Cephas And Wiggins

9th Annual Blues Album Nominee

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Genre: Blues
Smithsonian Folkways
www.folkways.si.edu

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The below reply is from Phil Wiggins, harmonica player and musical partner to John Cephas for 32 years before John passed away in 2009.

HOMEBASE/COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Virginia, USA

ALBUM NOMINATED SONG IS ON: Richmond Blues

ARTISTS ON THIS TRACK: John Cephas & Phil Wiggins

WHERE WAS THIS ALBUM RECORDED? Slipped Disc Audio in Asland, VA

WHERE IS YOUR MUSIC AVAILABLE? www.folkways.si.edu

WHICH GENRES BEST DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC? Piedmont Blues

WHAT IS THE THEME OF THIS ALBUM: In Richmond Blues, guitarist-singer John Cephas and his harmonica-player partner Phil Wiggins personify the century-old blues sound of the Piedmont, the Appalachian foothills running from Richmond to Atlanta. Drawing from roots of ragtime, ballads, Country, old-time string band, Rhythm and Blues, and more, Richmond Blues is a musical roadmap of the Virginia Piedmont tradition. While Cephas calls it “part of my heritage, part of my soul,” their sound is at the same time distinctly modern, a kind of “urban acoustic blues.”

WHAT UNUSUAL INSTRUMENTS OR TECHNIQUES DID YOU USE ON THIS ALBUM? One unusual instrument: the harmonica.

WHO IS SITTING IN YOUR AUDIENCE? Our audience spans all age groups and ethnicities. They are generally people who work hard and party hard. They realize the importance of celebration as a means of rejuvenation.

WHAT MAKES YOUR FANS UNIQUE? Our audience is people who need music the way that people need bread and water.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO PLAY? I would have to say festivals because at festivals people are on their feet. And piedmont blues is essentially dance music.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BAND’S MOST MEMORABLE ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE? John and I have taken our music to every continent except Antartica. For me, personally, getting feedback that a song that I wrote touched someone or helped someone through a difficult time.

WHAT’S IN THE WORKS FOR 2010? Having recently lost my music partner of over 30 years, 2010 is wide open. I will be performing quite a bit with Corey Harris as well as Rick Franklin, John D Holeman, Nat Reese,Lauren Sheehan,Louisiana Red,Robert Balfor ,Lihgtnin Wells,Eleanore Ellis and others. I am also working on my original songs with Mark Puryear and Harold Anderson and I will be continuing my relationship with the North Carolina Symphony.

FINISH THIS SENTENCE: THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS… There is not enough room on the page.

WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS? That people will find my music to be useful.

WHAT’S ON YOUR IPOD THAT WOULD SURPRISE YOUR FANS? I don’t have an IPOD yet.

NAME SOME ARTISTS YOU ARE CHAMPIONING: John D Holeman, Nat Reese, Drink Small, Robert Balfor, Del Rey, The Jelly Rollers, The Insomniacs, Don Vappe and The Creole Serrenaders, Eleanore Ellis, Lauren Sheehan, Rev. Robert Jones and Rev. John Wilkins.