FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Springfield, Ga. – June 2, 2014 – Robert Lee Coleman will take the stage at 8 pm on Saturday, June 21. This show will be the second in a series of six concerts at the Mars Theatre in support of American Roots and Blues Artists through the Music Maker Relief Foundation.
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 gives future generations access to their heritage through documentation and performance programs that build knowledge and appreciation of America’s musical traditions. By targeting their programs to serve the most vulnerable musicians, those 55 years and older with incomes under $18,000 a year, they are allowing these musicians to develop their talents, stage shows, record their works, inspire their community and focus on their music.
Since their founding in 1994, they have assisted and partnered with over 300 artists, issued over 150 CDs and have reached over a million people with live performances in over 40 states and 17 countries around the globe. Music Maker started by helping a small group of blues musicians in Winston-Salem, NC, including Guitar Gabriel, Willa Mae Buckner, Preston Fulp, Mr. Q and Macavine Hayes. When these artists were asked how Music Maker could help them, they didn’t ask for money — they wanted a gig.
Through efforts to secure bookings, record their music and promote their careers, the artists were soon performing on national stages at Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center and at first-rate European festivals. And when a hometown artist returns from playing a prestigious venue like the Apollo Theater, people take notice. Articles often appear in the local paper, people in their communities develop interest in their newfound “hometown celebrity” and develop renewed pride in their musical heritage. Thus the work not only lifts the spirits of the individual artists, but of their local communities as well.
Robert Lee Coleman, of Macon, Ga., grew up during a time when the middle Ga. area was a hotbed of Blues, R&B and early Rock ‘n Roll. Beginning with playing in the church in the 1950s, Coleman continued to hone his talent and play with some of Macon’s most prominent musicians of the day: Calvin Arline, Newtown Collier, Eddie Kirkland and Percy Welch, among others. Picked in 1964 by R&B legend Percy Sledge to play guitar in his touring band, Coleman toured extensively throughout North & South America, the Caribbean and Africa.
From 1970 through 1972 Coleman toured and recorded with James Brown as a player for his backing band, the JBs. His playing is featured on three of Brown’s albums: “Hot Pants”, “Revolution of the Mind” and “Make It Funky”. Upon leaving Brown’s band he returned to Macon and resumed playing clubs and venues with musicians from his early days. Coleman has played many times at Macon’s Bragg Jam Festival and was featured prominently in the book “Street Singers, Soul Shakers, Rebels With a Cause: Music From Macon” by Candice Dyer (Indigo Custom Publishing).
Over the next 6 months, the Mars Theatre will present Music Maker artists Drink Small, Major Handing, Ironing Board Sam and Cool John Ferguson in addition to Beverly “Guitar” Watkins and Robert Lee Coleman. These musicians are rooted in the Southern musical traditions of blues, gospel, string band and Zydeco. The blues is a spirit that will never die. Thus the mission to promote and preserve traditional American roots music has just begun.
For tickets and more information please visit www.marstheatre.com
ABOUT THE MARS THEATRE
The Mars Theatre is a community supported entertainment hub, offering a variety of events for adults and families throughout the Coastal region. A historic landmark-turned-high-tech venue, the Mars boasts a unique blend of music, film, and performing arts. Originally founded in 1945, the Mars Theatre reopened in 2014, with support from the City of Springfield and the Springfield Revitalization Corporation, after 57 years of disuse. Visit www.marstheatre.com for more information.
ABOUT THE MUSIC MAKER RELIEF FOUNDATION
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.
Since our founding in 1994, we have assisted and partnered with over 300 artists, issued over 150 CDs and reached over a million people with live performance in over 40 states and 17 countries around the globe.
Visit www.musicmaker.org for more information.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Cari Phelps
cari@clarkcreativedesign.com
517 E. Gordon Street
Savannah, GA
912-233-1160
