DOM FLEMONS
ARTIST Biography
FEATURED ARTIST • JANUARY 2015
GRAMMY Award Winner, Two-Time EMMY Nominee, 2019 WAMMIE Award Winner- Dom Flemons is originally from Phoenix, Arizona and currently lives in the Washington, D.C. area. He is known as “The American Songster” since his repertoire of music covers over 100 years of American folklore, ballads, and tunes. Flemons is a music scholar, historian, record collector, and a multi-instrumentalist. He is considered an expert player on the Banjo, Fife, Guitar, Harmonica, Jug, Percussion, Quills, and Rhythm Bones.
In 2018, Flemons released an album titled “Dom Flemons Presents Black Cowboys” on GRAMMY Award-winning record label Smithsonian Folkways and received a GRAMMY Nomination for “Best Folk Album” at the 61st GRAMMY Awards. This recording is part of the African American Legacy Recordings series, co-produced with the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.
The “Black Cowboys” album peaked at #5 on the BILLBOARD Bluegrass Charts and Flemons has been nominated for “2018 Artist of The Year” at the International Folk Music Awards, “Best Acoustic Album” at the 2019 Blues Music Awards, “Best Folk Album” at the 2019 A2IM Liberia Awards, and has won a 2019 Wammie Awards for “Best Folk Album”. In 2018, Flemons had his major solo debut on the Grand Ole Opry, on a night with Carrie Underwood and Old Crow Medicine Show, and has been included in the 2018 class of American Currents at the Country Music Hall of Fame Exhibit alongside Reba McEntire, Jeannie Seely, Chris Stapleton, Molly Tuttle, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Kane Brown, Dan Auerbach, Dan + Shay, John Prine and more.
Flemons was nominated for TWO EMMYs at the 2018 National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Mid-America Awards for PBS Episode: Songcraft Presents Dom Flemons and for the co-written song “Good Ole Days” with Songwriter Ben Arthur. He was the first Artist-in-Residence at the “Making American Music Internship Program” at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in the summer of 2018. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Folk Alliance International, Music Maker Relief Foundation and is an Advisor to the Washington, D.C Chapter of the Recording Academy.
In 2017, Flemons was featured on David Holt’s State of Music on PBS and performed as bluesman Joe Hill Louis on CMT’s original television show “Sun Records”. In 2016, Flemons released a DUO album with British musician Martin Simpson titled “Ever Popular Favourites” on Fledg’ling Records. He launched a podcast, American Songster Radio, with two seasons on WUNC Public Radio and filmed two instructional DVD’s through Stefan Grossman’s Guitar Workshop. In 2014, Flemons released a critically acclaimed solo album “Prospect Hill” through Music Maker Relief Foundation.
Bio source: “Dom Flemons. theamericansongster.com/about”. August July 5, 2018.
In 2005, Flemons co-founded the Carolina Chocolate Drops who won a GRAMMY for “Best Traditional Folk Album” in 2010 and were nominated for “Best Folk Album” in 2012. He left the group to pursue his solo career in 2014. In 2016 the Carolina Chocolate Drops were inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame and are featured in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
ARTIST MUSIC
Released March 23, 2018
ARTIST INTERVIEW
Dom Flemons was my first live phone interview for The Banjo Reserve, uncharted waters and I have to admit I was a bit nervous. Since Dom was on the road he took the time to chat with me from his hotel room early one morning. Dom immediately made me feel comfortable, he has a great sense of humor and calmness, and was very kind to this novice Interviewer. Dom has an incredible depth of knowledgeable about the history of Banjo Music, Banjo Players, and his craft in general. He’s published several articles and done many interviews on the subject. While Dom generously spent close to an hour speaking with me, much of his Banjo interests can be found on his website and his Facebook page.
The Banjo Reserve interviewed Dom Flemons, here’s what he had to say…
WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND RAISED, AND WHERE DO YOU CALL HOME NOW?
I grew up in Phoenix, AZ, after college I spent several years in New York City before moving to Hillsborough, NC where I currently live. Hillsborough is close to Chapel Hill, NC, my most recent album is named after an area in Chapel Hill called Prospect Hill.
AT WHAT POINT DID YOU BECOME INTERESTED IN BANJO?
My second year in college, a friend let me borrow his 5-string guitar which was missing the 5th string. I learned on rock songs, jazz, and more. He eventually took the banjo back 🙂
WHAT BANJO STYLES DO YOU PLAY, AND WHICH DO YOU ENJOY MOST?
I can play several styles, clawhammer, three-finger, but I mostly play tenor. I enjoy frailing and finger-picking as well.
HOW DID YOU LEARN BANJO?
I was self-taught, listening to records and all types of music. I learned so much more when I moved South, spending time with and learning from the older Southern musicians. The Music Maker Relief Foundation helped me advance as a musician, developing newer styles, regional styles.
DURING THE EARLY STAGES OF LEARNING TO PLAY THE BANJO, WHAT DID YOU FIND MOST CHALLENGING?
Learning Old-Time style is very specific, hard to learn. I made up my own style early on, but found that the South had standards and rules.
IS THERE A SPECIFIC BANJO PLAYER(S) THAT HAVE INFLUENCED YOU THE MOST?
There are so many…Pete Seeger, Mike Seeger, Earl Scruggs, Papa Charlie, Dock Boggs, Taj Mahal., Clarence Ashley, Mason Frazier, Hobart Smith, Jimmy Struther, Sydney Stripling, Joe and Adelle Thompson, to mention just a few.
WHAT SONGS DO YOU ENJOY PLAYING THE MOST ON YOUR BANJO?
Gus Cannon was a great influence for me, I enjoy playing a song by him “My Money Never Runs Out”. I also enjoy the complex finger picking of “Can you Blame The Colored Man”.
WHAT VENUE(S) DO YOU ENJOY PLAYING THE MOST?
Studio sessions, and performance venues that allow people to get up and move, or sit down and do nothing but listen.
WHAT GENRE(S) ARE YOU MOST ASSOCIATED WITH?
I’m probably mostly associated with the Old-Time genre, but I include a variety of music on my albums and in my shows that cross other genres.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE BANJO?
A 6-String Banjo that I use in my performances today was given to me by Mike Seeger.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE BANDS?
Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers, Uncle Dave Mason, and many more.
BASED ON YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AS A BANJO PLAYER, WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR BEGINNERS?
What ever you are trying to learn, learn it right, and modify it later.