Delmark Goldfarb  

November 5, 2009

Thursday 8:30pm

Detail:

Annie B [WI]
Mile 60
Mathis Grey
Delmark Goldfarb

Born and raised in upstate New York, after high school Delmark Goldfarb landed in the Village at the tail end of the Great Folk Era. On banjo or bass, he fell into gigs with the likes of bluesmen Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee; bluegrass mandolin wizard Frank Wakefield; and legendary folk/country songwriter Keith Sykes. Drafted in 1970, instead of sending Del to Vietnam, the Marine Corps transferred him from Camp Pendleton to NAS Millington, the Navys only inland air base, twenty minutes down Highway 51 from Memphis. Weekends were spent in town at the knee of Furry Lewis or Rufus Thomas, or getting wasted under the influence of Jerry Lee Lewis. Upon discharge, Del stayed in Memphis, where the transition to civilian life was not without its obstacles. After some particularly inappropriate behavior in a poorly managed situation he found himself serving a one-year stretch in the county slammer. There, during a card game, one of his fellow inmates, a certain O.V. Wright, told him that he could use a piano player. After volunteering for this unusual request, Del was led out to an open cellblock area where makeshift church services were held on Sundays. Out of a broom closet rolled a piano. There he banged out the blues to O.Vs scorching wail, while the jailbirds danced like angels and the walls vanished into thin air. Later in Memphis, he assembled and composed for the Rhythm-Aires, a washboard-style combo which became a house band on Beale Street and was featured at the Memphis Music and Arts Festival.

Mathis grey Ft. Wayne, Indiana - Mathis Grey is a 26 year old singer/songwriter. He has been writing, recording and performing for over 10 years. His sound is a folk rock/acoustic rock style with a sprinkle of soul mixed in. His hopes are to branch out of his home town and play his music for other audiences around the country. Mathis Grey’s style is very unique. His vocals and his guitar playing create a definite coffee house feel allowing the audience to emerge themselves in his music in real time. His music is smooth, yet rugged - heavy , yet weightless….this is Mathis Grey. His new single, “Perfect Stranger”, is off of his new CD, “Two Steps From The Road”. He wrote this song about a girl he used to hang with which was perfect for the moment, but wanted more of a friendship with her. She, on the other hand, thought that he wanted a relationship. This CD has a lot of songs about leaving home, leaving people along, and breaking up - but definitely has up beat tunes. As Mathis grows and evolves, so will his music. His music portrays his life and it is wonderful to listen to. His new CD will be released sometime this fall or early winter.