Welcome, We’re Glad You’re Here

The Music Maker family includes people from all over the world, dedicated to our common purpose: tending the roots of American culture.

We seek out the bearers of America’s oldest roots music traditions. We build long-term relationships with senior artists who are trailblazers of American folkways.

Our programs serve the most vulnerable artists — marginalized by age, poverty, race, gender, and disability — those least likely to have the resources to share their music with the world.

Since 1994, we have served over 500 musicians whose work spans the entire history of American music: blues, gospel, folk, singer-songwriter, Appalachian string band and Native American. Our primary focus is on musicians 55 years and older, and we provide financial grants only to those making less than $25,000 per year, or who face a crisis. We also work with some emerging musicians, often in collaboration with senior artists who want to carry their traditions forward.

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