Dom Flemons

Dominique Flemons, born on August 30, 1982, in Phoenix, Arizona, is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter of African American and Mexican heritage. His musical journey began in high school, playing percussion, guitar, and harmonica. While studying English at Northern Arizona University, he engaged in poetry slams and became a frequent performer in the Arizona music scene. A pivotal encounter with percussionist and folklorist Sule Greg Wilson deepened Flemons’ understanding of blues and American folk music. This early foundation in diverse musical and cultural traditions laid the groundwork for his future career, where he would become known for preserving and reinterpreting American folklore through music.

Flemons rose to prominence as a founding member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops in 2005, a GRAMMY Award-winning black string band that emerged from the Black Banjo Gathering in Boone, NC. With the band, he contributed to five albums, including the 2010 GRAMMY-winning “Genuine Negro Jig,” and an EP, performing at venues like the Grand Ole Opry and opening for artists such as Taj Mahal and Bob Dylan. He departed from the group in 2013 to pursue a solo career, which had already begun with his debut album “Dance Tunes Ballads & Blues” in 2007. His solo work has since continued to explore American roots music, earning him an Honorary Doctorate from Northern Arizona University and induction into the American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame.

His solo albums, including “Prospect Hill” (2014) and “Black Cowboys” (2018), have brought further critical acclaim. “Black Cowboys,” released in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Folk Album and a Blues Music Award nomination. Flemons has also collaborated with artists like Boo Hanks and Martin Simpson, and has performed at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. He has become a respected music scholar, historian, and host of the American Songster Radio Show, continuing to shed light on overlooked aspects of American musical heritage.