BECAUSE THE MUSIC MATTERS

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OUR MISSION

The Music Maker Relief Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit, was founded to preserve the musical traditions of the South by directly supporting the musicians who make it, ensuring their voices will not be silenced by poverty and time.

Music Maker will give future generations access to their heritage through documentation and performance programs that build knowledge and appreciation of America’s musical traditions.

PROGRAMS

EDUCATION

Makes American musical heritage accessible to current and future generations through public exhibitions, youth engagement, and archival preservation.

PERFORMANCE

Supports artistic excellence through professional development, tour booking and management services.

SUSTENANCE

Provides ongoing support to artists living in chronic poverty and emergency grants to artists in crisis

What We’ve Accomplished

Musician Grants

Performances

Songs Released

Artists Supported

Meet the Music Makers

Mary Lane

Cora Fluker

Bubba Norwood

Benton Flippen

Ardie Dean

Since 1994, Music Maker has worked with over 300 artists through our various programs, helping them overcome the obstacles of poverty and geography in order to elevate the awareness of their cultural importance.

HEAR THE MUSIC MAKERS

<a href="http://musicmaker.bandcamp.com/album/blue-muse">Blue Muse by Music Maker Recordings</a>

Blue Muse is a musical testament to the 25 year history of the Music Maker Relief Foundation and its partner artists. The album features 21 tracks, most of which were recorded by Music Maker founder Timothy Duffy, that capture the infinite complexity of Traditional American Music

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EXHIBIT PROGRAMS

Music Maker’s exhibition programs educate and engage viewers in the cultural history of America’s music. The blues, gospel and string band traditions of the South have formed a deep aquifer of music that contemporary artists around the world draw from daily. The combination of photography and multi-media materials in each exhibit shine a light on the many unsung heroes that continue to feed these traditions in our nation and asks viewers to reflect on how poverty, geography, and age have limited the exposure of these artists, causing the widespread idea that our musical traditions have “died out”.