The Marion Branch of the American Association of University Women presents: An Evening with Phil Wiggins and Friends. This event is made possible by the National Endowment of the Arts. The public is invited to come out and enjoy a concert by Phil Wiggins (harmonica), Hubby Jenkins (guitar and vocals), and Marcus Moore, Jr. (violin and vocals). This event, which is free and open to the public, will be held Wednesday night, Jan. 18 at Lottie’s Restaurant in Marion beginning at 6:00 p.m. Sponsors include the Marion Branch of A.A.U.W., the Social Literary Federated Club, the Rev. Bailey Dawson, K & D Wireless, and Cosby Auto Repair.
Wiggins is a Grammynominated and NEA Heritage Award winning harmonica player. A Washington, DC native, Wiggins is a versatile traditional harmonica player. He is recognized as America’s foremost blues harmonica connoisseur and a master of the unique blues traditions of the Piedmont or Tidewater blues of the Chesapeake region, achieving worldwide acclaim over three decades. He fronts the acoustic swing/roots/blues ensemble, the Chesapeake Sheiks, and is actively engaged in reuniting the Piedmont blues with its origin of African- American buck and tap dancing. In addition to his skills on the harmonica, Wiggins is also a fine songwriter. Phil is a two-time winner of the prestigious W.C. Handy Award. He regularly ranks among the world’s top harmonica players in both Reader and Critics’ polls by Living Blues magazine. In 2017, Phil received an NEA National Heritage Fellowship, the nation’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts. Phil has played with blues greats Johnny Shines, Sunnyland Slim, Sam Chatmon, Robert Belfour, Howard Armstrong, John Cephas (Cephas & Wiggins) and many other. Phil has toured every continent except Antarctica.
Michael Whittaker, known in the music world as Hubby, is a talented multiinstrumentalist who endeavors to share his love and knowledge of old-time American music. Born and raised in Brooklyn he delved into his southern roots, following the thread of African American history that wove itself through America’s traditional music forms. As an integral member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops and later Rhiannon Giddens band, Hubby has performed at festivals and venues around the world, earning himself both Grammy and Americana award nominations. Today he spreads his knowledge and love of old-time American music through his dynamic solo performances and engaging workshops.
Marion, Alabama native, Marcus Childs Moore, a classically-trained violinist now performs jazz, blues, folk, and Americana as a fiddler and vocalist throughout the world alongside many notable musicians in all genres. Marcus received his Jazz Performance B.F.A. from City College of New York and has performed alongside Regina Carter, Bobby Bland, Fred Wesley, Arturo O’Farrell, Ray Santos, and many others. He served as a violinist in the Harlem Symphony Orchestra and with Marcus Johnson and the Urban Jam Band. Currently, he plays with the Grammy Nominated and NEA Heritage Award Winning Phil Wiggins and the Chesapeake Sheiks. Marcus has also performed at prestigious venues such as Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, the Music Center at Strathmore and the Library of Congress. When he is not performing Marcus works for Meta’s Instagram division in music content. In 2022, Marcus was listed in the top most important people of African descent under 40 by the United Nations.
