“When a record collector from Oregon visited Grafton in 2002 looking for remnants of Paramount, it triggered a reawakening. Upon learning that the pioneering recording studio and record pressing plant had operated on the street where she lives, resident Angela Mack, 37, launched a website, www.paramountshome.org, and a campaign to publicize the fact that blues legends, including Charley Patton, “Son” House, Louise Johnson and Skip James, once had recorded in her hometown.
Energized, Grafton officials—who had been seeking a suitable redevelopment theme for several years—began working to incorporate a musical design in the downtown plaza. Now a Walk of Fame resembling a giant keyboard adorns the new Paramount Plaza, with names of noted Paramount artists to be etched annually into its 44 black, 7-foot-long keys.” American Profile Magazine
In 2005, Angie Mack pitched a story idea to the producers of PBS History Detectives. During that time, they only choose less than 2% of their story submissions to pursue. The result was this segment, “Lost Musical Treasure” which aired nationwide in 2006. Here is Part 1 of a 2 part series. The combined segments have reached over 50k views on YouTube alone.
Angie Spearheaded Efforts to Make Sure that Paramount Records History Was Embraced
Read more at this link….
Embracing The Legacy Of The Blues / From the South To The North by Michael “Hawkeye” Herman Part 2. Grafton, WI and Paramount Records originally published in the international BLUES FESTIVAL GUIDE in 2006
Angie assists playwright Kevin Ramsey in the creation of the musical “Grafton City Blues” which premiered at the Milwaukee Rep
“Singing the Grafton Blues” by Bobby Tanzilo
“On the trail of bluesman Blind Blake in Milwaukee” by Angela Mack Reilly published on onmilwaukee.com
Getting a #headstone #gravestone for #blindblake
Some of the podcasts, television appearances, radio interviews, articles and videos that feature Angie and her work:
- World Music Foundation
- Spectrum News
- CBS 58
- Ozaukee Press
- Parrot TV (New York)
- TMJ4 Milwaukee
- Grafton Chamber of Commerce
- Riverwest Radio
- Milwaukee Rep
- MATC Now
- Sessions with Sandy
- Grave Stories with TR Rongstad
- Music Interview with Z.M. Wise
- Delta Download Mississippi Blog
- Livia Peterson Feature Story
- Creativity Portal
- Women as Visionaries
- Amerika’s Addiction
Paramount Records
RADIO SEGMENT with Amanda Petrusich
Amanda Petrusich, American music journalist and author from New York
“Paramount Sings The Blues” in Exclusively Yours Magazine
Some Ozaukee Press articles about Paramount Records
Photo published by the Ozaukee Press
AMERICAN PROFILE Magazine Article
ANGIE’S ROLE IN THE RESHAPING OF GRAFTON
