YOU SHOULD PROBABLY LEAVE [TAKEN FROM THE EBONY HILLBILLIES' UPCOMING ALBUM, WHAT YOUR NAME IS...? - EH MUSIC] 3:15

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WHAT YOUR NAME IS...? [2023 EH MUSIC]

THE EBONY HILLBILLIES

WHAT YOUR NAME IS...? is the 2nd installment in the ”African-American Stringband meets Juke Joint..." series - with a sincere dedication to the entrances and exits of key members of the EH…continues to be Infused with the Ebony Hillbillies’ trademark mix of pop, country, bluegrass/old time, blues, folk and jazz. This full-length collection still comprised of organic musical instruments i.e. fiddle, washboard, homemade percussion, banjo, guitar, mountain dulcimer, now introducing the "Original Mississippi saxaphone" - the harmonica on the blues classic, “Spoonful’” by Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton - reflects a soulful, gritty and alternately funky, romantic and socially conscious place where toes are always tapping, percussion is slapping, fiddles are jamming, front porch chairs are rocking, banjos are plucking and voices are raised in determination and triumph.

This album begins with a traditional old time banjo nod to the late Mr Norris W Bennett with “Bound To Go”, followed by “Old Joe Clark”, an intimate EH version of Chris Stapleton’s “You Should Probably Leave” and the cheeky cover of Nellie ‘Tiger’ Travis’ “Sexy Man” - featuring Gloria Thomas Gassaway. A great Tom Turpin rag on banjo, “St. Louis Rag” and a rare earlier interlude reading of “Pick A Bale Of Cotton,” which rolls as Gloria Thomas Gassaway is teaching life lessons to her students/kids. This set ends with a fiddle & drum duet featuring Charles Burnham and Reggie (A.R.) Ferguson full of twists and turns.

www.theebonyhillbillies.com