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As Jessie Mae got out of the car, everyone loosened up
a bit. Anticipation was about to burst into a musical
celebration that went beyond just a great gig. It reached
way down inside.
We’d been blessed with a beautiful day and as day
turned into evening, the music began. It began before
Jessie Mae had a chance to say “hey” to everyone.
It began before Shannon could get everyone miked. It’s
why we were all there…to join Jessie Mae in her
element.
A look around the faces of others was in itself an inspiration…a
natural high. Smiles were genuine and deep. And right
smack dab in the middle of it all was Jessie Mae, holding
court. It had been 20 years since she recorded an album.
After all she’d been through in this business of
music, she was willing to give it one more shot. Matter
of fact, she dared everyone to do it!
Cedric Burnside and Kinney Kimbrough held it down…hard…on
the drums, while Sharde Thomas (Otha Turner’s granddaughter)
serenaded Miss Jessie with her timeless fife. Bill Turner,
and Otha and Rodney Evans, kept time with Mr. R.L. Boyce...fife
and drum style. Chris Chew supplied the bass line, with
Garry Burnside and Eric Deaton soon to follow. Mr. Robert
Belfour brought it all back home on six strings.
Papa Mali and Jimbo Mathus tore it up on guitar, with
Kenny Brown right behind them. Steve Gardner flew in from
Japan to do his thing (with a six string), and Cyd Cassone
and Ruthie Foster graced us with their soulful sound (acoustic
guitar, vocals, and percussions). Tramp- fiddle player
extraordinaire- made sure everything flowed with a few
other tricks in his bag (mandolin, mandola) and Davis
Coen showed us what finger pickin’s all about. Greg
Humphreys did it lap steel, and man can he do it! DJ Logic
took it all in with a head bob.
To say that everyone carried their weight, and then some,
is a grave understatement. Rarely does one witness such
a large group of people working so generously with one
another. The Jessie Mae Hemphill Foundation would like
to give special thanks to all the musicians.
The foundation would like to kiss the feet of Mr. Sherman
Cooper, John Paul Gerard, I’vy Ann Gerard, and Paul
Gerard for being the most gracious hosts anyone could
want (and for letting us turn their world upside down
for a while!)
JMH salutes Shannon Fitzgerald and Scott Reese for their
impossible feats on the boards (and for the nine hour
haul and a beer run!). The foundation rolls out the red
carpet for Sammy Wilcher (“who was that angel?”),
Sheila Boyce, Ricky Armstrong, Jeff Rix, Sweetdog (aka
Craig Pickering), Sally Gardner, Carson Stone, Kermit
Austin, Henry Kaiser, Cassie Jackson, Kevin Maguire, Barnett
Soundworks, and the Como Steakhouse for unflinching support.
Thanks to Larry and rope-a-dope records, Fat Possum, and
Tone Cool for the go-aheads.
Without the financial support of friends and family, this
project would never have gotten off the ground. A very
special thanks to Christine Sperling Munding, Kit and
Debbie Austin (in loving memory of Dodi Warren), Bonnie
Raitt, Beth Maly, Brandy Gatlin, Bill Staby, and Stephen
Donaldson. The foundation would also like to thank Debbie
Carroll and MusiCares, as well as Imgke Schuldt for their
support of Jessie Mae through the years.
 As
the night progressed, it took on a life of its own. Things
hadn’t wound down before they picked back up again.
We had to move it outside. Olga held down the fort as
the sound grew on the front porch. Who would have thought
they could take it any higher? People were shaking their
heads…the music was so good. Later in the night
Jessie Mae was caught playing fiddle with Tramp. The celebration
kept on ‘til well after three in the morning. As
Jessie Mae gathered her entourage to head home (and she
was last to go!), her unmistakable laugh followed the
car out the drive. Won’t you please dare us to do
it again? Much love Jessie Mae!
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