# Max Drake

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**Max Voorhees Drake II** (born June 1, 1952) is an American [blues](/source/Blues) guitarist and songwriter from [Yanceyville, North Carolina](/source/Yanceyville,_North_Carolina).[1][2] He has performed with musicians such as [B.B. King](/source/B.B._King), [Bo Diddley](/source/Bo_Diddley), [Chuck Berry](/source/Chuck_Berry), [Lightnin' Hopkins](/source/Lightnin'_Hopkins), and [Nappy Brown](/source/Nappy_Brown).[3][4][5]

## Biography

### Early life and career

Max Drake was born in [Burlington, North Carolina](/source/Burlington,_North_Carolina) and grew up in [Reidsville](/source/Reidsville,_North_Carolina).[2] He started his first band at age 23 in 1975.[4] From the mid-1970s until 1989 he gained distinction as a guitarist in Arhooly R&B Deluxe Band. While in Arhooly, there were performances with prominent bluesmen including B.B. King, Bo Diddley, and [Robert Cray](/source/Robert_Cray).[4][5] Drake became especially known for his agility on [slide guitar](/source/Slide_guitar).[2]

In the 1990s, Drake performed with the [Charlotte](/source/Charlotte,_North_Carolina)-based Extraordinaires and also Thomas "Mookie" Brill before recording and performing frequently with [Skeeter Brandon](/source/Skeeter_Brandon).[1][4][6] In the 2000s, he played rhythm guitar in [Big Bill Morganfield's](/source/Big_Bill_Morganfield) band, going on worldwide tours.[1][4] Morganfield is the son of [Muddy Waters](/source/Muddy_Waters) (aka McKinley Morganfield) often cited as the "father of modern [Chicago blues](/source/Chicago_blues)."[1][7]

As the band toured Europe, blues enthusiasts became increasingly interested in Morganfield. Many were familiar with his father's seminal contributions to electric blues from his work on [Chess Records](/source/Chess_Records). It was said that the band's version of Waters' "[Got My Mojo Working](/source/Got_My_Mojo_Working)" stood up to the original. Tours in Spain that Drake accompanied him on particularly enjoyed popularity due to the legacy connection to Waters.[1]

After the multiyear run with Morganfield ended, Drake stayed closer to his home and family in [Caswell County, North Carolina](/source/Caswell_County,_North_Carolina).[1] He went on to work extensively with [Mel Melton & The Wicked Mojos](/source/Mel_Melton) in the 2010s while teaching aspiring blues artists.[4][8][9]

Drake has performed at public schools in North Carolina in partnership with the [Greensboro](/source/Greensboro,_North_Carolina)-based Piedmont Blues Preservation Society.[10]

## Discography

- *Got it Bad* (1995)
- *New Moon Blues on Rise* (1996)
- *Global Voices: Traditional, Sacred & Contemporary Vocal Music* (1998)
- *Contemporary Global Voices* (2000)
- *Popskull & High Art* (2008)

## References

1. ["Max Drake makes his own mark on blues guitar playing"](https://www.caswellmessenger.com/news/article_10f00834-be62-11eb-8ffa-6b6146f0879b.html). *Caswellmessenger.com*. May 26, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.

1. Simpson, Doug (July 23, 1997). ["Drake Often Lent Helping Hand; Now He Needs One"](https://greensboro.com/drake-often-lent-helping-hand-now-he-needs-one/article_2315ea8c-8135-5eb0-a69e-fba06ed194a7.html). *Greensboro.com*. Retrieved June 18, 2021.

1. ["Bars, Blues and Booze"](https://www.regulatorbookshop.com/event/emily-edwards-mel-melton-max-drake-bars-blues-and-booze). *Regulatorbookshop.com*. Retrieved June 20, 2021.

1. ["The Talk of Teronus with Wezo & Drave – with guest Max Drake"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Fe_i1WEvQw&t=746s). YouTube. May 31, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2021.

1. ["North Carolina singer Shelia Grady Carlisle talks about the Blues, Arhooly, B.B. King and the hippie era"](http://blues.gr/profiles/blogs/north-carolina-singer-shelia-grady-carlisle-talks-about-the-blues). *Blues.gr*. Retrieved June 23, 2021.

1. ["N.C. Treasure Sings the Blues"](https://greensboro.com/n-c-treasure-sings-the-blues/article_240ebd6c-fdac-55df-bbdf-79a0b34895e6.html). *Greensboro.com*. July 1998. Retrieved June 22, 2021.

1. *Muddy Waters: Can't Be Satisfied* (DVD). [Winstar Communications](/source/Winstar_Communications). 2003.

1. ["A Fool For Your Stockings – Max Drake"](https://www.bmansbluesreport.com/2012/03/fool-for-your-stockings-max-drake.html). *Bmansbluesreport.com*. Retrieved June 21, 2021.

1. ["Matt Walsh talks 'blues'"](http://www.collegiatetimes.com/lifestyle/matt-walsh-talks-blues/article_fd44d7bd-31f7-501f-9720-752e1975e693.html). *Collegiatetimes.com*. September 22, 2010. Retrieved June 20, 2021.

1. ["Weso and Max "You Must Be Jelly, 'Cause Jam Don't Shake Like That""](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn3Vot9lF50). YouTube. March 25, 2013. Retrieved June 22, 2021.

## External links

- [Skeeter Brandon: "The Sky is Crying" (Max Drake, guitar)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f_kjP-bXjQ/)
- [Extraordinaires: "Dark End of the Street" (Max Drake on lead guitar)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srF8ZM79rls/)
- [All Music – Max Drake](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/max-drake-mn0001416550/credits/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Max Drake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Drake) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Drake?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.