Biography

CONTACT INFORMATION:
EH REPRESENTATION - AB WALKER (347) 337-3403
ehmusicmgmt@gmail.com

Click here to go to The Ebony Hillbillies Music Page

EH QUOTES:

“What a wonderful connection to all our humanity!”
-The New York Times

"They recreate the music you would have heard if you could time travel to a country dance in Mississippi around 1903."
-Mick Gold, BBC/UK

"Joyous, athletic, ancient, modern, and eternal, the Ebony Hillbillies don’t just tell an important story about our country and keep an essential part of our musical heritage alive, but they entertain, magically, majestically, gracefully, and energetically. A pile of passionate, high-end musicians who apply their skill to filling this old tradition with beautiful new life, it’s likely you won’t see a more engaging, entertaining, and purely joyful band all year."
-Tim Sommer, SHO


THE EBONY HILLBILLIES - I LOVE EBONY HILLBILLIES SESSIONS - VOL.2
Release Date - 2009

THE EBONY HILLBILLIES
From the street corners of Manhattan to the hallowed stages of Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center to TV appearances on the BBC and ABC’s “Good Morning America,” The Ebony Hillbillies are a true phenomenon, reviving the lost art form and American legacy of string band music for a whole new generation.

Continuing to bring a fresh urgency to the genre for a 21st Century world in need of some deep musical education, the dynamic ensemble – led by Henrique Prince (fiddle, vocals) with Norris Bennett (banjo, mountain dulcimer, guitar, vocals), Gloria Thomas Gassaway (on vocals and bones), acoustic bassist William “Salty Bill” Salter (3x-Grammy winning co-writer of legendary pop hits like “Where is the Love” and “Just The Two of Us”) and A.R.(Ali Rahman) on washboard “cowboy” percussion kit.

The Ebony Hillbillies started out on the streets of Manhattan, but their vibe and influence has extended over the years to acclaimed live performances at legendary venues like Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center; appearances on the BBC, Good Morning America, NBC, CBS, etc., international music workshops and festivals, visual artist collaborations at museums (including The Whitney with phenom Kara Walker and The Smithsonian Museum), Foot stomping and Hand-clapping Dance parties and more. In the digital era, they have sold thousands of hard copies of their CDs – Sabrina’s Holiday, I Thought You Knew, Barefoot & Flying and Slappin’ A Rabbit – Live! – at their shows and via their globally popular website, www.theEbonyHillbillies.com


THE EBONY HILLBILLIES
I LOVE EBONY HILLBILLIES SESSIONS - VOL.2
2020 EH MUSIC

01. DARLING COREY…(2:26)
02. ALTAMONT…(2:14)
03. MIND ON JESUS…(3:10)
04. FRANKIE & JOHNNY…(1:58)
05. GET MY BABY OUT OF JAIL…(2:47)
06. ASHOKAN FAREWELL…(3:48)
07. GOT A LITTLE HOME TO GO TO…(2:10)
08. SHADY GROVE..(4:01)
09. BILLY IN THE LOW GROUND…(2:22)
10. TENNESSEE WALTZ…(3:31)

CREDITS:
HENRIQUE PRINCE - VIOLIN, VOCALS.
NORRIS BENNETT - BANJO, MOUNTAIN DULCIMER, VOCALS.
GLORIA THOMAS GASSAWAY - VOCALS, BONES
WILLIAM “SALTY BILL” SALTER - ACOUSTIC BASS
A.R. (ALI RAHMAN) - WASHBOARD / COWBOY PERCUSSION KIT


RECORDED BY STEPHEN CEE @ CEE MUSIC (NYC) & AW AT GLO’S IN JAMAICA, QUEENS (NYC)
PRODUCED BY AW & THE EH

SPECIAL THANKS:
JOHN BEEBE: COVER PHOTOGRAPH
AW - ADDITIONAL DIGITAL ART PRODUCTION
MTA/NYC
JOHN HIGGINBOTHAM
NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC
LINCOLN CENTER
BOB JONES MASTER INSTRUMENT REPAIR

AND SPECIAL THANKS TO JOHN BEEBE FOR ORIGINAL NYC SUBWAY PHOTOGRAPH FROM WWW.FACESOF.CA FOR THE COVER ART DESIGN.




01. DARLING COREY 2:26
Songwriter/Author: Traditional - Arr. by THE EH
Publishing: THE EBONY HILLBILLIES MUSIC INC

The first selection, “DARLING COREY,” is an American folk song. Sung by Norris Bennett - it's an EH fave.



02. ALTAMONT 2:14
Songwriter/Author: Traditional - Arr. by THE EH
Publishing: THE EBONY HILLBILLIES MUSIC INC

“ALTAMONT,” is a product of the genius of the old-time african-american musicians capable of playing all kinds of beautiful timeless music.



03. MIND ON JESUS (WOKE UP THIS MORNING) 3:10
Songwriter/Author: Traditional - Arr. by THE EH
Publishing: THE EBONY HILLBILLIES MUSIC INC

Here is the EH’s instrumental rendition of “MIND ON JESUS,” a very popular African American spiritual . This song has been recorded by many great artists.



04. FRANKIE & JOHNNY 1:58
Songwriter/Author: Traditional - Arr. by THE EH
Publishing: THE EBONY HILLBILLIES MUSIC INC

A traditional American popular song about real life tragedies. The EH play it here as an exciting instrumental.



05. GET MY BABY OUT OF JAIL 2:47
Songwriter/Author: KARL DAVIS & HARTY TAYLOR / Traditional - Arr. by THE EH
Publishing: THE EBONY HILLBILLIES MUSIC INC

A song we loved by the late great, Ms. Algia Mae Hinton. Here is our rendition featuring, Ms Gloria Thomas Gassaway with a touch of a lil EH flavoring for the soul.



06. ASHOKAN FAREWELL 3:48
Songwriter/Author: Jay Ungar/ Traditional - Arr. by THE EH
PUBLISHER: SWINGING DOOR MUSIC INC

A present day old time classic done by the EH penned by Jay Ungar.



07. GOT A LITTLE HOME TO GO TO 2:10
Songwriter/Author: Traditional - Arr. by THE EH/ THE EH
Publishing: THE EBONY HILLBILLIES MUSIC INC

This old song has lyrics but done here as an instrumental



08. SHADY GROVE 4:01
Songwriter/Author: Traditional - Arr. by THE EH
Publishing: THE EBONY HILLBILLIES MUSIC INC

Sung by Norris Bennett. Its the EH’s rendition of a very old folk song circa 1600’s. One of the oldest songs in the Old-Time fiddle tune repertoire..



09. BILLY IN THE LOW GROUND 2:22
Songwriter/Author: Traditional - Arr. by THE EH
PUBLISHER: THE EBONY HILLBILLIES MUSIC INC

Also an old fiddle tune circa 1600’s.



10. TENNESSEE WALTZ 3:31
Songwriter/Author: Red Stewart & Pee Wee King /Traditional - Arr. by THE EH
PUBLISHER: SONY/ATV-ACUFF ROSE MUSIC, INC

A 20th century popular country music classic. Though lyrics are penned by Red Stewart, Pee Wee King made the music in which the EH definitely made it their own.