The Carolina Chocolate Drops are an old-time string band from Durham, North Carolina, United States. Formed in November 2005 following the members' attendance at the Black Banjo Gathering in Boone, North Carolina, the group is one of the few remaining African American string bands. The group has three members: Rhiannon Giddens, Dom Flemons, and Justin Robinson, who were all in their twenties when the group formed.[1] All of the musicians sing, and trade instruments including banjo, fiddle, guitar, harmonica, snare drum, bones, jug, and kazoo. The group learned much of their repertoire, which is based on the traditional music of the Piedmont region of North and South Carolina,[2] from the eminent African American old-time fiddler Joe Thompson, although they also perform old-time versions of some modern songs such as Blu Cantrell's R&B hit "Hit 'em Up Style (Oops!)."
The group has released two CDs (in 2006 and 2008), and has opened for Taj Mahal.[3] They have also performed on Mountain Stage[4] and at the Mount Airy Fiddlers Convention.