• @russbynum Those are beautiful memories. Thank you for sharing them, Russ. I'm very sorry for your loss. in reply to russbynum #
• "You know your problem, my brother. You speak with a very pronounced accent." Spanish nobleman Don Diego in 'Zorro, The Gay Blade' #
• A new AZ law bans teachers with "heavy accents" from teaching English. Which accents? Texan? Southern? Alaskan? http://bit.ly/cAhkvP #
• I watched @TNAonline for the first time in a while. Really impressed by the documentary-style backstage segments. Well shot and realistic. #
• @tbtjuice Jesse James was the dumbest. Why? His sidepiece has reading material engraved on her forehead. HER FOREHEAD! in reply to tbtjuice #
• Don't forget tomorrow is Free Comic Book Day so get out to your favorite local shop. http://bit.ly/b93W5b #
• For more, follow @thestate RT Gov. Sanford declines South Carolina's part in Obama health plan: http://bit.ly/aAyWBU #
• I thought Sanford believed in a SMALLER role for fed govt. I guess I can't take him at his word. I feel betrayed…like Jenny. #
• Gov Sanford declines to create high-risk insurance pool in SC, thus cedes power to implement and oversee a pool for SC citizens to the feds. #
• I got the "Rough Justice" book containing Alex Ross' DC sketches, and it's easy to forget how VERSATILE the man can be with his styles. #
• Get a sneak peak at Transmission X member, Brian McLachlan's new #webcomic at http://www.smoothnnatural.com. #blaxploitation #
• Check out Brian McLachlan's interpretation of World of Hurt. #webcomic http://bit.ly/dy3vNH #
• @gdwessel Tried to send DM, but thwarted by Twitter. In short, look for a slow trickle in your inbox in a couple weeks. #
• Movie Posters Inspiration: Blaxploitation: http://abduzeedo.com/movie-posters-inspiration-blaxploitation via @addthis #
• Jon Stewart brilliantly dissected Tea Party talking points during his interview with fmr. OH Sec. of State Ken Blackwell last night. #
• @Ravenhammer See you in Philly! in reply to Ravenhammer #
• @Ravenhammer See in Philly! in reply to Ravenhammer #
• @gdwessel Come to think of it, I missed that "powers on layaway" line. This is all kinds of wrong! I think Hoffman lives here in Columbia. #
• @gdwessel I read the description and thought "OK, so far." Then I read the cover blurb, "Da Powahs Dat Be Is!" and the dialogue—Stunned! #
• @gdwessel I have 2 Mike Hoffman books. He's a great draftsman with a Frazetta-influenced style, but that 'Afrobat' book…I have no words. #
• @hermanos I dig 'em. in reply to hermanos #
• @marcbernardin Also, both have rabid fans, while being despised by everyone else for their success. Plus, A-Rod glitters in sunlight. in reply to marcbernardin #
• Yesterday, I got a great present via e-mail from Brian McLachlan of http://www.theprincessplanet.com. I can't wait to show it off on Friday. #
• @ReachPhillips IIIICCCCEEE CREEEAAAAMMMM! in reply to ReachPhillips #
• no. No! NO! #webcomic http://bit.ly/bdKucY #
• @ExpertParalegal In 'Iron Man 2,' ScarJo actually plays a paralegal with almost superhuman abilities…Wait, that's redundant. #
• "Retcon" term used as centerpiece of Washington Post column about disingenuous GOP talking points. http://tinyurl.com/36etfhc #comicbooks #
• "Malcolm X killer freed after 44 years?" I thought Farrakhan was already out. I kid! I kid! #
• Somalia is a libertarian paradise: weak govt. which can't collect taxes. No infrastructure and rampant crime, but you get what you pay for. #
• @vinyl4giants Do you know anything about the German funk/soul group, The Whitefield Bros.? I downloaded their album 'In The Raw": Very nice! in reply to vinyl4giants #
• Arizona's new immigration law strips Constitutional rights and encourages frivolous lawsuits. I thought both were anathema to conservatives. #
• @GangStarrGirl I had another blue character in mind for Drake: Sam The Eagle http://tinyurl.com/ycxmsdq in reply to GangStarrGirl #
• @douggrossCNN "Song 2" by Blur and "Mama Said Knock You Out" by LL Cool J. #
• @ReachPhillips This has GOT to go on our wedding gift registry! http://tinyurl.com/2efsyx4 #
• @julianlytle Nonetheless, that video's about the most powerful thing to come out of an artist in years. #
• @julianlytle Too bad the M.I.A. song isn't a clubbanger; to show these younguns that a message and a good beat aren't mutually exclusive. in reply to julianlytle #
• @julianlytle Exactamundo! If those doors hadn't been so open, their granddaddies STILL would have done anything to get here. #
• Folks need to stop pretending their ancestors wouldn't have snuck over if the nations of Europe shared a common border with the U.S. #
• @vinyl4giants Aw, damn! I just noticed your new gravatar. That's a big time compliment. Thanks! in reply to vinyl4giants #
• @vinyl4giants Ha! Thankfully, that's been a fairly rare occurrence, but extend my apologies. Just Google "world of hurt," baby! I'm #1. #

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Bleeding Cool reported this morning that Peter O’Donnell, the creator of the newspaper strip Modesty Blaise, passed away on May 3rd at the age of 90.   The strip’s title character, Modesty Blaise, was the former head of an expansive, and successful, criminal network who came out of early retirement with her right -hand man, Willie Garvin, to apply their unique skills to working on the side of the angels.  Mostly the pair worked hand-in-hand with the British intelligence service, but they also engaged in freelance adventures.

I cannot overstate what a tremendous influence Modesty Blaise was on WORLD OF HURT.  Once I decided to create a black & white adventure strip, I engaged in a crash course on the best examples of the genre.  Although, artistically I found my primary inspiration in the work of Alex Raymond and Al Williamson, from a writing standpoint Peter O’Donnell was my greatest influence.  (Although I do not mean to diminish the artistic contributions of the great artists who contributed to Modesty Blaise, particularly Jim Holdaway.)  If you enjoy any aspect of the character development, action, or pacing in WORLD OF HURT, then you’re probably enjoying something I learned from Peter O’Donnell’s Modesty Blaise.  (Heck, even the handle of the knife that Pastor put in the neck of one of the guards a couple strips ago was patterned after the throwing knives used by Willie Garvin.)

In any interview about my work  I always tried to mention that Peter O’Donnell provided readers with the pinnacle of adventure strip writing.  He left a remarkable legacy and generations of writers owe him a great debt of gratitude.

- JEP

LINKS:

The Official Modesty Blaise website

Finally!

At long last, the OFFICIAL WORLD OF HURT ONLINE STORE is open for business!  I’m not talking about a CafePress store.  I’m talking about merchandise designed, inspected and vetted by me.  My goal is to locate the best vendors I could find in order to provide merchandise that had the look, feel, and quality that I would want as a consumer.  Right now, there are just three (3) items: the first t-shirt, the button, and the Acme Comics: Escape Pod anthology I participated in last year.  Shortly, I’ll also add commissions and prints, as well.

This is my first time operating as a merchant through Paypal, but hopefully I got all the glitches out.  (I’m particularly concerned about the shipping charges for the buttons.  If you only want to order a button, the shipping charge should only be one dollar.  If it charges you more than that, just drop me a line at worldofhurtonline@yahoo.com so I can fix that.)  Also, I hope you forgive the wordplay in the ad copy.  I couldn’t help myself.

- JEP

• @russbynum Why not paint an Antonin Scalia statue brown and call it "Clarence Thomas?" In their decisions, you can't tell them apart anyway. in reply to russbynum #
• @russbynum Is Isaac Hayes from Stax one of the Great Blacks in Wax? in reply to russbynum #
• Betty White is the bacon of celebrities: she's been around forever and always been good, but is only now being embraced by hipsters. #
• 'Across 110th St.' RT @Fraisebalm This movie is different from your typical blaxploitation film. http://tumblr.com/xb19mc3b9 #
• Beautiful, well-done short film adaptation of 'Street Fighter.' If only the feature films were this good.http://tinyurl.com/2uryvab #
• Hey y'all! The Official World Of Hurt Online Store is now open. Buy some swag and do your part for the… http://bit.ly/bkuveN #
• My write up on the passing of Peter O'Donnell got linked into a British website and a German blog. It's a small… http://bit.ly/aneKLq #
• @WallE132 Could'a been worse. Least it wasn't Horshack. in reply to WallE132 #
• Spider-Man and Jim Rugg's Afrodisiac in a Mighty Marvel Team-Up? Peep this: http://tinyurl.com/28m5qwh #blaxploitation #
• Make a statement and look good doing it! The WORLD OF HURT Online Store is now open. http://worldofhurtonline.com/store/ #
• Now to go home and try to figure out Paypal. Millions of folks can do it, but I'm such a Luddite, that I can't get my store set up properly. #
• @Marvel Notice that you can't spell 'The Heroic Age" without "The Hero, Cage?" Coincidence? I think not. #
• @DhaniJones Bobsledding? in reply to DhaniJones #
• Lovely follow-up on the life and career of 'Modesty Blaise' creator, Peter O'Donnell by @johnfreeman_dtb. http://tinyurl.com/27r3cef #
• Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) soft on terrorism; supports putting guns in the hands of suspected terrorists. http://tinyurl.com/2cskclh #
• @Peposed How is that different from any other day at @Newsarama? in reply to Peposed #
• When I draw the cover for a WoH compilation, I'd love to hire @DocShaner to color it. GREAT use of non-local color, neg. space and texture! #
• @nyneshaydee Perfect! in reply to nyneshaydee #
• Anti-gay, co-founder of Family Research Council and @Gamecocks professor caught with male escort. http://tinyurl.com/3ahut5z #
• @DocShaner But of course I would share, though! #
• @DocShaner I'm reminded of the commercials for the "Hey Love" soul albums from the '80s: "No, my brother, you've got to get your OWN." in reply to DocShaner #
• In this week's episode, Charles tastes five on the Black hand side. http://bit.ly/ckf7D8 #
• Can I get a review copy? RT @IDWPublishing Really excited about our new X-9: Secret Agent Corrigan deluxe series! http://bit.ly/a7Jbpd #
• Why did I get four hits today from folks using the search terms "Shelley Winters feet?" Nevermind. I don't want to know. #
• Or this: http://tinyurl.com/2923goo Yeah, Washington Times, you're right. It's the EXACT same thing. #
• Washington Times compares use of "teabagger" to the n-word. Until this happens at teabagger rallies STFU! http://tinyurl.com/285snnn #
• @planet_lois Steve Lombard probably knows where you can get some quotes. in reply to planet_lois #
• More B&W art previewed. RT @LATherocomplex 'The Rocketeer' flies again with archival hardcover from IDW Publishing http://lat.ms/cBmn1A #
• RT @thestate 'Ninja' dancer frightens Hilton Head bar patrons: http://bit.ly/a7aSu4 #
• IDW to release oversized, b&w "Artist's Edition" of 'The Rocketeer' so we can study Stevens' glorious work in detail! http://bit.ly/9mfSke #
• Good for Steve Nash and The Phoenix Suns! Or should I say, "Los Suns?" http://tinyurl.com/2egopyu #
• Awesomes! #Webcomic artist and pun-master, Brian McLachlan ('The Princess Planet') is now on Twitter! Follow him at @McLachlanBrian #
• Two cats from my hometown publish an OGN skewering the legacy comic strips infecting newspapers like zombies. http://tinyurl.com/2ehb4fh #
• via @phillydotcom Jenice Armstrong: '70s Blaxploitation film queen Pam Grier exposes all in new memoir. http://tinyurl.com/36bmvhm #
• I'm going to step out on a limb and call my shots like Babe Ruth: Tomorrow's strip will be a new favorite for many of y'all. #
• For a little history on the "Democrat Party" perjorative, instead of the proper "Democratic Party." http://tinyurl.com/y7c3xt #
• Tea Partiers object to the word "teabagger." They might remember that the next time they use the term "Democrat Party." http://tpm.ly/90nElx #
• Peter O'Donnell was the absolute master of the newspaper adventure strip. His pacing and characterization were flawless. He will be missed. #
• @theisb 'Twas the rare week where I'm ahead on the strip, so I set up my online store & ate crawfish. Also, finalized my HeroesCon display. in reply to theisb #
• @theisb Lucha Conan FTW! in reply to theisb #
• @theisb Dude, Conan is dropping that gorilla with a hurricanrana, not a suplex. #wrestling #yeahI'mbeingTHATguy #
• @TylerJamesComic As the article said, it was the classic Friday night newsdump of potentially bad news. Thanks for the update. in reply to TylerJamesComic #
• Nonetheless, regardless of the platform or publisher, I guess the important thing is to #makewebcomics. #
• @gdwessel @julianlytle Interesting. I need to think about this some more, but right now I'm fairly agnostic on the news. #
• In case you missed it:'Princess Planet' #webcomic creator, Brian McLachlan's sweet interpretation of WORLD OF HURT http://twitpic.com/1kp81y #
• I had no idea about these changes. RT @gdwessel Good article by @TylerJamesComic about the change at @zudacomics: http://bit.ly/bIQHqK #
• The more I study his work, the more I realize what an amazingly innovative storyteller Frank Quitely is. #
• @ElMurphzilla I guess you haven't seen 'The Black Gestapo' (1975). http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0169620/ in reply to ElMurphzilla #

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Happy Friday, everyone!

I’m on my way to the home of cheesesteaks, the fictional battle of the ages between Apollo Creed and Rocky Balboa and American democracy (which I listed in order of importance).  Yes, I’m headed to Philadelphia, PA today to attend the 9th Annual East Coast Age Of Comics Convention (ECBACC) this weekend.  In conjunction with ECBACC, the ceremony for the 2010 Glyph Comics Awards is being held tonight at the African American Museum on 701 Arch St.  The Awards are free and open to the public, so if you’re in the area, please come on by. 

WORLD OF HURT has been nominated in six different Glyph Awards categories, including Best Writer, Best Artist, Story of The Year,  Rising Star Award, Best Comic Strip and Best Male Character.  I’m nervous, excited and wish good fortune and good travels to my fellow nominees and everyone else on their way to the convention.  I’ll be joined by my parents, my brother and nephew, and my lovely fiancee, so WORLD OF HURT will be rolling in their posse-deep, my friends!

Due to all the preparations, I hope you can forgive the rather spare blog post for today, but I’ll be dropping some live updates tonight via Twitter after the event.  Hit me up at http://twitter.com/World_Of_Hurt around 9:30 PM for the post-awards cereomy details.

- JEP

• @julianlytle My 9 yo nephew is here with me and he's your biggest fan. He kept asking if we'd see you. You're like Sinatra to him, son! in reply to julianlytle #
• Having a great time at ECBACC. Smaller con, but it's great place to talk to creators and share ideas. Also, kudos for the focus on kids. #
• Thanks for the congratulations, everyone! I was texting from my phone last night, but
  I wasn't able to read any responses until today. #
• @DocShaner is stealing my shine. ECBACC used his Pastor illo in the program. #
• GLYPH AWARDS- UNKNOWN SOLDIER, STORY OF THE YEAR #
• GLYPH AWARDS- TIM BRADSTREET, BEST COVER-LUKE CAGE: NOIR #
• GLYPH AWARDS-KEITH KNIGHT, THE K CHRONICLES- BEST COMIC STRIP #
• GLYPH AWARDS-ALEX SIMMONS, BEST WRITER #
• GLYPH AWARDS-SHAWN MARTINBOROUGH, FAN AWARD WINNER #
• Best artist. Rising star and best male character. #
• Won 3 Glyph Awards! #
• POLLOS #breakingbad #
• Read WORLD OF HURT: Celebrating 211 days since our last minority character was killed! http://worldofhurtonline.com #ripryanchoi #
• Getting ready for ECBACC. #
• @MistahPete HeroesCon for sure and maybe WizardWorld ATL…mostly because Pam Grier's gonna be there. #
• @ElSanto45 @gdwessel I'll snap some tonight, but it's a "green" design since I basically recycled the left-hand side of my Twitter page. #
• @WallE132 I wish! The closest I'll get is Philadelphia this weekend. I've got Charlotte and Atlanta on my calendar. NYC would be sweet, tho. #
• What's black, white, yellow and nearly 7' tall? The WORLD OF HURT convention display, which was just delivered! . #
• Join the Tour! Pick a bike, get friends to cheer & help @LIVESTRONG raise $75K for cancer! http://bit.ly/dqP9M4 #IRideFor #
• @DocShaner Congratulations! in reply to DocShaner #
• Arizona bans ethnic studies courses; fears Latinos may become resentful if they learn they've been oppressed. The law also bans irony. #
• For those not fluent in Southern, "to favor" means "to bear a resemblance to." #
• Is it just me, or does SCOTUS nominee, Elena Kagan, favor Rachel Maddow? Here's a young pic for comparison: http://tinyurl.com/2vgrltz #
• Be a BMF in this cool new T! #webcomic #blaxploitation http://bit.ly/aL8Cie #
• @mkinyon Much appreciated, sir! I think I got things figured out. in reply to mkinyon #
• This is not a negotiation! #webcomic http://bit.ly/brnldS #
• Thanks for your help, everyone. I think I know what the problem was. #
• Could somebody do me a favor and try to leave a comment on today's strip? I think there's something wrong with WordPress. Thanks! #
• Previous link via Rich Watson http://www.popcultureshock.com/painted-man/55215/ #
• Promising graphic novel about a father answering questions about race from his biracial son: http://thepaintedmanbook.blogspot.com/ #
• @gdwessel I have a #Blaxploitation Wold-Newton Theory that would bring in @oldetownecomix, 'Smooth N' Natural' AND Afrodisiac. in reply to gdwessel #
• A new episode of @McLachlanBrian's #Blaxploitation #webcomic 'Smooth N' Natural' is up! http://www.smoothnnatural.com/ #
• @TheFilmTwit Indeed. Yes, indeed. Viva Gaga! in reply to TheFilmTwit #
• @TheFilmTwit http://bossip.com/217835/akon-says-hes-ready-to-retire-thanks-to-lady-gaga/ I know, right? It shocked me, too! in reply to TheFilmTwit #
• @TheFilmTwit Two words: Lady. Gaga. Somehow, Akon had the foresight to sign her to his label. Improbable, huh? in reply to TheFilmTwit #
• Re: Pat Lee RT@hermanos @julianlytle he fled to Hong Kong like dude in The Dark Knight did. Somebody needs to sky-hook him and air him out. #
• @ElSanto45 lays the odds for winner of the 2010 Eisner winner for Best Digital Comic http://bit.ly/bmhOdk #webcomics #eisner #
• @hermanos Tyler Perry to write the next intercompany comics crossover, "Why..Didn't I Get Married?" w/ Ron Troupe and Peter Parker. #
• @hermanos How is that "Birds Of Prey" write-up in USA Today supposed to make ANY sense to a non-comic book fan? #
• @hermanos Do you know what happened to the marriage of Ron Troupe and Lucy Lane? Has that, and their kid, been retconned out of existence? #
• Oil execs to face Senate committee tomorrow. I'm sure it'll amount to nothing. When has a pimp ever been afraid of his whores? #
• I'm starting to get nervous about the 2010 Glyph Awards. Anybody else gonna be in Philly this weekend for ECBACC? #
• @nyneshaydee I voted for Sen. Graham in '08, because he CAN be fair and rational and was a better candidate than his Democratic opponent. #
• @nyneshaydee His argument boils down to "Denying due process protections to terrorism suspects is OK, EXCEPT when it comes to their guns." #
• @nyneshaydee I actually agree with you. The breathless hyperbole was to underscore Graham's inane a la carte approach to the Constitution. #
• Lest we forget: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) soft on terrorism; wants suspected terrorists to have guns. http://tinyurl.com/2cskclh #
• For one brief, shining moment of Twitter democracy, I had as many followers as Justin Bieber AND Ashton Kutcher combined. #
• @J0EBIDEN "Sarah (Palin) is pretty hot though." You proved your point, J0E. You are stupid. #beefin'withphonytwitteraccounts #
• The symbol on the Shroud's hood looks a lot like the Sentry's Watchtower. #marvelcomics #ijustnoticedthis #
• NY Times obit on 'Modesty Blaise' creator, Peter O'Donnell. http://tinyurl.com/24grtw2 (via @Robot6) #
• @rhodeislander I should reiterate: Biden has knowledge, experience, but no "bureaucrat-ese" filter. "Candor" would have been a better word. in reply to rhodeislander #
• @J0EBIDEN Sarah? Sarah Palin? Is that you? Sweetheart, the psychological term is "projection." Look it up. in reply to J0EBIDEN #
• @rhodeislander Hadn't read the Biden article, but thanks for pointing it out. Lousy title, but interesting POV. http://tinyurl.com/26jboxz #
• @rhodeislander Which one? This one: http://www.strike-the-root.com? Or this one: http://www.theroot.com? The former would be kinda silly, I guess. in reply to rhodeislander #
• Joe Biden gets a bad rap. He wears his heart on his sleeve and he's prone to unvarnished honesty, which we're not used to in politicians. #
• Huffington Post is dead wrong for teasing a story about Tiger Woods' back injury with the headline "Tiger's 'Bulging D__k.'" #
• For some brilliant inking and design work, you gotta check out my man, BroHawk. http://brohawk.deviantart.com/ #
• Why Bogart Is So Damn Cool-Reason # 4283: "Raised hell" with his Hollywood neighbors for trying to kick Lena Horne out of the neighborhood. #
• It's sunny outside today, but it sure feels like "Stormy Weather." RIP Lena Horne. http://tinyurl.com/2bmpluy #
• Goldman Sachs' influence in our govt. is like bacteria: it's invisible, everywhere, and unhealthy in large doses. http://tinyurl.com/3ypyqm2 #
• 'Meet the Haunteds" I agree with Rich Watson "…this better be an amazing book to overcome a premise like that." http://tinyurl.com/2bh5823 #
• @shawtyslim Stay calm and don't give him any reason to believe you're a hairdresser. Follows those rules and you should be safe. in reply to shawtyslim #
• I hope you're having a good day, you mothers! Wait, that didn't come out right… http://bit.ly/acxyrw #
• @marcbernardin Are you on one of the moons of Endor? in reply to marcbernardin #
• @mike_mayhew Has your Topp's run on 'Zorro' with Don McGregor ever been collected as a graphic novel? Those issues were gorgeous! in reply to mike_mayhew #

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(l-r) Don Flemons, Rhiannon Giddens, and Justin Robinson

Today, I have a special treat in the form of a guest blog by my fiancee, Noelle Phillips.  Besides being an award-winning journalist, Noelle has a deep appreciation for music and a keen ear for new, unique voices in nearly every genre of popular music.  She introduced me to M.I.A. long before “Paper Airplanes” hit it big in the United States and sold me on Cage The Elephant when I was about to dismiss them as just another wimpy, indy rock band.  Also, remind me to tell you about the time we managed to get backstage after a B.B. King performance to snag the blues legend’s autograph and some hors d’oeuvres off his snack tray.  I’ve already decided on who should be the first female recipient of The Unsung Bad Mother****** Award, and I’m trying to get Noelle to write that entry.  In the meantime, enjoy her discussion of the gifted and brilliant Carolina Chocolate Drops.  (She didn’t mention it, but they do a mean cover of Blu Cantrell’s “Hit ‘em Up Style,” too.)

If you think Auto-Tune showcases excellent musicianship….

If you think a series of “uhs” and “yeahs” is display of vocal prowess…

If you think fiddles and banjos and bones belong to old white hillbillies…

Then do not listen to the Carolina Chocolate Drops.

But if you’re interested in the roots of Black music that gave us rock-and-roll, then pay attention to the history lesson the Drops offer listeners.

This trio of Black musicians from North Carolina makes its living playing old-time country and blues. But they bring a youthful exuberance with an understanding and respect toward their roots.

In the words of Justin Robinson, who plays fiddle, “Tradition is a guide, not a jailer. We play an older tradition but we are modern musicians.”

Earlier this year, the Carolina Chocolate Drops released its fourth album, “Genuine Negro Jig.” The record is a banjo-picking, fiddle-sawing, bone-tapping, throat-singing salute to the history of Black music. The Drops teach us a thing or two about the rich musical history of Black America, long before Wonder Mike, Big Bank Hank, and Master Gee treated audiences to a “Rapper’s Delight” and even before Chuck Berry duck-walked across the stage for the first time.

The Drops are Dom Flemmons, Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson.

The three met in 1995 at the Black Banjo Gathering in Asheville , N.C. Flemmons, who was living in Arizona at the time, learned about the gathering on a Yahoo! chat site. Giddens and Robinson were from North Carolina .

After Flemmons decided to make North Carolina his home, the three began making weekly trips to Mebane , N.C. to sit on the front porch of Joe Thompson’s home. Thompson, an elderly Black man, learned to play the fiddle as part of a family tradition. He spent his life jamming on the fiddle after long days of field work. The Drops have toured with Thompson, recorded one album with him and play one of his songs – “Cindy Gal” — on “Genuine Negro Jig.”

Flemmons first became fascinated with folk music after watching a PBS documentary on the history of rock and roll. He began listening to other forms of roots music and borrowed a banjo from a friend. The banjo was missing a fifth string so Flemmons taught himself to play with four. Other musicians at the Black Banjo Gathering explained the banjo has five strings and taught him how to properly play it.

Giddens began her musical career as an opera singer in college. But she got into the folk scene after seeing a flyer for an English Country Dance. She was attracted to it because she was a fan of Jane Austen’s books. After learning to call the dance moves, Giddens picked up the fiddle. Her first band was Celtic but she expanded her horizons after hearing about Thompson. Her vocal chops are showcased on the song “Reynadine” on the Jig album.

Robinson started playing violin when he was 8 years old because his parents were classical music fans. Later, he turned his violin into a fiddle after listening to country music. He sought out Thompson, realizing time could be short to learn from a man who already was in his 80s. Thompson chided Robinson for not bringing a banjo player so he started bringing other people, including Flemmons and Giddens. Thus began the Drops apprenticeship under Thompson.

Today, the band travels full-time and this summer they’ll hit up music festivals across the United States . If you’re hear they’re coming to your area, they’ll be worth price of admission.