Much thanks to John Gardner of The World Music Foundation for capturing this very important story that has global influence!
Additional Links:
Contact: angie@ozaukeetalent.com
Please consider supporting Angie’s work in music through Arts Wisconsin
by Angie Mack Reilly written 4.22.16. Photo taken by Angie in April of 2016 in Grafton, WI
Intentionally delayed publishing until 11.12.18
Will and Kevin are brothers from Milwaukee who are hoping to produce their EP this summer. Will is the older brother who writes most of their original songs as well as performs on keys and lead vocals. Kevin plays the drums and bass as well as arranges songs with his brother.
Their music is highly original with a tight groove, smooth melodies and uplifting lyrics. Listening definitely put me in a better mood. Their performance for me was ambient and fresh yet surprisingly full for two musicians. I couldn’t help but move along to their positive and percussive sounds full of lyrical fluidity. These guys are going places.
Will and Kevin consider themselves as being self-taught. However, they come from a highly musical family with their father Ron being a bassist and their mother Leona a guitar player. Thanks to their cousin who lived with them growing up, Will remembers going to sleep to the sounds of Tupac, Biggie Smalls and other rappers. Will has memories of growing up in the 80s listening to Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit on his brand new “Walkman”.
Their grandfather, Theodore Franks was a multi-talented man who played the guitar and piano in Texas. Their sisters sing and there are even more musicians on their father’s side. Their uncle, Dehner Franks, is a professional and nationally touring songwriter, pianist and minister.
Will and Kevin also minister in music at Epikos Church in West Allis. Both brothers admit that they have risen to a higher level of musical excellence under the leadership of Michael Morgan at Epikos. In 2006, Morgan was in a band called “Northern Room” that opened for Bon Jovi at the Bradley Center. Musicians wanting to play at Epikos have to perform a successful audition.
Will and Kevin have begun a new tour featuring some of their original titles such as “Portia”, “Avid”, “Temple”, “Adrift”, and my favorite of theirs, “Passage”. They have most recently played at Mo’s Irish Pub and Frank’s Power Plant in Milwaukee with great fan reception. Others have described Will and Kevin’s sound as being somewhat like The Cure’s “Burn” or like Sting from the Police.
Words cannot describe my love and care for the “Bush Family”. Will and Kevin’s parents and I used to play music together at Spirit Life Church in Mequon in the 2000s on a very regular basis. I’ve also played with Will and Kevin. Even though I don’t see them several times a week anymore, they will always be family to me. Because of this, I am sharing.
Being ill as a musician can be extremely devastating. I’ve been there. I know others who have been there. There is something special that “I know” about Will. Not only is he like family to me, doggedly hard-working and an amazing musician. Above all, Will Bush is a voice. A voice. A voice. A VOICE. A VOICE. And his heart is beautifully full of love…..
Ladies and gentleman, let’s rise to the occasion. These young men are strong leaders. Thank you in advance.
Immortal Girlfriend on Soundcloud
CONTACT ANGIE: angie@ozaukeetalent.com
Contact angie@ozaukeetalent.com
Date: 6/17/05 by phone
Name: Fred Bolden
Born: 1951 Boston, Massachusetts
Retired police officer
A: How are you related to Skip James?
F: Skip married my second cousin (my mother’s first cousin). He’s related by marriage. Skip’s wife’s name was Lorenzo Hurt. I’m really a Hurt.
A: How are you related to Mississippi John Hurt?
F: He’s my grand uncle. (My grandfather’s brother)
A: Do you remember meeting Skip James for the first time?
F: Oh sure….Oh sure….I’ll never forget that…down at Newport. You see, Son House got drunk and was supposed to play that gig in 1964. (Newport Blues Festival) I remember that like yesterday. Skip was so nervous….so nervous…..[laughing] Skip was so nervous that he was shaking like the leaves on a tree.
Reverend Robert Wilkins had to calm him down. He was a performer also. Ever heard of Bob Dylan? He was there, too. Tom Huskins almost threw him out. Howlin’ Wolf was there. They called the tent “Bluesville”. Skip and Misssissippi Fred McDonald were really nervous. When he got on stage that was the highlight of his career. He did this little thing with his left hand. Then he sang, “I’d rather be the devil than to be that woman’s man…..” He did it in that falsetto that sent chills up and down my back. It still does today. The crowd just went wild. He did about 4 or 5 songs.
The highlight of his whole career was the Newport Festival. There were thousands there. I was fascinated by the microphones that picked up his sound. I still have dreams about it. I never saw anything like that before, you know. He had on a preacher’s hat…black, winged tip shoes, a jacket, and a rectangular button with “KIN” on it….meaning he was a performer. That meant that you were part of the staff or a performer.
A: Was Son House there?
F: No. [laughing] Dick Waterman took him somewhere to sleep it off….probably Freebody Park.
A: Who taught Skip how to play?
F: I think Skip taught himself. But there was Little Brother Montgomery and an unknown guy….Henry Stuckey. And don’t forget during WWI, they were in Jackson, Mississippi and he met my Uncle Mississippi John Hurt. I think it’s from my Uncle’s influence. My Uncle used to hang out down there.
A: You mentioned that he didn’t like playing other people’s songs……….
F: That’s right.
A: Do you think it’s because he couldn’t play them?
F: No. No. And I’ll tell you why. You know why? He said, “I can play all those songs, but I want to do my own thing.” Skip said that to me, because we were sitting in the living room. We used to sit in the living room all of the time. He, Lorenzo, and I. I asked him once to play C.C. Rider. He said, “That’s Mississippi John Hurt’s song…….”
A: You said that Son House came to your house and played. What did he play?
F: Well, yes….I remember him and John Hurt doing one song, Blind Lemon Jefferson’s “Blind Snake Moan”. They got really tore up. They were drinking that blues. Son House did “Preaching Blues”….it’s one of my favorites. … and there’s “Empire State Blues…” He used to work for that railroad. It’s about the Empire State Railroad.
A: What do you remember about Skip’s personality?
F: He was quite….almost mysterious……full of spirits….He could be both…..He could be lively…..Down in Newport…..he was so nervous….he was scared $#@less. [laughing] That’s probably the quietest I ever seen him. He could rub people the wrong way. But I was on his good side. I never gave him any argument. I tell you the truth, he liked those %$#@houses and drank a lot. He didn’t drink too much at his house when I was there, though. Not like my Uncle John. My Uncle John always had a pint on him even when he was playing. I asked my mom as a young kid what that was. She said, “It gave him the spirit”……[laughing]
A: What made him mad?
F: Yes….there was a young 17 year old kid with a guitar. He said, “Skip, I learned how to play a song just like you play it….” Skip got mad and said, “I done been and gone from places you’ll never get to……” He got mad all of the time…..in conversation…yeah….like….those guys that found him. They were handling him for awhile. Skip was mad at John Fahey because they took his money and were squandering it at his expense. So Skip got away from them. He said, “They took my money and squandered it.” A lot of those guys they rediscovered….they embroiled them in money problems. The rediscovered blues guys felt cheated. They had no way of assessing what they were really worth. They weren’t prepared to be rediscovered and didn’t know how to deal with it. So they didn’t deal with it well.
When they found Skip in the hospital, he didn’t remember anything. He had to be taught again by blues enthusiasts who mastered his licks.
A: What made him sad?
F: He was a hard hearted man. He had a heart like stone.
A: Did he ever tell any stories?
What kind of stories?
A: Any.
F: Oh sure…..A lot of stuff he did when he was a young guy….his travels to Texas. (Austin or Dallas?) He said, “With money you can see and buy anything you want”. He told me the story how he got rediscovered. Bill Barth, Henry Vestine, and John Fahey. John went on to be famous, you know. They found Skip in Tunica, Mississippi in the hospital there. A couple of other guys were looking for Son House and they found Son and Skip on the same day. Can you believe that? They came into the hospital and played Skip’s record from the Grafton days.
I did talk to Skip about the Depression. He had to eat at the soup kitchens. Yeah, he went back to his parents. Most black people were hit hard back then and fared the worst I’m afraid.
A: Where did his dad live?
F: I think Bentonia, Mississippi. That’s the place you want to go. Skip had a school down there. He had several musicians down there who were influenced by him and played a lot like him……some great guitar players down there who recorded there.
A: What can you tell me about Skip parents?
F: No…..I tell you the truth…..It’s really really really mysterious……I didn’t think to ask him….I didn’t know how famous he was. I thought he was a regular. He had a lot of recognition. There was a lot written about him.
They [Skip and Lorenzo] had an adopted son named Bobby. I didn’t get along too good with him. He was a homosexual and he tried to hit on me….right there in Skip’s house. I haven’t seen Bobby since 1969 or 1970
A: You mentioned a notebook of songs that Skip had…….Do you know where it is?
F: Skip and his wife are both dead. I don’t know where it is. They let me have his bedroom when I stayed there. I was there for Thanksgiving and Christmas, you know. They were both very nice. His old notebook had all of his songs in it neatly written.
A: Did it have the chords written in it?
F: Oh no. I don’t think Skip could read music. I don’t think any of those guys could.
A: Where was Skip’s home?
F: Philadelphia. I don’t know whatever happened to that house. I’m sure they sold it or something.
A: You said you spent a lot of time in Skip James’ home? What was it like?
F: I was a young teenager then when I visited there. I would visit my other relatives there. He let me take his guitar out. He let me take his guitar to my mother’s cousins.
Eric Clapton bought the house…it was a really nice house….it really was…Clapton bought him the house because he took one of Skip’s songs “I’m So Glad”. He wanted to compensate for it. Eric Clapton wanted to give something back.
The kitchen was very, very clean….long table in the kitchen. Skip’s room was nice and tidy. They liked me so much that they led me have their room. The furniture was very old fashioned from the early 20’s and 30’s.
A: Did he ever make any meals for you?
F: Lorenzo did the cooking. Skip liked ham hocks, cornbread (the real flaky kind), and collared greens, and chitins.
A: Did Skip always want to do music?
F: He wanted to become a minister when he was young. But he had this thing with the blues. Times were hard…..he wasn’t going to get anywhere singing the blues. He knew that. I think his father was a minister. He went to some sort of seminary or religious school and became a minister.
A: Did Skip ever preach to you?
F: Every time I sat down with them for dinner, we had to recite a Bible verse. One time we were there. One of his friends came and Skip really yelled at him because he didn’t know a Bible verse. I have seen him step on a lot of toes and hurt a lot of people’s feelings. One time, when he was in Philadelphia, he played at a place called the “2nd Fret” ( a coffee house). He most frequently played there. He got on stage and preached a lot. But that turned people off. I’m telling you the truth, there would only be 5 or 6 people there. Can you imagine that for Skip James? His preaching turned a lot of people off.
A: So why did he quit for 30-35 years after his Paramount Recordings?
F: It was the Depression. What Skip was doing in 1930’s wasn’t selling. He went to seminary school after Grafton. Grafton was the only place that he recorded.
A: After Grafton, he was missing. It’s was really a mystery. What was doing? Where did he live?
F: Skip told me that he became a born again Christian. He became a minister for a while then. He sang gospel music and traveled with a gospel group. When he traveled with those caravans (those young people), he probably got a better reception.
You see, can I tell you something? Dick Waterman was Son House’s manager and Mississippi’s manager. Son would try to find the nearest liquor store and get lost. So Dick dropped him off at our house once.
Bob Dylan was at our house in 1964 because my uncle had played at the Café Yana. My uncle had 5 nights sold out. My father and mother threw a party for him to celebrate….along with all of the patrons. Bob Dylan was there. I thought he was going to play. He was with some girl. He was hiding in our house making out with that girl. [laughing] I had to go to the bathroom and get passed him and that girl. This was in February 1964. This was just before the Beatles invaded America.
A: Did Skip ever teach you anything about God?
F: Not that I can remember.
A: Skip used to wake you up on Sundays with church songs. What songs did he play? Where did he go to church?
F: “What a Friend We have in Jesus”, “Just a Closer Walk With Thee”, “Rock of Ages”, all of those songs. I don’t remember him going to church when I was there. I don’t know where he went to church. He had a beautiful piano.
A: He enjoyed playing piano?
F: Oh yeah….. Someone wrote a book on Skip, you know. I don’t think any of this information is in it.
A: What was his piano like?
F: Upright. Beautiful. In those days, most of them were used. He had a new one…..light brown, new. I don’t know what he did with his piano.
A: You said that, one night, Skip started out playing “I’m so Glad” for you real slow and then a flamenco piece. You said he was always full of surprises? How so?
F: Oh yeah, full of surprises….
A: What kind of surprises?
F: Musical surprises. Skip, his wife, and myself would listen to him play and talk in the living room. He would play a Broadway show tune, then a spiritual……something like that….
A: What were some of the spirituals he liked?
F: ….. “Jesus, he’s a mighty good leader, all the way, all the way”….., “I Shall Not Be Moved”, “Wade in the Water”….. I think I learned that one from Skip. That’s in my repertoire.
A: What about the woman behind Skip James, Lorenzo. What was she like?
F: Lorenzo stuck with him all the way. If you asked him, he say, “She’s shaped like a Coca Coca bottle and she wibbles and she wobbles when she walks. Those are lines from a song of his. Very heavy. Not fat. Large woman. Very kind, thoughtful, and supportive. They have a beautiful grave site. She was religious. I don’t know what church.
A: So what about the lyrics, “I’d rather be the devil than to be that woman’s man?” Was that a real person?
F: He had an experience once. That song was a true story. I think we all have.
A: What did Skip say about Grafton or his recordings?
F: Not much…..except that they paid his way up there…..he had to sit still….in the recording laboratory. That’s what they called those then. He said it was uncomfortable. They were advertised in the Chicago Defender. They sold everywhere.
A: How did he record them? Did he like how they turned out? What about the Grafton studio?
F: It was a factory. He said, “They had me up in a factory in this room…..” I think that was a make shift studio.
A: What is a make shift studio?
F: You make your own place to record….they would set up the equipment to record you. The room would have to have good acoustics. (“Room tone” is what they called it in the 20’s)…..this was common…..The Wisconsin Chair Factory was a great place that was hollow…..spacious…..a great place to record…..
A: Yeah. That makes sense. I never heard that. Did he get paid well for his recordings?
F: Naw……No….I don’t think so. I think he got maybe $50 a record….maybe….I’m not sure how they paid him. You did a bunch of songs and they’d give you $40 or $50. They targeted people like Mississippi and Skip. It meant greater profit.
The black community bought them. Those records popped up in Chicago, New York, the south.
A: What can you tell me about “race records”?
F: Well, they had a market that was all part of segregation….they had a market for blacks and a market for whites. Then later, a polite way of saying “race records” was “R & B”. It was the politically correct term.
A: You mentioned that when Skip was ill, he was really “bitter about the guys running Paramount in the 30’s”. Why?
F: I think I was talking about H.C. Spier…..
A: Did Skip listen to his own recordings?
F: Oh yeah…….I had one of his 1930 sessions from Grafton…..my mother had all of his other albums…..She is, like, 90 years old. I was in Vietnam and I left all my records over there….Blind Lemon Jefferson….all of them….
A: Did Skip ever talk to you about Vietnam?
F: Oh sure….he said things like, “I’m proud of you….be careful…..take it easy…..keep playing that guitar…..If I can do it and John Hurt can do it, you could do it.”
A: Did you play on the ship?
F: Oh yeah.
A: Can you play “I’m So Glad”?
F: Oh God no! I could never play that. It’s too intricate for me. Mississippi John Hurt taught me. I could play his songs like him.
A: What was your favorite Skip song?
F: Al of them…..”I’m so Glad”……I listen to this more than any other. He had a strange way of tuning his guitar. Open E or open D.
Have you ever heard me?
You can hear one of my songs here. www.the-blindman.com/knockin.mp3 This is a song I wrote. Mississippi John Hurt taught me how to play like that.
A: Where did you record it?
F: In my living room.
A: With what?
F: One of those cheap tape players you buy at Radio Shack.
You can also go here. www.soundclick.com/bands/7/waltertoresspontobeat.htm Click on Soundclick. Maybe you’ll see 4 or 5 of my songs.
A: Why didn’t you ever become a performer?
F: Because I didn’t want to go through what Skip and my Uncle John went through. I decided to go to school. I went for 4 years and then became a police officer for the Boston Police Department. I’m retired now.
A: I read somewhere that Skip died of lung cancer. Is that what you remember?
F: He didn’t die of lung cancer. He had his testicles removed. We all in the family knew that. A lot of these people write a lot about these people and they get the facts all wrong. That’s why he had such a high voice because he had his testicles removed. He had that happen in the 60’s.
A: I am also looking at this photo of him taken at his 1964 Newport. He looks so mad. Why?
F: He had a good reason. He was a sick man. When that picture had been taken, he had just gotten out of the hospital.
Fred, Thank you for very much for taking this time to interview. And thank you for your enthusiasm, compliments and support when I released my first album, “Comfort My People”. You have been a great friend to me at Blindman’s as well. God bless, Angie
Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” – Mark 6:4
Angie volunteered huge amounts of time educating (or paying someone to educate) about Paramount Records History and lecturing at places like:
Wisconsin Historical Museum, Kiwanis Club in Port Washington, Cedarburg Cultural Center, Village of Grafton Planning Commission Meetings, Village of Grafton Historical Preservation Commission Meetings, Paramount GIG (Grooves in Grafton) Meetings, PBS History Detectives Production, Holy Vessels Baptist Church (Chicago) My Fox Television, Kennedy Elementary School, Grafton High School, Grafton Jaycees (Peter Raymond and Kris Marshall at the time), Blindman’s Blues Forum(paramountangie), Weenie Campbell’s Forum, Grafton Area Live Arts NPR “At 10” Radio Show, various MATC classes at the Mequon Campus, Ozaukee County Historical Society, Girl Scout Troops, Boy Scout Troops, The North Shore Academy of the Arts
FATHER OF GOSPEL MUSIC: Thomas A. Dorsey (aka “Precious Lord)
NIECE: Dr. Lena McLin, Pastor and Vocal Coach of many famous artists
Many magazines, newspapers, personal emails, personal meetings…..all for the purpose of educating and networking so that when the time came,
Angie’s skills as a large scale producer and team builder were working……recruiting key players, giving pep talks, educating, PR, groundbreaking online educating before that was a thing.
In addition, http://www.paramountshome.org was set up in 2004. The website was Angie’s idea. She wanted to see information that was available in Alex van der Tuuk’s Book was made more accessible by the international online community. The more people who knew about the artists who recorded in Grafton (and Chicago, New York and Richmond), the better chance we had at long term success.
Educate the online community during a time when the Internet was newer and void of much information about Paramount Records. Paramountshome.org was THE LEADING SOURCE for people to go to in order to find information about the artists and the history.
Thousands upon thousands of hours were put in by Angie Mack Reilly, Alex van der Tuuk and Patrick Mack archiving material and talking to people in the Paramountshome forums. Their fore running efforts were officially recognized by (then) Governor Doyle’s wife Jessica (D), Mark Gottlieb of the Wisconsin State Assembly (R), Ralph Zaun of the Wisconsin State Assembly (R) as well as The Wisconsin Historical Society.
GRAFTON RESIDENT: “Did the Village of Grafton hire you as a marketing or branding consultant?”
ME: “No. I have not been compensated for any of my work.”
And this is what a leader does. Steps in. When something needs to be done. And acknowledging this important piece of music history is pretty important, right?
Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.”
by Angie Mack Reilly, published in 2007
Angie can be contacted at angie@ozaukeetalent.com for interviews, consulting, project managing, public speaking engagements, Blues in the Schools programs and special music performances
PUBLIC SPEAKING RESUME and more references available upon request
Please strongly consider supporting Angie as a talented and pioneering female.
To Thine Own Self Be True.
Thomas A. Dorsey, “Georgia Tom” photo credit: https://georgiamusic.org/
About Amanda Petrusich
Petrusich has written for The New York Times, Pitchfork Media and Paste.[5] Petrusich has been a staff writer at Pitchfork since 2003.[6]She is the author of Pink Moon, a book on Nick Drake‘s album of the same name for the 33 1/3 music series,[5] and a 2008 book called It Still Moves: Lost Songs, Lost Highways, and the Search for the Next American Music, which Joe Boyd described in The Guardian as “a terrific piece of travel writing…a tour through the roots of American rural music.”[7] Petrusich also wrote a book on record collecting called Do Not Sell At Any Price: The Wild, Obsessive Hunt for the World’s Rarest 78rpm Records.[8]
Petrusich serves as clinical assistant professor at the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at NYU.[8] She began teaching at NYU in 2010 and joined the full-time faculty in 2015.[1]
Naming her to its 2016 list of “100 Most Influential People in Brooklyn Culture,” Brooklyn Magazine described Petrusich as “a towering force of grace and encouragement in New York music and criticism circles. Between mentoring emerging voices and writing with discernment about music’s most important figures, Petrusich is helping shape Brooklyn culture from the ground up.”[9]
–Wikipedia
FLUIDITY
By Angie Mack Reilly © 4/3/16 Grafton, WI
When I think of the word “fluidity” I think of smooth.
Easy.
Free.
Without restraint.
Healthy.
Flowing.
Adapting.
Changing.
Happy.
Soft.
Full of grace.
Simple.
Not stuck.
Not rigid.
Not hard.
Not strict.
(An antonym for fluidity is jelly.)
Sticky.
As in, “he got himself in a jam”.
So the next time I am asked,
“Why are you doing this? Or, why are you doing that?”
Or, the next time I am judged or asked how or why,
I will respond,
I am simply.
Yes, simply.
Unashamedly.
Being fluid.
This was taken from a former website of mine (no longer in existence) called http://www.creativeconnectionarts.com This is the raw and unedited version. 2008-2018 need to be filled in. (When I have a spare moment….ha!) I will go in and fix and re-check the links later….. — Angie
PUBLISHED AUTHOR
“Chronic Creativity: A Diagnostic Look at the Condition and How to Become Infected” Published as an E-Book on http://www.creativity-portal.com
Poetry published on Nerve House
“The Value of an Idea”, http://www.creativity-portal.com
Poems and Writings on http://www.creativeconnectionarts.com
Historical articles on http://www.paramountshome.org
Co-Author of “Paramount Walking Tour Booklet”
“So You Want to Be a Singer”, Hooter Newsletter 2008
“An Interview with Kevin Ramsey”, Milwaukee Rep Theatre Playbill Prologue
AWARDS
2006 Wisconsin Historical Society Website Award for http://www.paramountshome.org MATC Poetry Awards
Juanita Schriener Vocal Scholarship
2006 “103 People in Ozaukee County”, through News Graphic/Conley Publishing
MARKETING DIRECTOR, North Shore Academy of the Arts and ParamountsHome
DIRECTOR
“Disney’s Aristocats”, NSAA 2009 “Disney’s 101 Dalmatians”, NSAA 2008
“Tom Sawyer”, North Shore Academy of the Arts (NSAA), 2007 http://www.northshoreacademyofthearts.org
“Disney’s Jungle Book”, NSAA, 2007
“I Have a Dream”, NSAA, 2007
“Emperor’s New Clothes”, NSAA, 2006
“Go Fish”, NSAA, 2006
“Broadway Santa”, NSAA 2005
“Do You Hear What I Hear?” Ozaukee Christian School (OCS), 2004 http://www.ozaukeechristian.org
“A Pioneer Christmas”, OCS, 2003
“Go Joe!” OCS, 2002
“A Multicultural Christmas”, OCS, 2001
PRODUCER
“Disney’s Aristocats”, NSAA 2009 “Disney’s 101 Dalmatians”, NSAA 2008
“Disney’s Jungle Book”, NSAA, 2007
“I Have a Dream”, NSAA, 2007
“Emperor’s New Clothes”, NSAA, 2006
“Go Fish”, NSAA, 2006
“Broadway Santa”, NSAA 2005
“Do You Hear What I Hear?” Ozaukee Christian School (OCS), 2004
“A Pioneer Christmas”, OCS, 2003
“Go Joe!” OCS, 2002
“A Multicultural Christmas”, OCS, 2001
MUSIC DIRECTOR
“Pirates of Penzance”, NSAA 2009 “Willy Wonka”, NSAA 2008
“Annie”, NSAA, 2008
“High School Musical”, NSAA 2007
“Tom Sawyer”, NSAA, 2007
“Disney’s Jungle Book”, NSAA, 2007
“I Have a Dream”, NSAA, 2007
“Wizard of Oz”, NSAA, 2006
“Alladin Jr.”, NSAA, 2006
“Emperor’s New Clothes”, NSAA, 2006
“Go Fish”, NSAA, 2006
“Seussical”, NSAA, 2005
“Broadway Santa”, NSAA 2005
“Do You Hear What I Hear?” Ozaukee Christian School (OCS), 2004
“A Pioneer Christmas”, OCS, 2003
“Go Joe!” OCS, 2002
“A Multicultural Christmas”, OCS, 2001
Spirit Life Worship Team 1997-2001
Portview Christian Center Worship Team 2004-05
AUDITION JUDGING AND CASTING
Ozaukee Idol Initial Auditions, 2008 “Pirates of Penzance”, NSAA 2009 “Willy Wonka”, NSAA 2008 “High School Musical”, NSAA 2007
“Tom Sawyer”, NSAA, 2007
“Seussical”, NSAA, 2005
“Wizard of Oz”, NSAA, 2006
“Alladin Jr.”, NSAA, 2006
EVENT PLANNER
“Embrace the Legacy Concert Series”, 2005 with Grafton Area Live Arts
“Blues in the Schools” with Michael Hawkeye Herman, 2005
“Dance With an Early Jazz”, Walk of Fame Fundraiser 2006
“Embrace the Legacy Concert”, 2006
“2008 Ozaukee Idol and Junior Ozaukee Idol”, 2008
Programming Team, Spirit Life Church
PUBLIC SPEAKER
FOX 6 interview/feature story with Mark Concannon, 2008
“2007 Walk of Fame Induction Ceremony”, Grafton, WI
http://www.jcdisciples.org/photography/pbf/2007/dedication.html
“Giro d’ Grafton Bike Race, 2007, Grafton, WI
“Wisconsin Blues Connection” and Powerpoint Presentation, Wisconsin Historical Society, 2006
http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/highlights/archives/2006/10/wisconsin_blues.asp
“At 10” Radio Interview, National Public Radio, 2006 http://www.wuwm.com/media/at10/at011906.mp3
“Paramount History” and Powerpoint Presentation, Port Washington Kiwanas Club, 2005
“Paramount History” and Powerpoint Presentation, MATC-Mequon Campus, 2004
“Passionate about Paramount and the Blues” Children’s Educational Performance, Grafton Library 2006
“Paramount Blues Festival Panel Discussion”, Cedarburg Cultural Center WI, 2005
St. Mary’s Care Center Chapel Services, Madison, WI 1990-1992
CHAIRPERSON/BOARD MEMBER/MEMBER (past and present)
2006 – 2009 Chairperson for the Paramount Walk of Fame Committee
2006 Chairperson for “A Dance With Early Jazz” fundraiser
Paramount GIG, Board Member
Grafton Historic Preservation Commission, Member
Paramount/Five Points Plaza Ad-Hoc Committee Member
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
“Pirates of Penzance”, NSAA 2009 “Willy Wonka”, NSAA 2008
“Annie”, NSAA, 2008
“High School Musical”, NSAA 2007
“Tom Sawyer”, NSAA, 2007
“Emperor’s New Clothes”, Hartfor Schauer Center, 2006
COMPOSER
Original Christian Album, “First Love”, 2009 Original Intrumental Album, “Momentum”, 2006
Children’s Christmas song, “It’s The Pioneer Way”, performed at “A Pioneer Christmas”, OCS, 2003
Multiple Congregational and Special Songs, Spirit Life Church in Mequon, 2006-2001
Original Christian Album, “Comfort My People”, 1999
PLAYWRIGHT
“Do You Hear What I Hear?” Ozaukee Christian School (OCS), 2004
“A Pioneer Christmas”, OCS, 2003
“Go Joe!” OCS, 2002
“A Multicultural Christmas”, OCS, 2001
Various short skits for Spirit Life Church in Mequon http://www.spiritlifechurch.com
PRIVATE MUSIC INSTRUCTOR
Private Voice, Piano, Guitar, Theory, Composition, and Percussion at NSAA
Private piano, Spirit Life Church in Mequon
Private Voice, Piano, Guitar, Theory, Composition, and Percussion at OCS
Private Voice, Piano, Guitar, Theory, Composition, and Percussion at OCS
Vocal coach for 2006 Ozaukee Idol Winner, Jessica Dybul
Team vocal song coach for 2007 final Ozaukee Idol Contestants
CHOREOGRAPHER
“Disney’s Aristocats”, NSAA 2009 “Disney’s 101 Dalmatians”, NSAA 2008
“Tom Sawyer”, North Shore Academy of the Arts (NSAA), 2007
“Disney’s Jungle Book”, NSAA, 2007
“I Have a Dream”, NSAA, 2007
“Emperor’s New Clothes”, NSAA, 2006
“Go Fish”, NSAA, 2006
“Broadway Santa”, NSAA 2005
“Do You Hear What I Hear?” Ozaukee Christian School (OCS), 2004
“A Pioneer Christmas”, OCS, 2003
“Go Joe!” OCS, 2002
“A Multicultural Christmas”, OCS, 2001
INTERVIEWER
Milwaukee Repetory Theatre, with Playwright Kevin Ramsey regarding “Grafton City Blues”
ParamountsHome, about Paramount history
CreativeConnectionArts, about music history and creative people
RECORDING ENGINEER
Created “demo” CDs for dozens of performers at NSAA
Recording engineer for 1 original allbum
Created a group Christmas CD for NSAA
TEAM LEADER
Spirit Life Church (SLC) Worship Team
Built up large student worship team at OCS
Portview Christian Center Worship Team
Stagekids Vocal Performers Group, NSAA
Stagekids Team Elite Performers, NSAA
Paramount GIG
PHOTOGRAPHER
Creativity-Portal “365 Pictures” Prompts http://www.creativity-portal.com/prompts/365/collaborators/365p.html
CREATIVE PARTIES
“Grease” themed party, NSAA
“Drama” themed party, NSAA
“Pre-K” themed party, NSAA
WORSHIP LEADER
Lighthouse Church, Madison, WI
SLC Mequon, WI
Portview Christian Center, Port Washington, WI
WEDDING SINGER
Multiple weddings in Southeastern, WI
(Contact me for wedding repetoire and pricing)
ACCOMPANIST/PIANIST
“A Taste of Cedarburg” Chamber/Business Event “4 Hope” Vineyard Community Services Event “Nerve House” Benefit NSAA Showcase LightHouse Church, Madison, WI
SLC, Mequon, WI
Portview Christian Center, Port Washington, WI
Piano player for recordings, productions, etc…
VOCAL PERFORMER
Worship Leader 10+years
Wedding Singer
Christmas performer
Outreach Minister to SE Wisconsin Nursing Homes and Institutions
Demos: http://www.creativeconnectionarts.com
MUSIC TEACHER
Volunteer music teacher/Christms Program Director, Covered Bridge Christian School, Cedarburg
Pre-K and K Music Teacher, St. Paul’s Lutheran School, Grafton
K-8 Music Teacher, OCS
Music Teacher, NSAA
Pre-K Music Teacher, Mequon Jewish Preschool, Mequon
PERFORMING ARTS CLASSES TAUGHT (All at NSAA)
Music With Baby and Me
Audition Classes
Ozaukee Idol Prep Camp
Stage-Kinder-Kids
Stagekids Team Elite Performers
Let’s Jam
Stagekids Vocal Performers
Seniors Sing!
Mini Mozarts
Pizza Productions
DRAMA INSTRUCTOR CONTRACTOR (through NSAA)
Willow Creek Child Care Center, Germantown
School of Humanities, Milwaukee
School of Genesis, Milwaukee
CREATIVE MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
Teachings on Creativity, SLC, Mequon
Teachings on “The Heart of the Artist”, SLC, Mequon
Teachings on “Shattered Dreams”, SLC, Mequon
Teachings on “Chronic Creativity”, NSAA
MUSIC HISTORY
Blues Foundation Historian http://www.blues.org/bits/educators.php4
Co-Founder of ParamountsHome Music Historian
Co-Author of Paramount Walking Tour Booklet
CREATIVE INSPIRATION/INFLUENCE
“Sirius Talent Booking Program, NSAA 2008
Creativity Portal worldwide http://www.creativity-portal.com
“I’ll also add that I’ve been greatly influenced in recent years by other creative souls such as yourself, and those who’ve freely shared their work on the Creativity Portal. Susan M. Brackney, Joy Sikorski, Roberta Allen, Michele Pariza, and Angela Mack are a small representation of the hundreds of authors and artists who’ve left a mark on the site that promotes the exploration and expression of creativity worldwide. These people have contributed greatly to the success of the Creativity Portal and have given it more life than I could ever have done on my own. “–Chris Dunmire, Founder of Creativity-Portal
“Lost Musical Treasure” National PBS Segment of the show, “History Detectives”, 2006
http://youtube.com/results?search_query=lost+musical+treasure
Paramount Blues Festival, Grafton, WI
Paramount Plaza, Ad-Hoc Committee Member, Village of Grafton, WI
“Grafton City Blues”, Milwaukee Repetory Theatre, Milwaukee
“Embrace the Legacy” concert series
“Paramount Revival” in Grafton, WI http://www.hawkeyeherman.com/pdf/14_EmbracingTheLegacy_Pt.2.pdf
“Village President Jim Brunnquell originally learned about Paramount Records’ connection with Grafton in spring 2004 when Mack approached him about starting the Paramount Blues Festival, which will debut on Sept. 23 at Lime Kiln Park. Although the idea intrigued him, Brunnquell wasn’t able to grasp Paramount’s importance in American music history until coming across a considerable amount of material that had been published about the label, including a book by Scandinavian author Alex van der Tuuk.
“It appears that everyone knew about the history of Paramount and Grafton except for the village of Grafton,” said Brunnquell. “It involved a matter of somebody opening my eyes to it. Once that happened, it was like ‘Holy cow, this is amazing. We played an amazing part of Americana here.’”
The revelation couldn’t have come at a better time, as the village was in the early stages of creating a redevelopment plan for the downtown area.” — “Grafton’s Blossoming Blues Business” by Tim Carpenter
NON-PROFITS ASSOCIATED WITH (Past or Present)
Vineyard Church, Grafton
Spirit Life Church, Mequon
Ozaukee Christian School, Saukville
North Shore Academy of the Arts, Grafton
Grafton Area Live Arts, Grafton
Cedarburg Performing Arts Center, Cedarburg
Grafton Blues Association, Grafton
Paramount GIG (Grooves in Grafton), Grafton
Historic Preservation Commission, Grafton
Portview Christian Center, Port Washington
Vineyard Community Church, Cedarburg/Grafton
SOME ARTICLES FEATURED IN
Blues Festival Guide, International Publication
http://www.hawkeyeherman.com/pdf/14_EmbracingTheLegacy_Pt.2.pdf
American Profile Magazine, National Publication http://www.americanprofile.com/article/23652.html
Exclusively Yours, Regional Magazine http://www.paramountshome.org/articles/Vault/E_504_LO.pdf
News Graphic, Regional Newspaper, Journalist Tim Carpenter:
“103 People in Ozaukee County”
“In Tune With Grafton”
“Rediscovering the Past, for the Very First Time”
“In Search of Buried Treasure”
“Grafton City Blues to Hit Theatre”
“Grafton’s Blossoming Blues Business”
Ozaukee Press, Regional Newspaper, Journalist Steve Ostermann
“Spotlight on Grafton City Blues”
“Musical Heritage On Tour”
“Embracing Grafton’s Blue Legacy”
“Detectives Show Has Eye on Grafton”
“Blues in Town”
“Saturday Panel Discussion to Focus on Paramount Records”
“Grafton Tunes into Blues Next Week”
“Music Legends Chosen For Walk of Fame”
Follow Author
Angie Mack Reilly has been a long-time creativity coach and advocate for musicians….both dead and alive. She is passionate about issues that effect musicians and creative people such as mental health issues, economic hardship and pirating. Angie has spoken to various groups of people about the creative process and how to embrace it. To book Angie as a public speaker, email angie@ozaukeetalent.com
View Chronic Creativity: A Diagnostic Look at the Condition and How to Become Infected
by Angie Mack Reilly* 2019
Where empathy lacks
And judgement abounds
Is where the artist lies
The artist cries
And they keep walking by
Greed is thick
So charity is sick
Money given upward
To impress CEOs with bribes
That feed their vanity and ego
I know
The money needs to flow down
Down down down like rain
Down down
Down on the people
*Feature photo also by Angie Mack Reilly
Feature photo by Angie Mack Reilly (c) 2015
I have always preached,
“The best art forms contain the greatest contradictions.”
I love contradiction. It is the drama of our existence.
Right now, I am humored by the earth being blanketed by cool virgin snow.
Meanwhile, my burning heart is inflamed with the passion of my prime.
The earth is being cooled and my soul is flaming hot.
Contradictions.
My nerdy and shy highschool friend is now a diva.
Another boy has pleasantly matured.
Popular friends have vanished
and unknown ones have become beacons of light.
Life has a way of leveling
and bringing the obscure to the spotlight
and the stars to the pit.
Life is full of drama and…
the best drama is full of contradictions.
Who would have known
we would all end up here?
December 2004
Angela got in touch with Alex van der Tuuk and began corresponding with him on a regular basis and reading his book
January 2005
ParamountsHome goes online, collects data, and begins networking locally and worldwide
April 2005
Kris of the Grafton Jaycees begins to tackle the project of putting on a blues festival in Grafton after Angie proposed the idea to the group.
May 2005
Angela gets in touch with Michael “Hawkeye” Herman and he begins encouraging her and mentoring her toward her goals.
September 2005
Joe Krupski approaches the Grafton Planning Commission to open a Paramount Restaurant
September 2005
Michael “Hawkeye” Herman does Blues in the Schools for all 3 Grafton Elementary Schools (Thanks to principal Scott Oftedahl, area music teachers and Kennedy P.A.C.E.)
Fall 2005
“Embrace the Legacy” concert series designed to educate adults about Paramount at the Timothy Wooden Building/North Shore Academy of the Arts (Thanks to Barbara Krause and Grafton Area Live Arts)
October 2005
“Paramount Blues Festival” at the Cedarburg Cultural Center featuring Ann Rabson, Fruitland Jackson, and a Paramount panel discussion
October 2005
Ad Hoc Committee forms to discuss the possibilities of incorporating the Paramount theme into the downtown redevelopment and Grafton’s identity. Ad Hoc Committee Members Present: Jim Brunnquell, Jim Grant, Angela Mack, Tom Sweet, Melissa Schmitz, Darrell Hofland, and Michael Rambousek. Discussion begins about creating a Paramount music society of sorts
December 2005
Paramount GIG (Grooves in Grafton) begins to form and later brings “the mobile museum” to area banks, businesses, and the library to educate the community. (Thanks to Missy Schmitz)
January 2006
Grafton Blues Association begins to form out of members from the Grafton Jaycees
July 2006
Paramount GIG presents “A Dance With Early Jazz” to raise funds for the etching of artists into the Walk of Fame
July 2006 ParamountsHome wins the annual Wisconsin Historical Society website award
July 2006
PBS History Detectives films in Grafton upon Angie’s written request
August 2006
“Lost Musical Treasure” by PBS History Detectives airs nationwide
August 2006
The Grafton Hotel is purchased by Rob Ruvin
September 2006
Angie presents “Passionate about Paramount and the Blues” at the Grafton children’s library
September 2006
First annual Paramount Blues Festival presented by the Grafton Blues Association and attended by first lady Jessica Doyle
September 2006
Representative Mark Gottlieb issues a legislative citation to the Village of Grafton acknowledging the importance of the history and praising the Village, individuals, and groups who have embraced the history
September 2006
The Village of Grafton holds the first annual Walk of Fame ceremony to honor Henry Towsend as the first inductee into the new Walk of Fame. Angie provides a team of youth singers to accompany the event.
September 2006
North Shore Academy of the Arts (Angie) presents a second annual “Embrace the Legacy” concert featuring the Paul Curtis Band
October 2006
ParamountsHome (Angie) lectures at the Wisconsin State Historical Museum
October 2006
Henry Townsend Memorial Benefit Concert presented by the GBA- American Legion, Grafton
November 2006 Grafton Blues Association becomes organization of the year – Grafton Chamber of Commerce
November 2006 Paramount Plaza tree lighting ceremony – Grafton Chamber of Commerce
December 2006 Paramount Restaurant opens and begins to provide a venue for musicians to play (Thanks to Joe Krupski)
December 2006 North Shore Academy of the Arts (Angie) finishes its recording studio and does some makeshift recording projects with Scout Groups, classes and birthday parties
December 2006 Paramount GIG begins to merge into the Village of Grafton Historical Preservation Commission
The News Graphic lists Angie as one of the most influential leaders in Ozaukee County.
June 2007 Playwrite Kevin Ramsey announces his new musical, “Grafton City Blues” to be performed at the Milwaukee Rep Theatre Jan-March 2008. Angie’s interview of Kevin is published in the playbills.
June 2007 Paramount Walking Tour is completed
Summer 2007 Many of the components of the Paramount Plaza are completed
September 2007 2nd annual Paramount Blues Festival
September 22, 2007 Walk of Fame ceremony inducting Louis Armstrong and Son House. Dick Waterman came for the ceremony and gave the Grafton Historic Preservation Commission a photo of Son House and Skip James that hasn’t ever been published before.
October 18, 2007 Village of Grafton and Grafton State Bank formally dedicate the sculpture by Norm Christensen
Listen to Podcast Paramount Records: the Rise, Fall and Resurrection featuring Alex van der Tuuk and Angie Mack Reilly presented by The World Music Foundation
“I write because I love to write…. Long years ago when the world was new for me, I dreamed of being a composer–wrote songs, many of them. The words took fire and the music smouldered and so, following the lead of friends and critics, I turned my face toward poetry and put my songs away for a while. Then came drama. I was persuaded to try it and found it a living avenue–and yet–the thing left most unfinished, less exploited, first relinquished, is still nearest my heart and most dear.” –Georgia Douglas Johnson
by Angie Mack Reilly 2019
Just remember that there are an infinite number of possibilities
An infinite number of combinations
An infinite number of ways in which your story could end
You could literally be alone and crying tonight
But then meet your true love during an accident
on the way to work the next morning
