Max Drake Explained

Max Drake
Birth Date:1 June 1952
Birth Place:Burlington, North Carolina, United States
Instrument:Guitar, mandolin
Genre:Blues, Piedmont blues
Occupation:Musician, songwriter, teacher
Years Active:1975–present

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]

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. 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] 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] [5] In the 2000s, he played rhythm guitar in Big Bill Morganfield's band, going on worldwide tours.[1] [6] 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.[6] [8] [9]

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

Discography

External links

Notes and References

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