Taylor Hicks~~"Down on the Bayou III" Keeping the Music ALIVE!

It is funk with a cause.

The musical lineup is stunning. The cause is most worthy.

In a city that runs on music and diverse culture, The New Orleans Musicians Clinic is a place that is keeping it healthy.

“Our goal is to keep New Orleans music and culture ALIVE!”

It’s no wonder a stunning lineup of headliners, including JoJo Hermann and his Mardi Gras Band , Col. Bruce Hampton, George Porter Jr., Ivan Neville, Irma Thomas, and Taylor Hicks, is turning out for “Down on the Bayou III” May 5, at Howlin’ Wolf in what has been called by Jambase.com “8 Hours of Funk for a Good Cause.” It plays during Jazz Fest, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, April 29 to May 8.

Besides Taylor Hicks, who inspires this web place, for me another name stood out in the Bayou lineup: Irma Thomas—Miss Irma, New Orleans’ Soul Queen. Her music was a gift from a friend and her soulful sound struck a chord. Rounder Records, where she records, says of the New Orleans First Lady of soul:

"She remains one of America’s most distinctive and classic singers, a treasure from the golden age of soul music who remains as compelling and powerful as ever..."

She was featured here in “Music Americana” a few months ago. (Link below)

If you go, don’t miss Irma Thomas and hope that she sings “Loving Arms!”

If you don’t go, you can still support this “medical home” for the legendary musicians and “tradition bearers” in New Orleans.

“Since 1998, the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic (NOMC) has been dedicated to keeping New Orleans’ performers alive in body, mind, and spirit by providing comprehensive health care and mental health/social services. As the “medical home” for more than 2,000 local musicians and tradition bearers, the NOMC's Culture of Caring Model provides cost-efficient access to high quality healthcare and wellness programs for our patients, regardless of their ability to pay.”

The new charity struggled in its infancy and in 1999 brought together over 100 musicians and supporters in the community to record an amazing CD, “Get You A Healin’.”


Now, after more than a decade with hurricanes, Gulf oil spill, and failing economy, NOMC still struggles. In August, 2010, when most of their government funding was cut off, they went back to the board. “—the sound board, that is—with a special anniversary digital only re-release of “Get You a Healin’” on iTunes, Rhapsody, Amazon.com and a variety of online music stores.”

It was a daunting challenge with the original master tapes lost in Katrina’s flooding and many of the musicians having left New Orleans, but the NOMC came back stronger than ever.


“Get You a Healin’” features Dr John, Funky Meters, BB King, Irma Thomas, Allen Toussaint, Guardians of the Flame, Blu Lu Barker & more!

NOMC still needs the support of the music community. Enter “Down on the Bayou III,” returning for the third year with many of New Orleans’ legendary musicians to perform “8 hours of live funk to benefit The New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic & Assistance Foundation.”

This is when music is more…

Get your tickets for a funky “Down on the Bayou III”

And support all those who are keeping the music ALIVE!

~~~

Tickets for “Down on the Bayou III”
http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=3551825

Miss Irma Thomas in “Music Americana:”
http://thetaylorhickscommunity.blogspot.com/2010/11/taylor-hicks-americana-music.html

Read more about “Down on the Bayou III:”
http://jambandnews.net/?p=745
http://web.jambase.com/Articles/26593/Down-on-the-Bayou-III-Benefit-JoJo-Hermann-Ivan-Col.-Bruce
http://widespreadpanic.com/news_story.php?id=638

Read more and purchase “Get You A Healin’” digital re-release:
http://www.neworleansmusiciansclinic.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27&Itemid=37

Quotes and information from websites and New Orleans Musicians Clinic site:
http://www.neworleansmusiciansclinic.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1