Dom Flemons, a co-founder of North Carolina-based Grammy award winning string band The Carolina Chocolate Drops, will leave the band in mid-December following a series of concert dates. He will be starting a solo career.
The Drops will continue with co-founder Rhiannon Giddens and Hubby Jenkins, who joined in 2011, and two new musicians - cellist Malcolm Parson and multi-instrumentalist Rowan Corbett, according to a statement released by the band.
'Dom and I have been a tremendous team for the last eight years, and I wish him all the best on his new solo endeavor. I know he will be enriching the landscape of American music wherever he goes' - Rhiannon Giddens
The Carolina Chocolate Drops formed in late 2005 shortly after attending the first Black Banjo Gathering held in Boone, North Carolina. Their album Genuine Negro Jig won the 2010 Best Traditional Folk Album Grammy.
Flemons is the second c0-founding member to leave; Justin Robinson departed in 2011.
The remaining concert dates that feature Flemons are:
- Dec 6 Variety Playhouse Atlanta, GA
- Dec 7 The Orange Peel Asheville, NC
- Dec 8 The Orange Peel Asheville, NC
- Dec 12 Bijou Theatre Knoxville, TN
- Dec 13 Bijou Theatre Knoxville, TN
- Dec 14 Neighborhood Theatre Charlotte, NC
- Dec 15 Neighborhood Theatre Charlotte, NC
The Carolina Chocolate Drops preserve and extend African-American traditions in old-time and string band music. They worked closely with celebrated North Carolina fiddle player Joe Thompson, a third-generation musician from Alamance County, NC.
Their music will be featured in an upcoming PBS Special "Nashville 2.0" later this month.
http://youtu.be/iMokBr9cTxM
http://youtu.be/dXmfrZkRRco
