SOLD OUT (IN 12 HOURS)
 

Roy studied with Blind Gary Davis and traveled with him. His stories of his travels and encounters with hundreds of blues musicians mesmerize his audiences. His experiences and ability to tell their stories is an art in itself! Roy is a walking blues history book and we are THRILLED to have him here! Roy has recorded NINE (or more!) CDs, countless videos and written books on playing blues. He also performs at story-telling festivals! ---Truly, a man of very many talents! You can read more at Roy's website.

From "Behind the humor lurks a musical master."
Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
 
ROY BOOK BINDER, is a Blues Singing, guitar picking, song writing raconteur, and has been for the past 30 years! Roy has been interviewed by Terry Gross on NPR's Fresh Air, featured on the Emmy award winning segment of the PBS TV series EGG Art in America, and appeared more than 30 times on Ralph Emory's highly regarded TV series Nashville Now.

Book Binder has been included in the "Big Book of Blues" as well as the "Blues Who's Who"!! Roy has been continually touring across America in his tour bus, which has been his home for the last thirty years, as well as performing internationally.

Back in the early 1960s, Roy learned his craft from the legendary blind street singer, Reverend Gary Davis, who was thrust into the national spotlight when Peter, Paul, and Mary recorded his song "If I Had My Way." After two years of traveling the folk-blues circuit with his mentor, Roy struck out on his own. Along the way, he befriended Pink Anderson, an old Carolina medicine show performer (who by the way was the "Pink" in Pink Floyd, while Floyd Council, another Carolina bluesman, was the Floyd.) Pink's stories and songs will forever be kept alive as long as Roy has a stage to perform on...

In his travels, Book Binder has run across quite a cast of characters, including three peg-legged dancers, and a 90 year old classic blues singer with a sparkling smile, who was known as, "Diamond Teeth" Mary (Bessie Smith's half sister). All of these characters have become a part of a "Roy Book Binder show" which is a hilarious educational experience not to be missed!

Musically, Roy Book Binder is equally difficult to fence in or categorize. His eclectic repertoire includes blues, country tunes, bluegrass, folk, and popular songs that originated on Tin Pan Alley. He fantasizes that if he had been born 50 years earlier, he would have become a minstrel man. One of his musical heroes, Dave Van Ronk, once described himself to me as a songster. That title might suit Roy as well, his music, a reflection of his long musical journey through the rich American cultural landscape of the last half of the 20th Century.
 

Hear samples of Roy's songs here! We would LOVE to put some of his stories here too, but you'll just have to come hear them at the show

Reservations ($10) for this show are necessary and can be made at (919)787-6378 or email bett@bettpadgett.com. We ask that you limit reservations to parties of 4 and allow 3 days for comfirmation. We expect this show to sell quickly---don't wait long!!