Blues concert update: Drink Small at Mars Theater in Springfield GA July 12

Hope everyone in and near Georgia will trek down to see the amazing Drink Small, the Blues Doctor (click here to LIKE his Facebook page) for the Music Maker Relief Foundation show ...

Here is the poster for the show at the Mars Theater:

Mars Theatre presents Drink Small, the Blues Doctor

From the Web site (link above):
"Drink Small (his real name), based in Columbia, SC, is known worldwide as "The Blues Doctor". Born on January 28, 1933 in Bishopville, SC, he learned his first rudiments of music, as a child, on guitar and piano. His first recordings were with The Spiritualaires of Columbia, SC (1955-56, Vee Jay Records), during which time he received numerous awards as a top gospel guitarist, touring nationally and performing at such notable venues as The Apollo (NYC), The Howard (DC), The Regal (Chicago), etc. He cut his first blues record (1959: "I Love You Albertha" b/w "Cold Cold Rain) on Savoy Records subsidiary Sharp; a platter now cherished by collectors everywhere. Subsequent recordings for Ichiban, Erwin Music, Mapleshade, Southland, and his own Bishopville Records imprint helped position him on the international blues scene. Drink Small has played the Chicago Blues Festival, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage, Smithsonian Folk-Llfe, The World's Fair (Knoxville), virtually every major blues festival in the Southeast, and, despite a dislike for flying, even gigged in Europe (Finland, 1992) at the urging of his longtime friend and collaborator (the late) Charles Derrick. Drink Small is still going strong, performing solo & with band. Ever creative, he continues to write new songs and releases at least one record every year. His "The United States Will Never Be the Same" (2008) "Living in a BBQ World" (2011) are witty blues observations and deserve to be in every serious blues library."

NOTE FROM CLAIR: Drink and I are working on a very special CD that will include those two songs - available soon!

Drink Small, the Blues Doctor

Drink Small, the Blues Doctor, is a key figure in the Carolina music scene. He prefers we not call his style Piedmont Blues, because - although he plays Piedmont style powerfully - he plays a lot of different styles, even Delta Blues, but he doesn't live in the Delta. When he lectured my university class (Music of the Carolinas), he artfully delineated the difference between a playing style, a location, and a playing style associated with a location.



Drink is 80 now and, in a conversation we had recently, we discussed lots of old music venues around the Capitol City of SC (Columbia) that have "up and gone."

I'll be talking more to Drink about places, stories and events as I gather more material for my upcoming book - would love to hear your stories, too, about places and roots music throughout South Carolina (Upstate to Lowcountry and everywhere inbetween). Please feel free to contact me on my FB pages (Blues Moon Radio) or leave a comment here.

If you know Drink and want to give him a call - or if you are a fan but barely know him at all - please comment and share your thoughts - he would love to hear them and I'll be happy to relay any you leave here.

If you would like to order a CD or signed photograph, let me know and we'll arrange that, too. "It's hard to be a sick, blind, old man," Drink says. He can use any support and encouragement he can get.

Drop Drink Small a line c/o Blues Moon Radio and we'll get your get-well cards to him as well.

If you would like his latest CD or a color photo of him, please include a suggested donation of $25 for each or $45 for both - we'll cover S&H, but be sure you include your return address. He'll sign the photos as long as he is able. The mailing address is: DRINK SMALL c/o PO BOX 5591 Columbia SC 29250.

As we have seen, sadly our Blues icons do not last forever - let's pay tribute while we can.