CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS

The Carolina Chocolate Drops are an old-time string band consisting of musicians from the Piedmont of North Carolina.

The band is based in Durham, NC. Their 2010 album, “Genuine Negro Jig” won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards.

The band was formed following the members' attendance at the Black Banjo Gathering in Boone, N.C., and is one of the few remaining African American string bands.

All of the musicians sing and trade instruments including banjo, fiddle, guitar, harmonica, snare drum, bones, jug and kazoo.

The group learned much of their repertoire, which is based on the traditional music of the Piedmont region of North and South Carolina, from the eminent African American old-time fiddler Joe Thompson.

The band has released three CDs and has opened for Taj Mahal, Mountain Stage, Fresh Air on BBC Radio and at the 2010 Bonnaroo music festival in Manchester, Tenn.