Carolina Chocolate Drops
In 2005, Dom Flemons created the Carolina Chocolate Drops with Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson after the Black Banjo Gathering in Boone, North Carolina. The group honored the legacy of their mentor Joe Thompson and the traditional string band music of North Carolina. The Carolina Chocolate Drops' legacy extends far beyond their musical achievements and they have sparked a renewed interest in Black string band music, encouraging scholars, musicians, and enthusiasts to delve deeper into this rich tradition. Their work has also fostered a greater appreciation for the diversity and complexity of American roots music, highlighting the interconnectedness of various genres and the contributions of Black country music throughout American history.
The Carolina Chocolate Drops have opened for musicians such as Taj Mahal and Bob Dylan, performed on Mountain Stage, MerleFest, A Prairie Home Companion, FreshAir, BBC Radio, Bonnaroo Music Festival and made several appearances at the Grand Ole Opry. In 2007, Flemons had an acting role as a Juke Joint Musician along with recording songs with the Carolina Chocolate Drops for the Golden Globe nominated, Oprah Winfrey executive produced, Denzel Washington directed feature film The Great Debaters, starring Denzel and Forest Whitaker.
In 2010, they won a GRAMMY for their album Genuine Negro Jig and then received a 2012 GRAMMY nomination for their album Leaving Eden which were both released on Nonesuch Records. Flemons toured with the group from 2005 to 2013 and officially left the band to pursue his solo career in 2014. In 2016, the Carolina Chocolate Drops were inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. The CCDs are featured in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and at the National Museum of African American Music. Flemons has a personal collection that documents the Carolina Chocolate Drops at the Southern Folklife Center at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC and Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN.
As the Carolina Chocolate Drops' influence continues to grow, their story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving and celebrating our cultural heritage. By shining a light on the forgotten voices of Black string band musicians, they have enriched our understanding of American music and its enduring power to connect us to our past, present, and future.
