THE EBONY HILLBILLIES

An unusual melody saturates the hallway leading to the Times Square Shuttle.  There is a four piece band that has set up shop right in from of the train and over time, attracting a progressively larger audience. The scene is just as atypical as the name and sound.  All four group members are black and playing hillbilly music—a blend of the Irish Jig coupled with the harmonica and banjo.  Leaving a lasting impression and inspiring a double take from each passerby all of which appear caught off guard by the menagerie of sounds and the people creating it.

A white haired man not quite convinced yet watches on from a distance but slowly inches forward as the bagpiper builds to a climax, increasing the tempo and swiftly gliding his fingers, up and down the keyboard.  The old man, with a thick Irish accent, wearing a traditional yellow baggy raincoat with black rubber boots, now standing merely 3-feet from the band, smiles and says, “ye played just as wonderfully as me father”. With a quick and approving nod he reaches out to offer a sincere hand shake, just before he walks away.

Here are some photos of the group:

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