[Cover photo credit to Timothy Duffy]
Culpepper, Virginia-based Jeffrey Scott raises Texas Longhorn cattle, farms hogs, and works as a mortician and long-haul truck driver. He has also worked as a state trooper, sheriff, and grave-digger, and is part of the living continuing tradition of Piedmont-style Blues.
He first learned the Blues from his uncle John Jackson (1924-2002), who was a Smithsonian Folkways Recording and Arhoolie Records artist as well as a National Heritage Fellowship award winner.
Scott’s upcoming album, Going Down To Georgia On a Hog is being released by Music Maker Foundation and will be available on February 1st, 2023 to members of the Music Maker Listeners Circle and March 3rd, 2023 to the general public via digital and CD. The new songs represent the Ragtime-Blues tradition as well as more emotional, slower Blues styles on this solo acoustic album.
In introducing his uncle’s song and album title track, “Going Down To Georgia On a Hog,” Scott says:
Years and years ago, people called a train a hog. Uncle Johnny said the hog was the main part of the train where the engine was. That’s where all the hobos would jump on the train and they would get up there ride next to the hog, which was the engine, to keep warm and stuff.
Scott will also take the stage at Washington, D.C.’s National Gallery on February 26, 2023 alongside fellow Music Maker artists Gail Ceasar (fellow Virginia acoustic player), singer Pat “Mother Blues” Cohen, and Dedicated Men of Zion. He has previously performed at the Kennedy Center as well as for three presidents.
About Music Maker Foundation
For more than 25 years, Music Maker Foundation has worked to preserve and promote the musical traditions of the American South. Since 1994 they have partnered with senior roots musicians living in poverty, sustaining their day-to-day needs while building their careers. Through Music Maker, our rich musical heritage will not be lost with the passing of time. Music Maker has been featured on PBS NewsHour, NPR Weekend Edition and CBS Evening News and has assisted hundreds of musicians.
