Today’s song is “Let’s Get Happy Together” by Maria Muldaur with Tuba Skinny band. Maria Muldaur is a singer with a 55-plus year-long career that has been referred to as an adventurous musical odyssey that encompasses American roots music: everything from blues, jug band, and bluegrass to jazz and Appalachian “old-timey” music.
Over 42 albums Maria has been nominated 6 times for Grammy Awards, as well as for Blues, Folk and Roots awards. She has been recognized at the Blues Music Awards in Memphis for many of her Stony Plain releases over the years, and is the 2019 recipient of the “Lifetime Achievement Americana Trailblazer Award” from the Americana Music Association.
When Maria Muldaur discovered the music of Tuba Skinny she learned that just like herself, these musicians study, play and immerse themselves in early blues, jazz, and jug-band music of the 20s and 30s. Listening to their albums, Maria came to the conclusion that “they were not just playing a marvelous repertoire of cool tunes with great skill and authenticity, but somehow channeling the very atmosphere and vibration of that bygone era.”
Just prior to the Covid Pandemic in January 2020, Maria asked Tuba Skinny to collaborate in a showcase performance at the International Folk Alliance Conference in New Orleans. It was so well received that an album was immediately conceived and recorded later that year.
Performing 12 songs as close as possible in feeling to the original recordings, Tuba Skinny and Maria Muldaur breathed life into rarely heard gems from this incredible era. Maria says,
“It is my hope that by sharing the origin of these tunes, you will be inspired to look up these wonderful artists yourself on YouTube, and start exploring and enjoying the endless abundance of incredible music they left us!”
This is the track from that album and it’s title sums up what you will feel when you listen. Happiness is inevitable with this tune. From the upbeat brass instruments to the light and playful lyrics it is 100% fun.
Listen below and for more information on Maria Muldar check out her official website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. For more on Tuba Skinny Band check out their official website and Facebook page.