CARRBORO, N.C. – The upcoming concert of the Music Maker Foundation’s Freight Train Blues series is set for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 24, at Carrboro Town Commons, 301 W. Main Street.
The series is a collaboration among the Music Maker Foundation; the Town of Carrboro; WUNC 91.5 FM; and The Forests at Duke. Funding for this year’s series was also provided by Spark the Arts.
Bring your picnic, lawn chairs and blankets for a free evening of live music on the lawn. Beer and food will be available for purchase at the events.
The concert will feature Thomas Rhyant. After decades of touring in gospel quartets, Rhyant launched a solo career. His prowess for vocals and nimble acoustic guitar work are clearly felt in his touring tribute to Sam Cooke, whom he claims as his greatest influence. These days, Rhyant uses music to tell the stories of those who came before him, allowing people to not only understand but emotionally connect with history.
Also performing are the Legendary Singing Stars. The Brooklyn-Based Legendary Singing Stars have carried the gospel tradition into the 21st century in the sixty-plus years since its founding. In the decades since their founding, the Stars have gone by different names, changed their band mates, and cut several successful records. Founder Billie Hardie left to form his own gospel group in 1970, and rejoined the Stars in 2008 at the request of the group leader Tommy Ellison. Today, Hardie shares lead vocal duties with 21-year-old Michael Boone, who has been performing with the group since age 15 and grew up frequenting the Singing Stars’ NC shows. Despite a 63-year age difference, the two vocalists have great chemistry on stage and share a similar vision and talent.
About Freight Train Blues Concert Series
Celebrating its 10th year anniversary, this Carrboro event honors GRAMMY-winning folk and blues artist and North Carolina Music Hall of Famer Elizabeth “Libba” Cotten, born in Carrboro, N.C. in 1893. Cotten’s soulful voice and unique guitar style have rendered her a legend in the world of blues, leading her to receive National Heritage Fellowship in 1984 and a GRAMMY award in 1985. She lived to be 104 years old and died in 1987. Her songs, like the iconic “Freight Train,” have been reimagined by artists like The Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan. In 2022, she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Music Maker Foundation honors Cotten’s legacy in the world of roots music by emphasizing the cultural diversity, complexity, and vitality of her music and the music of many other artists local to her community and all over the country.
