Winston launched the Winston Blues Revival on November 5, 1998 to showcase the talent of several authentic Blues pioneers, while raising awareness of and support for the Music Maker Relief Foundation (MMRF). This nonprofit foundation, based in Pinnacle, N.C. (near R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company’s Winston-Salem headquarters), works to help forgotten Southern Blues traditionalists improve their quality of life. Headlined by GRAMMY award winning musician, Taj Mahal, all door proceeds from the age-restricted performances benefit the MMRE. The Winston Blues Revival pays special tribute to three MMRF beneficiaries. Not only is the revival showing support for these artists, it is also enabling them to support themselves by doing what they do best – playing the Blues. These artists include: Cootie Stark, Beverly ‘Guitar’ Watkins and Neal Pathname. The first phase of the revival took MMRF artists on a six month, 16-city national tour. During the tour’s second phase, which will begin in September, these artists will perform in 12 cities across the country.
