Career
Formed in November 2005, following the members' attendance at the first Black Banjo Gathering held in Boone, North Carolina in April 2005, the group grew out of the success of Sankofa Strings, an ensemble that featured Dom Flemons, Rhiannon Giddens and percussionist/banjoist Sule Greg Wilson, with Justin Robinson as an occasional guest artist. The Carolina Chocolate Drops originally had three members: Giddens, Flemons, and Robinson, who were all in their twenties when the group formed. All of the musicians sing and trade instruments including banjo, fiddle, guitar, harmonica, snare drum, bones, jug, and kazoo. The group learned much of their repertoire, which is based on the traditional music of the Piedmont region of North and South Carolina, from the eminent African American old-time fiddler Joe Thompson, although they also perform old-time versions of some modern songs such as Blu Cantrell's R&B hit "Hit 'em Up Style (Oops!)."
The Carolina Chocolate Drops have released five CDs and one EP and have opened for Taj Mahal and, in 2011, Bob Dylan. They have performed on Mountain Stage, MerleFest, and at the Mount Airy Fiddlers Convention. Additionally they have performed on Fresh Air, and BBC Radio in early 2010, and at the 2010 Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee, and at the 2011 Romp, in Owensboro, Kentucky. On Tuesday 17 January 2012 they appeared live on BBC Radio 3. They have performed on the Grand Ole Opry several times. They have also performed on the world renowned "Later with Jools Holland".
On February 7, 2011, the band announced that beatboxer Adam Matta and multi-instrumentalist Hubby Jenkins would be joining the band, while Justin Robinson would be departing. In early 2012, they announced New Orleans based cellist Leyla McCalla would be joining the band on its current tour.
They have a song on The Hunger Games soundtrack called "Daughter's Lament."
In 2013, they were nominated for a Blues Music Award for 'Acoustic Artist'.
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