Sankofa: Reclaiming History: Carolina Chocolate Drops at TEDxUNC

[@DogeDelecto]

As a Death Metal musician, i am always bewildered by the deft dexterity of bluegrass and folk musicians. They are on another level. It is amazing to see people my age trying to keep this part of our American history alive.

[@chiledoug]

always amazed a lot of rock n roll metal etc are in awe

[@Vinylsearch]

TheLotusEater, while everyone has their own favorite genera of music, it is the people who have an open mind to all forms of music who will receive the most satisfaction for music in general. In my mind Carolina Chocolate rock.

[@baronvonbonbon5091]

the lotus eater is a great song!

[@Shadowbannddiscourse]

Yeah I'm a death metal /grindcore fan and it's amazing how we dig fast stuff. Some of that genre is even going back to such traditional music to get that dexterity. Look at all these drummers going back to jazz as well But then again stuff like this are the result of metal it's just a progression but in a different context.

[@Bietel]

@@Shadowbannddiscourse Real musicians dig real musicians, simple as that. I love trad Hungarian folk, my all-time fave band is Dead Moon who played sorta sixties garage punk, I love Gillian Welch, Nick Drake, the Carolina Chocolate Drops indeed, and although I'm not a metal head I think that Obituary has an undeniable swing in their rhythms. So hey... good music is good music. And these people have something to SAY as well.

[@ErinsProjects]

I just bought a banjo recently. I never knew that was African. We really need to reorient American history to acknowledge the wisdom learned from the slaves, the indentured servants (irish), and native Americans. These were our ancestors who taught us how to survive. It wasnt the rich people. It was the regular people. All of the flavor and spice came from the regular Americans. We need to lift them up!

[@bboicrazy8]

The banjo is based on a the west African kora. Learning the roots of things is important and the kind of history you’re talking is called “people’s history”.

[@ThePapasmurf1946]

I could listen to them play all day long and into the night. It's interesting to hear how they all are so aware of the origins of their music and how it has changed and morphed so much, but still can be played with heart and soul.

[@branofattrebates2847]

I saw this band in UK several years ago and met them for a drink afterwards beautiful people and great music.

[@rico879]

These guys rock! Very commendable work! Afro-American bruegrass the beginning of everything else !

[@willwright2099]

I am a musician and music is forever. It's new because no two people will interpret a piece in the same way. I'm a fan I love it.

[@upendasana7857]

Brilliant.I loved that word Sankofu meaning it bring it back,thats exactly what needs to happen,anyone whose had anything taken without asking understands this.

[@johnhayes1641]

We were fortunate to have Dom Flemons at this year's Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival, but I'd love to have this group. I'm in awe of their virtuosity, but even more than that, their respect for traditional music.

[@chazworm3]

I spoke with Mr Flemons at an outdoor gig they were having in a small KY university town. I have never met a nicer professional musician. I generally HATE musicians and I'm kind of embarrassed to be lumped in with them. Not Dom Flemons . I even bought his solo cd too. Great guy

[@etp0802]

They are the real deal. I've been fortunate enough to see them live twice, once in Durham, once out near Boone.

[@175IQLOSERS]

Love this band... I have heard beyond TED and have enjoyed them each time... Early and New Americana at some of its finest..!!!

[@teresabrown9741]

Dom Flemmns came to Athens, Georgia in 2016 and I was introduced to him and his music. I have been following him ever since. The C.C. Drops are now extant. I continue to follow Rhiannon Giddens and her partner Francesco Turrisi, Dom Flemons separately as they have their careers.

[@ECWnWWF]

I'm going to North Carolina for the first time this coming weekend and I'm here to prepare.

[@brandondavidson4085]

I think in 2013, Rhiannon was pregnant with her son. So her vocal volume and range in this video is even more impressive!

[@Cyrilmc222004]

Thank you so much Rhiannon I really really enjoyed watching you guys playing together so beautifully and so happily too. Amazingly talented and gifted too. Please stay safe and well too xxxx Mags ❤❤❤❤

[@bungmusturd5458]

in case you missed the name of the last song - Blu Cantrell - Hit 'Em Up Style

[@bruceonspruce2611]

Marvelous, just down right awesome. Time to go back and fetch it.

[@mattobermiller5041]

She's putting out that voice while sitting down. A normal human being would have to be standing and still couldn't come close. Wow.

[@foxibot]

That banjo player is fantastic so it the bones guy, just watched him give a lesson. He reminds me of people I know in south Louisiana. These people look like Louisiana people. Especially the bones and fiddle player. Enjoyed the presentation. Love learning about traditions. Of course the lady is also great fiddler. I just saw the guys hands on banjo. They were so fast. Cellist is also good.

[@MsAppassionata]

Rhiannon plays banjo as well.

[@foxibot]

@@MsAppassionata why am I not surprised ma cher?

[@THEIRONCLAYMAN]

Saw these guys in Boston back in 2013, amazing show!

[@neasley5998]

Traditional African-American music!

[@GallumA]

it's traditional anglo-african music actually, Americans made great use of it, but it came from the mixture of cultures between Britain and Jamaica.

[@didierloncke3796]

@@GallumA no it didnot

[@christaylor2070]

@@didierloncke3796 most people who love this music agree its a fusion of Anglo/Irish/Scots fiddle tunes, old British ballads, African American blues [and the banjo] and the Cherokee people contributed to the 'flatfoot' style of dancing. You can argue against it if you want but I believe its true.

[@MSILBB]

@@christaylor2070 It has what I would consider a small amount of European influence. The fiddling came from Arnold Schultz (African American), as did the Banjo playing, as did many other elements in Bluegrass music that were credited to Whites like Earl Scruggs and Lester Flatt but were really from African Americans. Edited for clarification

[@christaylor2070]

@@MSILBB fair enough but does the fiddling not have at least some Scots/Irish origin? And yes I am aware that the African American influence in Bluegrass and country music generally has been mainly 'whitewashed ' out of history!

[@Flametree1492]

So much of "our" history has been suppressed! I believe country music has always been part of Afro-decendants history. Just like rag time, jazz, blues, rock and roll, do wop and rap, so much of our culture and styles have been appropriated by Euro-decendants! What else has been hidden away?

[@soccerchamp0511]

It wasn't appropriated, American music has been a fusion of European and African music from the beginning.

[@MSILBB]

@@soccerchamp0511 No that's not accurate. "American" music is categorically 95% African/African derived in form and 100% African American created. It has very little European influence as a whole and much of it has been stolen and appropriated by Europeans, Rock n Roll as an example.

[@soccerchamp0511]

@@MSILBB I'm sorry, but you're wrong. There is also a significant amount of influence from European music, everything from Celtic music produced by the lower classes in Britain and Ireland to highbrow classical music. If you don't know that then you don't know very much about music. Rock and roll was actually a combination of country, old-time, and blues, and country and old-time draw heavily (blues do as well to a smaller extent) on Celtic and other European folk music. Go listen to some Gaelic fiddle and you will hear the exact same fiddle patterns in old-time and, today, bluegrass and country music. And those same patterns have been carried over into rock and roll on the guitar. Even old school gospel music with its call and response was influenced by the lining out of Psalms originally done in British protestant churches. Now, I'm not saying that American music is mostly European-based. All I'm saying is that there really has been a true and beautiful mixing of African and European sounds and rythyms in American music, and I don't understand why that's such a threatening idea to you?

[@walterc.charlescampbelllll8485]

love this music and this band

[@joanbroadfield799]

"....so old it can be new again...."

[@sophiazaynor2089]

This music makes me so happy!!!!!

[@michaelharvey5138]

Really amazingly versatile....Brilliant ! .....

[@bradrogers1625]

Wow that last song was amazing - Got to see the CLCD's in Fresno such amazing traditional musicians - they make me proud to come from hillbilly stock!

[@Tricky205]

So awesome! What a great band!

[@rbaldwi6]

Yes We Can

[@geraldButtry]

They sure where a good group love there Cornbread and butterbeans one

[@birgitalbrecht8228]

Why does nobody mentions Leyla McCalla in this clip, the great musician sitting mutely to the left of all of those great talkers? She is not only a fantastic cello player but also a gifted singer and interpreter of haitian music tradition. If somebody is s specialist in talking about musical traditions of surpressed peoples it should be her!

[@michaelbunner2041]

Back then, McCalla was a junior member -- mostly a cello player and not yet an experienced singer. She had been a busker they plucked off the streets of New Orleans. Find some old interviews with her, and you'll see McCalla describe her experience with the Carolina Chocolate Drops as "grad school" for touring musicians. Leyla has come a long way since then, shaped in part by the attitudes and practices of her CCD bandmates.

[@pplnrg]

loved it from New Zealand

[@CPettybone1]

Well, I just love this.

[@daviddickinson1993]

It’s sad more people don’t understand the shared musical traditions between poor whites and blacks in the American South.

[@barbrarussell4568]

Awesome ❤️

[@mixx796]

Love this!

[@karlmahlmann]

wow. Great playing.

[@edwardssistershands]

Video is good, if only the audio was better.

[@gerrybergtrom1474]

Makes me ask where have I been all my life!

[@nickiemcnichols5397]

There's nothing quite like Old Tyme music.

[@RC-jz2em]

I had to check my playback speed to make sure it was set to “normal.” Good Lord 😱🤯

[@haggard101]

so good!

[@mingsworld888]

I love this it's so cool!

[@thomaschalk5446]

Awesome!

[@bhstor0]

Bluegrass is for everyone, and from everyone.

[@taliesinmusic]

@11:49 function of music

[@profoundprocrastinator]

First song reminds me of Trouble in Your Mind

[@alxcal-southside8762]

Name of the first song please

[@brownjatt21]

Cindy gal

[@minarima]

His speaking voice really reminds me of Johnny Cash for some strange reason.

[@Papion.777]

Power

[@foxibot]

The fiddle player is a Jolie woman. (A pretty woman) like her voice.

[@ducknamedchuck]

What happened with my comment to Zorgoon Trollstones - it is simply gone!?? and the comment of Eggy Noggy is gone too! what's going on?????

[@thomaskline]

Big Bill Broonzy was asked if he played folk music. He replied,”never heard no mule play music!”

[@SupertzarMetal]

Needs more cowbell. And the crowd was a bit tame.

[@donaldhull5500]

SupertzarMetal Carolina chocolate dro

[@PaulTheSkeptic]

Everyone talks about tradition and all but the more familiar you are with old time music the more you realize that, there are a LOT of traditions. And they all get mixed together and you get blues songs played by country guys and ragtime songs done by folk guys and it get real confusing real fast. Folk music almost beckons you to create your own tradition. You can change all the words because they've all been changed a million times anyway. Change the chords too. No one owns these songs. They're traditional and public domain. Do it the way you want to and that IS the tradition. So there is no such thing as being inauthentic. You don't have to play the same way some other guy played. Play it the way you like.

[@daveralph3488]

wow she is lovely...

[@yoda9518]

Very very pretty

[@ThymeMcKernan777]

Jesus Christ banjo bones guy is hot

[@larryasbury6218]

EDNA KANSAS ,, i like this

[@roybrewer7865]

I blame it all on marketing. . .

[@CGSeever]

Disappointing video. Lion Nerd Films and Cirque Productions totally ignored the cello player. I expect better from a TED sponsored work.

[@nickiemcnichols5397]

CGSeever that isn't a bass, it's a cello

[@sethprevatte]

Nickie McNichols and it certainly isn't a "base"

[@CGSeever]

Thank you, Nickie!

[@tobygohn4147]

Her name is Leyla McCalla, definitely look her up as well. She's had two solo albums of her own by now, personally love her style and sound on it's own terms. Esp now that the Chocolate Drops are no more. :(

[@rahannneon]

[@MartyredxMaiden]

They should have gone more indepth about the origins of blues and the banjo. Banjos became mainstream via minstrel shows, which made fun of slaves.

[@CapriUni]

Well, the minstrel players stole the banjo from enslaved people. So they're just taking it back.

[@ducknamedchuck]

Historically, the banjo occupied a central place in African American traditional music, before becoming popular in the minstrel shows of the 19th century. [...] The modern banjo derives from instruments that had been used in the Caribbean since the 17th century by enslaved people taken from West Africa. Written references to the banjo in North America appear in the 18th century, and the instrument became increasingly available commercially from around the second quarter of the 19th century. (Wikipedia)

[@cosmiccream3115]

The banjo that is played in Appalachian music is derived from the scotch Irish instrument. They brought it with them when they immigrated.

[@zachkelly89]

Y’all made the banjo but earl Scruggs showed every one how to play it flat out

[@TheQuietpiper]

Galactic 10 what was this instrument called that came from Scotland? I’m really curious in learning about it since it seems to not have survived in traditional Scottish music.

[@zacharypayne4080]

BLM probly..

[@challiray]

Yep! And proud!!! Run and cry about it!

[@sonoshango]

And so should we all be.