Students in UNC’s Southern Music (History 571/Folklore 571) had the pleasure of sharing a class on
“Southern Music and Food” over breakfast at Mama Dip’s Kitchen in Chapel Hill recently.
The class opened with a brief lecture by William Ferris that included selections by Bob Wills (“That’s What I Like About the South”), Bo Carter (“Banana in Your Fruit Basket”), Tony Joe White (“Polk Salad Annie”), Big Bill Lister (“RC Cola and Moon Pie”), and Goodie Mob (“Soul Food”).
The highlight of the class was a presentation by Mildred “Mama Dip” Council who explained how she created the restaurant and the ties of food and music she remembered growing up in rural North Carolina. The class concluded with a performance of “Amazing Grace” by Mary D. Williams, a student in the class.