<div>
<h6>07 Dave Specter & Billy Branch - The Ballad of George Floyd</h6>
The Ballad of George Floyd (5:14)<br />
<br />
Dave Specter: vocals, guitar<br />
Billy Branch: vocals, harmonica<br />
Brother John Kattke: keyboards<br />
Danny Shaffer: acoustic guitar<br />
<br />
Dave Specter & Billy Branch – The Ballad of George Floyd<br />
Delmark 8865<br />
<br />
<br />
Dave Specter’s powerful and timely new song, “The Ballad of George Floyd” featuring Billy Branch on vocals and harmonica. Specter also sings and plays guitar on the track. With Brother John Kattke on keyboards and Danny Shaffer on acoustic guitar.<br />
<br />
“I wrote the song a few days after George Floyd was murdered and the lyrics pretty much wrote themselves. George Floyd didn’t die in vain. He helped spark a worldwide movement for justice and change. I’m proud to collaborate with the great Chicago bluesman Billy Branch on this tune. We share the same vision and are inspired by the words of John Lewis: ‘If it hadn’t been for music, the civil rights movement would’ve been like a bird without wings.'”<br />
– Dave Specter<br />
<br />
Specter wrote these haunting lyrics of sorrow concerning centuries of injustice and bigotry, mere days after the murder of George Floyd. He reminds us that the knee is the new noose, and that it’s past time we bring about a change. “Blind men in power pouring gasoline on a burning fire.” The words, harp, and organ themselves burn together slowly but fiercely. The names of Garner, Rice, McDonald, Arbery, and Brown are recited in the song to also remind that they didn’t die in vain. Say their names.<br />
<br />
Composed by Dave Specter<br />
(SpecTone Music, BMI)<br />
Production & Supervision by Julia A. Miller and<br />
Elbio Barilari<br />
Recorded by Dan Glomski at Evanston SPACE in<br />
July 2020<br />
Mixed & Produced by Danny Shaffer<br />
Mastered by Julia A. Miller at Delmark Records<br />
Artwork & Design by Al Brandtner<br />
<br />
https://delmark.com/product/865/
</div>