Martha Redbone: A Creative Life Rooted in Afro-Indigenous Identity and Appalachian Traditions

singer, as well as her prize-winning song-writing, composition and arranging. For over 30 years she’s been in a successful collaboration with her partner Aaron Whitby and we talked about some of their new theatrical projects including Black Mountain Women, The Sex Variants of 1941, and Guardian Spirit: The Words of bell hooks. Throughout this episode you’ll be hearing clips from Martha’s powerful album The Garden of Love which sets the poetry of William Blake to the diverse music of Appalachia, written with Aaron and John McEuen of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Many people think of the music, culture and history of Appalachia in terms of the blend of white settlers in the area, but Martha’s family heritage from Harlan County Kentucky includes African American, British, Chickamauga-Cherokee and Mississippi Choctaw.  She shared her experiences growing up with her grandparents as part of a coal-mining family, as well as the dramatic changes she has witnessed in Brooklyn over several decades.
In this wide-ranging episode, you’ll also hear Martha’s great advice for self-care, maintaining boundaries and working collaboratively.
We started this conversation with Martha’s collaborations with clarinettist Tasha Warren and cellist Dave Eggar and if you missed my interview with Tasha last year it’s linked to this one in the show notes.
‪@MarthaRedbone‬ Episode page: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/...
Martha Redbone website: https://martharedbone.com/
The Garden of Love album: https://martharedbonerootsproject.ban...

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Other episodes you'll like:
Tasha Warren https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/...
Shakura S’Aida https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/...
Chuck Copenace https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/...
Photo: Christine Jean Chambers
(00:00) Intro
(02:56) collaborations with Tasha Warren and Dave Eggar with clip of Black Mountain Calling
(09:06) Black Mountain Women, history of Appalachia, The Roots Project (clip of A Poison Tree)
(13:12) coal mining family, history of Black people in Appalachia
(16:06) mixed Black Indigineous family history, systemic racism
(25:00) call and response Carnegie project, The Garden of Love with clip (clip of The Garden of Love)
(32:30) John McEuen, David Amram (clip of Sleep, Sleep, Beauty Bright)
(37:47) career decisions, telling broader story
(42:47) childhood, learning Indigenous culture and heritage, move to Brooklyn
(48:02) other episodes linked, ways to support this podcast
(48:53) musical influences growing up (music clip On Another Sorrow)
(54:01) Brooklyn, gentrification
(58:15) bell hooks project
(01:02:59) The Sex Variants of 1941, Stephen Trask, Steve Cosson, Jan Gay, LGBTQ+ history
(01:07:53) husband and creative partner Aaron Whitby, dealing with sexism in music industry
(01:11:59) self-care
Jah’Mila https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/...
Vahn Black https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/...