Music Maker Staff’s Top 5 of 2024

From celebrating our 30th anniversary to completing renovations on our new recording studio in Fountain, NC, 2024 has been a banner year for Music Maker Foundation – all thanks to YOUR support! As we get ready to welcome 2025, we’re reflecting on our Top 5 moments from this incredible year.

Tim Duffy, Co-founder and Executive Director

1. Jimbo Mathus and Creatures of the Southern Wild recording great albums with Earnest “Guitar” Roy, Albert White, and Leonard “Lowdown” Brown at our new studio in Fountain. We are beyond grateful for their friendship and support as our official Music Maker Studios Band.
2. Discovering the “Music Maker sound” through the use of Freeman Vines’ guitars. You can hear their bright, ringing, bell-like quality on Albert White’s upcoming album in 2025!
3. Jackson Browne calling to say he wanted to play on our 30th anniversary concert. He came up with the brilliant idea to present an acoustic concert showcasing Music Maker’s Next Generation artists.
4. Seeing Freeman Vines attend the dedication of Music Maker Studios during our 30th anniversary weekend. Despite his illness, he was able to watch people enjoy his art in our recording studio and celebrate his dream come true for a creative space in Fountain.
5. Watching Taj Mahal play onstage with Gail Ceasar at our 30th anniversary concert: “Those Piedmont women play steady as a rock!”

Denise Duffy, Co-founder and Managing Director

1. Leonard “Lowdown” Brown stepping out and owning the stage with Jimbo Mathus, Creatures of the Southern Wild, and the Crimestoppers at our Music Maker Homecoming. A great moment of artist actualization!
2. Being in our new recording studio with Albert White and watching him relish the process of his new album coming together.
3. Supporters coming from all over the country (11 states!) to be with us for Music Maker’s 30th anniversary. We were so moved by their deep generosity and love for our artists.
4. Boogying down on the dance floor at our Homecoming. I should have talked with more people that evening, but I had “happy feet”!
5. Traveling two-thirds of the way across the country for Telluride Blues & Brews Festival, where we were so warmly welcomed and deeply supported by both the festival staff and the crowd.

Taylor Kennedy, Program Associate

1. Walking Gail Ceasar on and off stage at the 30th Anniversary Concert.
2. Attending the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival – the whole thing was amazing!
3. Getting to be part of the planning and execution of the 30th anniversary celebration and seeing it unfold with minimal issues. I felt a big sense of accomplishment after that weekend!
4. Working with our intern Bill Moore to design our albums. He’s a dynamo!
5. Being offered the opportunity to learn more from Denise and Tim. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be in this position and their willingness to train me in everything Music Maker!

Sam Horn, Community Coordinator

1. Joining the Music Maker team in April! It’s been so satisfying getting to return to my roots in musicology/traditional music. Our team is small but mighty, and I’ve had a blast working here so far.
2. Watching Earnest “Guitar” Roy see his new car for the first time and realizing how big a difference it would make for his blues career and quality of life. This was the moment when the impact of our work first “clicked” for me.
3. Hearing Georgann Eubanks and Dom Flemons talk about Song Keepers and American music at Letters Community Bookshop. I learned so much!
4. Tabling at our Freight Train Blues concert series in Carrboro, NC. Listening to amazing roots musicians, meeting cool people, sampling food truck fare, spreading the word about Music Maker… Is there a better way to spend an early summer evening?
5. Getting to know our amazing supporters during our 30th anniversary weekend. Denise had told me our donors were awesome – and she was right! I hope to see y’all again soon.