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.1
Release Date - 2008

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.1
2020 EH MUSIC

01. JUNE APPLE…(3:28)
02. REBEL SOLDIER…(3:14)
03. HARD TIMES…(5:03)
04. CAMPTOWN RACES...(2:04)
05. I'D RATHER BE…(2:00)
06. PEACOCK RAG…(2:35)
07. PATEROLA'L GETCHA…(2:10)
08. COME BACK LIZA..(3:39)
09. WAYS OF THE WORLD…(4:34)


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. JUNE APPLE 3:28
Songwriter/Author: Traditional - Arr. by THE EH
Publishing: THE EBONY HILLBILLIES MUSIC INC

The first selection, “JUNE APPLE,” is an American reel. Sung by Norris Bennett - it's an EH fave. We hope you can feel that intensity from A.R.’s swinging foot-stomping pulse, Bill Salter’s melodic driving bass and Henrique Prince’s blazing fiddle on this opening vocal tune.



02. REBEL SOLDIER 3:14
Songwriter/Author: Traditional - Arr. by THE EH
Publishing: THE EBONY HILLBILLIES MUSIC INC

“REBEL SOLDIER,” is a product of the genius of the old-time musicians capable of playing all kinds of music.



03. Hard Times 5:03
Songwriter/Author: Stephen Foster/Traditional - Arr. by THE EH
Publishing: THE EBONY HILLBILLIES MUSIC INC

“Hard Times,” a popular song by Stephen Collins Foster - Sung by Norris Bennett. This song is well recorded by many great artists. Norris Bennett’s rich vocals were often a fave.



04. CAMPTOWN RACES 2:04
Songwriter/Author: Traditional - Arr. by THE EH
Publishing: THE EBONY HILLBILLIES MUSIC INC

A minstrel song by Stephen Foster. The EH play it here as an exciting instrumental.



05. I'D RATHER BE... 2:00
Songwriter/Author: Traditional - Arr. by THE EH
Publishing: THE EBONY HILLBILLIES MUSIC INC

An EH show fave. Just a lil EH creole/zydeco flavoring for the soul.



06. PEACOCK RAG 2:35
Songwriter/Author: Traditional - Arr. by THE EH
PUBLISHER: THE EBONY HILLBILLIES MUSIC INC

A rag done by the EH.



07. PATEROLA'L GETCHA 2:10
Songwriter/Author: Traditional - Arr. by THE EH/ THE EH
Publishing: THE EBONY HILLBILLIES MUSIC INC

This song is very old about getting away from the police...the paddy wagons...the plantation handlers...slave drivers...etc..



08. COME BACK LIZA 3:39
Songwriter/Author: Irving Burgie and Bill Attaway/ Traditional - Arr. by THE EH
Publishing: THE EBONY HILLBILLIES MUSIC INC

Sung by Norris Bennett. Made famous by Mr Harry Belafonte. Penned by West Indian songwriter - Irving Burgie aka Lord Burgess. Old-Time meets calypso...



09. WAYS OF THE WORLD 4:34
Songwriter/Author: Traditional - Arr. by THE EH
PUBLISHER: THE EBONY HILLBILLIES MUSIC INC

An old crooked Kentucky tune Fiddlin William Hamilton Stepp from eastern Kentucky. Sung by Henrique Prince - a personal fave.