Max Drake

Max Voorhees Drake II (born June 1, 1952) is an American blues guitarist and songwriter from Yanceyville, North Carolina.[1][2] He has performed with musicians such as B.B. King, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Lightnin' Hopkins, and Nappy Brown.[3][4][5]

Max Drake
Drake performing in 2012
Drake performing in 2012
Background information
Born (1952-06-01) June 1, 1952
Burlington, North Carolina, United States
GenresBlues, Piedmont blues
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, teacher
Instrument(s)Guitar, mandolin
Years active1975–present

Biography

Early life and career

Max Drake was born in Burlington, North Carolina and grew up in Reidsville.[2] He started his first band at age 23 in 1975.[4] From the mid-1970s until 1989 he gained distinction as a guitarist in Arhooly R&B Deluxe Band. While in Arhooly, there were performances with prominent bluesmen including B.B. King, Bo Diddley, and Robert Cray.[4][5] Drake became especially known for his agility on slide guitar.[2]

In the 1990s, Drake performed with the Charlotte-based Extraordinaires and also Thomas "Mookie" Brill before recording and performing frequently with Skeeter Brandon.[1][4][6] In the 2000s, he played rhythm guitar in Big Bill Morganfield's band, going on worldwide tours.[1][4] Morganfield is the son of Muddy Waters (aka McKinley Morganfield) often cited as the "father of modern Chicago blues."[1][7]

As the band toured Europe, blues enthusiasts became increasingly interested in Morganfield. Many were familiar with his father's seminal contributions to electric blues from his work on Chess Records. It was said that the band's version of Waters' "Got My Mojo Working" stood up to the original. Tours in Spain that Drake accompanied him on particularly enjoyed popularity due to the legacy connection to Waters.[1]

After the multiyear run with Morganfield ended, Drake stayed closer to his home and family in Caswell County, North Carolina.[1] He went on to work extensively with Mel Melton & The Wicked Mojos in the 2010s while teaching aspiring blues artists.[4][8][9]

Drake has performed at public schools in North Carolina in partnership with the Greensboro-based Piedmont Blues Preservation Society.[10]

Discography
  • Got it Bad (1995)
  • New Moon Blues on Rise (1996)
  • Global Voices: Traditional, Sacred & Contemporary Vocal Music (1998)
  • Contemporary Global Voices (2000)
  • Popskull & High Art (2008)

References
  1. "Max Drake makes his own mark on blues guitar playing". Caswellmessenger.com. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  2. Simpson, Doug (July 23, 1997). "Drake Often Lent Helping Hand; Now He Needs One". Greensboro.com. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  3. "Bars, Blues and Booze". Regulatorbookshop.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  4. "The Talk of Teronus with Wezo & Drave – with guest Max Drake". YouTube. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  5. "North Carolina singer Shelia Grady Carlisle talks about the Blues, Arhooly, B.B. King and the hippie era". Blues.gr. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  6. "N.C. Treasure Sings the Blues". Greensboro.com. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  7. Muddy Waters: Can't Be Satisfied (DVD). Winstar Communications. 2003.
  8. "A Fool For Your Stockings – Max Drake". Bmansbluesreport.com. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  9. "Matt Walsh talks 'blues'". Collegiatetimes.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  10. "Weso and Max "You Must Be Jelly, 'Cause Jam Don't Shake Like That"". YouTube. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
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