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Post by slide496 on Dec 1, 2019 14:49:47 GMT
Pleased to have found Flora Molton yesterday on a compilation and picked up this album below. She was an American Gospel-blues street musician, played slide guitar, harmonica and more. Wrote songs as well. She also played an Orpheum Del Vecchio resonator although she's pictured on the video with a flat top. She's shown with the resonator on her wiki page en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flora_Molton Performed at folk festivals and venues later in life , had a band called "Flora Molton and the Truth Band". Here's the album: Lawd lawdy. Harriet
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Post by Michael Messer on Dec 1, 2019 15:09:57 GMT
Flora was wonderful. I learnt about her from Phil Wiggins, who played with her when he was a teenager. I think Phil is on this record? I also heard about Flora from John Jackson. Eleanor Ellis was also around Flora in the 70s and 80s. Someone, maybe John, told me that she once did a private house concert for the Rolling Stones. Lawd lawdy INDEED! Shine On Michael
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Post by slide496 on Dec 1, 2019 18:49:45 GMT
Hi Michael, Her Stefan Wirz page goes into more details about the band members and mentions the private Stones concert. I think if it's slide that's Flora and Eleanor Ellis plays more in a piedmont tradition and she was also her companion as well as accompanist. Her slide playing is distinctive so I think it would be easy to spot. There's some photos of her with Larry Wise and as harmonica accompanist and also Phil Wiggin played harmonica with her and is credited on albums. www.wirz.de/music/molton.htmAnd here's a short clip of her and the "truth and Spirit Group" excerpted from the House Party film, MM posted below with Eleanor Ellis and Larry Wise on harmonica. Lawd Lawdy, Harriet
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Post by Michael Messer on Dec 1, 2019 20:49:55 GMT
Harriet, That is an excellent film. That is John Cephas in the yellow shirt and Phil sitting next to him.
This film, BLUES HOUSE PARTY is wonderful and well worth watching.
I am grateful that I got to know some of that crowd.
Shine On Michael
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Post by slide496 on Dec 1, 2019 22:50:23 GMT
Thanks, I had seen the house party a long time ago - I didn't remember seeing her though. I think you were lucky to have met some of the musicians in the film!
Flora Molton had an incredibe life - a preacher at 17, 2 husbands, the street busking, song writing and then to be part of this group of musicians during her later life and to perform and be in the company of musicians who loved her and her music, made venues and the like possible for her. I wish there was more footage of her performance with slide playing, she has a great interplay between her driving vocals and her guitar. I thought it was interesting that her first exposures to slide guitar were it being played with a knife - that's probably what I would have thought she was playing with if I had not seen the film.
Glad to be exposed to her! Lawd lawdy, Harriet
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Post by Michael Messer on Dec 1, 2019 23:01:08 GMT
Harriet, maybe you should touch base with Eleanor Ellis. I am sure she would be pleased to hear from you and to talk about Flora. I don't actually know Eleanor, but she is a friend of mine on Facebook and her email is on her website at - www.eleanorellis.comShine On Michael
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Post by slide496 on Dec 2, 2019 0:36:03 GMT
Hi Michael,
I'm glad you mentioned her. I'll pass on contacting her for that reason, although she just posted notice of a tribute for 8 women in DC , one of whom was Flora, Flora passed in 1990. Eleanor Ellis has a lengthy history and ongoing success as a performing artist and beside her accompaniment of Flora, she plays with other artists and groups, solo, travels abroad, has played with Eugene Powell and Archie Edwards. She is a founding member of the DC Blues Society and the Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation, was a producer of the Blues House Party. Here's a sample, but she plays in many styles besides those she used with Flora.
Lawdy lawdy, Harriet
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Post by Michael Messer on Dec 2, 2019 8:50:34 GMT
Hi Harriet,
I know what Eleanor does and has done, and she plays well. I just don't know her personally, although we were in touch a couple of years ago.
Our UK Blues Week events that I was involved with for thirteen years, were run by someone who was part of that community and that is how I got to know that crowd. I am still in touch with Rick Franklin, but not the others.
Without Archie Edwards, John Jackson and John Cephas, the DC blues scene only just held together. I think these days it kind of doesn't really exist any more.
Shine On Michael
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Post by blueshome on Dec 2, 2019 11:35:22 GMT
Michael, I think Archie’s Barber Shop is still going although at different venues and. Our friend Rick Franklin is active in the scene there and in DC.
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