Jones, Holland & What a Wonderful World

What A Wonderful World is now available on iTunes, Amazon, or at your favorite mp3 download store.

This collaboration between Booker T. Jones and Shortlist Prize nominee Jolie Holland interpreting the 40-year old classic is only being released as a digital single.

Of working with Jolie, Booker said, 'Her voice sounds new and old at the same time. I made a new friend and it 's a wonderful new discovery for me. Jolie carries beauty and it's just around her all the time.' Jolie was equally gracious, adding 'It is an enormous honor to work with the elegant Mr. Booker T. Jones. It is such a deep honor to be able to count Booker among my friends. I'm so glad we had a chance to create something to share with the world, and I'm thrilled to consider what we can do in the future.'

Click on the iTunes button to hear 30-second previews of and download What a Wonderful World b/w It's a Blessing.

Folk Alliance to Honor Mavis

The North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance will honor Mavis Staples with a 2008 Elaine Weissman Lifetime Achievement Award (LAAward). The award is given annually to those individuals or organizations who have inspired others, achieved definitive leadership in their field and contributed to the advancement of the performing folk arts.

Also being honored with a 2008 LAAward is the late old-time fiddler/banjo player Tommy Jarrell, as well as Rounder Records. The awards will be presented at the Folk Awards Show February 20, 2008 in Memphis, TN.

Mavis Honored with AMA's Free Speech Award

Mavis Staples was awarded the Americana Music Association's "Spirit of Americana" Free Speech Award at the association's awards gala in Nashville, TN on November 1, 2007.

Prior recipients of the Free Speech Award include Kris Kristofferson, Judy Collins, Charlie Daniels and Steve Earle. American icon Johnny Cash, a friend of Mavis's father, Pops, received the inaugural Free Speech Award in 2002.
The "Spirit of Americana" honorees are selected by a Lifetime Achievement Award Committee of the AMA.

Mavis was unable to attend the event to receive her award as she was on tour in Illinois. She performed at the event in 2004, appearing with that year's Instrumentalist of the year Will Kimbrough (inset).