“I’m a 6 ft. 2 black man with a banjo and a shotgun” professed St. Louis native, Al Caldwell, the Travelin Black Hillbilly.
Banjos and shotguns certainly conjure up images of back woods hill country lore, but in this case, Caldwell is not referring to stereotypical images nor his music. These are the words of a proud and very protective “helicopter dad” to his 16-year-old daughter, Raquel.
“And her mother, she was fine – so I know,” he inferred about what teenage boys may be thinking about, where his daughter is concerned. But “it’s” not happening – if he has anything to do with it.
Caldwell is both a single father and a genius of a musician (he plays 30 instruments).
He said Raquel’s mother died 10 years ago of heart disease, and there are cardiovascular disease issues in his family as well. Through music, Caldwell plays to keep heart disease from taking a toll on others. It’s for his daughter, in tribute to her mother, and for prevention. Caldwell has literally taken this issue to his heart by selecting Go Red For Women as its first charity for his company, Baby Al Productions.
“This won’t just be a one-time thing. Each of my albums will find a specific charity and fund a specific charity for the life of it,” he said.
His website describes a traveling black hillbilly as a cultural nomad, “not necessarily black, but soulful in spirit.” His music is a blend of blend of soul, country, rock and jazz. Caldwell has played all over the world, from Shanghai, China to Cairo, Egypt to Monte Carlo, Monaco to Bahia, Brazil. He has recorded several CDs and for the past 13 years, Caldwell has been the bass player for songstress Vanessa Williams, TV star of “Desperate Housewives” and “Ugly Betty” fame. He also plays banjo and the nine-string bass with musician Chuck Rainey.
As Al contacted band members for his upcoming fundraiser for “Go Red For Women” at the Sheldon, to be held on Sunday, November 21, he found out that one of the musicians, Don E. Curtis, had recently died a heart attack.
“This news only strengthened my belief in this cause,” Caldwell stated.
Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women and men in the U.S. The American Heart Association says cardiovascular disease, including stroke, claimed nearly a half million women in the U.S. annually, more than the next six causes of death combined – and nearly twice as many as cancer. The CDC reports in 2007, heart disease and stroke claimed more than three-quarters of a million lives.
It’s the No. 1 killer, especially in the African American community, and we really don’t talk about this,” he said. The CDC says heart disease and stroke causes more deaths in Americans of both genders and all racial and ethnic groups.
February is heart month, but heart disease strikes every day. Caldwell wants the festive red colors of the coming holiday season to also be a reminder about heart-healthy choices to prevent cardiovascular disease.
“If they can wear red that night, I would love it,” Caldwell said. “With the two biggest holidays when we really pig out and hurt ourselves intentionally, when we see all this read in the air…I really want people to think about having a healthy Thanksgiving and having a healthy Christmas and really being reminded and being thankful for being alive and for the ability to try and eat better.”
For more information on women and heart disease, go to goredforwomen.org.
Al Caldwell, The Travelin Black Hillbilly – with special guests, Tim Cunningham, Spud Taylor, Brian White, Tito Pascoal, Jamal Nichols and Andre Thomas, will perform at Al Caldwell’s 1st Annual Go Red for Women Concert from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis. Tickets are $25 may be purchased through MetroTix. For more information, call 314-533-9900 or go to metrotix.com.
