Cootie Stark
Cootie Stark is one such artist whose career Music Maker has acknowledged.
The 74-year-old blind guitar player and former street singer from Greenville, S.C., has spent six decades performing tunes from an enormous repertoire of diverse styles.
"In my time I never thought that I'd be recognized like I am now," Stark said. "I always wanted it, but it's been a bumpy road just to get it. It takes time. You see, God, He has something on down the line for me. I was just rushing it. Now it's here. It's joyful. I'm really proud. I'm really glad."
Stark said he appreciates the assistance Music Maker has provided. Through the foundation he was able to record his first CD, "Sugar Man," several years ago.
"That felt good," he said. "I really enjoyed that. It's something that I'd never been through before. I'd never had a chance to do that in life. I didn't really have no recordings."
Today at least 100 artists, from California to Mississippi and even as far away as Toronto are benefiting from the foundation's assistance in the forms of food, shelter and medical care.
Music Maker Founder Timothy Duffy estimates the foundation has given over $1 million in aid. He isn't satisfied.
"I can think of 1,000 more that need our help," he said. "It's not enough. We need to build Music Maker into a national organization that will have life long after our life."
"Blues is a spirit," he said. "It will never die. Systematically, people have tried to destroy it. The record companies historically marginalized these black artists and continue to do so today. They have not been given their due recognition. There's not one world music that doesn't owe itself to the blues. Why not recognize these living practitioners of this tradition?"
Music Maker has garnered support from famous icons such as Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, B.B. King and Taj Mahal, but it's help from the everyday music listener that matters most, Duffy said.
The 74-year-old blind guitar player and former street singer from Greenville, S.C., has spent six decades performing tunes from an enormous repertoire of diverse styles.
"In my time I never thought that I'd be recognized like I am now," Stark said. "I always wanted it, but it's been a bumpy road just to get it. It takes time. You see, God, He has something on down the line for me. I was just rushing it. Now it's here. It's joyful. I'm really proud. I'm really glad."
Stark said he appreciates the assistance Music Maker has provided. Through the foundation he was able to record his first CD, "Sugar Man," several years ago.
"That felt good," he said. "I really enjoyed that. It's something that I'd never been through before. I'd never had a chance to do that in life. I didn't really have no recordings."
Today at least 100 artists, from California to Mississippi and even as far away as Toronto are benefiting from the foundation's assistance in the forms of food, shelter and medical care.
Music Maker Founder Timothy Duffy estimates the foundation has given over $1 million in aid. He isn't satisfied.
"I can think of 1,000 more that need our help," he said. "It's not enough. We need to build Music Maker into a national organization that will have life long after our life."
"Blues is a spirit," he said. "It will never die. Systematically, people have tried to destroy it. The record companies historically marginalized these black artists and continue to do so today. They have not been given their due recognition. There's not one world music that doesn't owe itself to the blues. Why not recognize these living practitioners of this tradition?"
Music Maker has garnered support from famous icons such as Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, B.B. King and Taj Mahal, but it's help from the everyday music listener that matters most, Duffy said.