The Ebony Hillbillies is an old-time string band based in NYC, New York City. A recording of their music is held in the archives of the Smithsonian Institution's

Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage The Center for Folklife & Cultural Heritage (CFCH) is one of three cultural centers within the Smithsonian Institution in the United States. Its motto is "culture of, by, and for the people", and it aims to encourage understanding and cultural sus ...

History

During the 1980s Henrique Prince began putting together a band due to "an idea of specializing in dance music, because I really liked the idea of the violin as a dance instrument." He also wanted to make "music African Americans used to perform and dance to before they found the blues and jazz and the other stuff became associated with grizzled mountain white guys". Based in New York City, The Ebony Hillbillies began performing on New York subway platforms. As the band continued to perform they were invited to perform in venues such as

Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhatta ...

, the Lincoln Center, Washington state's Wintergrass Festival, and the Kennedy Center.

Members

*Henrique Prince: violin, vocals *Gloria Thomas Gassaway: bones, lead vocals *Reggie “A.R.” Ferguson: washboard, “cowboy" percussion kit (consisting of organic wood and metal materials) *William “Salty Bill” Salter: acoustic bass, voice *Newman Taylor Baker: washboard *Allanah Salter: vocals

Additional Members

*Ricky “Dirty Red” Gordon: washboard, percussion *Dave Colding: acoustic bass, vocals *Iris Thomas: vocals *AW: banjo, bass

Deceased

*Norris Washington Bennett: 5-string banjo, mountain dulcimer, lead vocals

Discography

* 2004 — Sabrina’s Holiday (EH MUSIC) * 2005 — I Thought You Knew (EH MUSIC) * 2011 — Barefoot And Flying (EH MUSIC) * 2015 — Slappin’ A Rabbit - LiVE! (EH MUSIC) * 2017 — 5 Miles From Town (EH MUSIC)

References

External links

* {{Authority control Old-time bands Performing arts pages with videographic documentation American blues musical groups Musical groups from New York City Culture of New York City