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Do you add any Christmas songs to your live repertoire around Christmas time?

I do not add Christmas songs to my repertoire during Christmas. To be honest, I tend to
take December off to allow the band to spend time with their families. Being far from my
family during the holidays, I always feel a bit homesick. Perhaps this year I will be in the
USA for the Christmas holidays!

Did your family have any particular Christmas traditions?

We did not have the luxury of going to a store and buying a Christmas tree. My dad had
a small old wooden sleigh. We would walk into the woods and find a tree. Daddy would
have an axe and he would cut down a tree we all thought “would do”. Afterwards, we
would tie it to the sleigh and pull it to the house. The trees in the woods were never
perfectly shaped so it would look a bit odd shaped but we were happy that we had a
Christmas tree. The hi-fi would be turned on and Mahalia would sing to us while we ate
the Christmas cookies Mama made while decorating the tree.

Cookies and cakes were a must during the Christmas season. We always had nuts in all
the sweets. A large fruit basket was also always on the table. Mama was an excellent baker
and honestly, I work hard to even compare! But the Apple Cake and Whiskey Sauce never
fails and I have shared this recipe with you.

What will you be doing Christmas day?

Cooking for me will start 3 days before Christmas. I will cook sweet potatoes, corn
pudding, smoked chicken and a ham. I traditionally cook African-American food during
the holidays. Christmas Day I will be exhausted but we will eat all the treats that I have
cooked and we will play some good blues Christmas music. I normally invite friends who
are from all parts of the world if I am not in the US. We play cards, games and dance. Of
course, presents will be given out but that tends to be the least important event.

And what are your hopes for the New Year?

Sugar Queen Blues is always at the forefront of my hopes for the New Year. Hey, I am a
blues musician! But I honestly hope for more kindness and caring for each other. It seems

people have become so intolerant to each other which makes me very sad. As for Sugar
Queen, I think another CD will be in the works and I will continue the story of my family.
There are so many good stories remaining to tell.

Anything else you want to add?

To all the Blues fans, I want to wish them an amazing Christmas and New Year. It is the
Blues fans who are the inspiration for musicians to thrive. It is our passion and we hope
the holiday season brings everyone happiness and health.