The City That Care Forgot. NOLA. –
By: Ray Hogan.
New Orleans has its share of nicknames.
But one describes the city’s unique place in the country, and for that matter, the world.
Many musicians have told me they believe New Orleans to be the northernmost point in the Caribbean. And this goes a long way in explaining why the port city is is proudly out of step with the rest of the country in everything from cuisine, culture and, most importantly, music.
Given the syncopation that sets all NOLA music apart, it’s no surprise that any study of the music’s history begin with Congo Square, where slaves and Native Americans were allowed to gather and play music on Sundays. Marching bands found themselves influenced by these African and Caribbean born rhythms — which we would eventual call funk and jazz.
This led to the creation of jazz. While no one person can take credit for its invention (Jellyroll Morton tried). Buddy Bolden is the first star that history can accurately recall although Louis Armstrong would soon become synonymous with the music and proudly carry it’s torch until his death.
“I’m not sure , but I’m almost positive that all music came from New Orleans,” the r&b singer Ernie K-Doe (“Mother-In-Law”) once proclaimed. Although prone to hyperbole, K-Doe makes a point. The word gumbo is overused to death throughout Louisiana. But it’s also the best word to describe that melange of music that emanated throughout the 20th century. How do you get from Armstrong to Galactic or Mystikal? You don’t unless you are working on a book-length project. So instead we will highlight a handful of styles and their main practitioners.
Jazz: Louis Armstrong, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Pete Fountain, Al Hirt, the Marsalis family (Ellis, Wynton, Branford, Delfeayo and Jason), Herlin Riley, Kermit Ruffins,
R&B/Soul: Fats Domino, Lloyd Price, Irma Thomas, Lee Dorsey, Johnny Adams
Piano Men: Tuts Washington, Professor Longhair, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Harry Connick Jr., Jon Cleary
Funk: The Meters/Neville Brothers, Ivan Neville, Galactic, The Radiators
Blues: Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Earl King, Snooks Eaglin, Chris Thomas King, John Mooney, Champion Jack Dupree, Tab Benoit
Brass Bands/Mardi Grass Indians: The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Rebirth Brass Band, Soul Rebels Brass Band, The Wild Tchoupitoulas, The Wild Magnolias, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Big Chief Bo Dollis, Tuba Fats
This list will get you started with a Musical Mosaic that some would argue is unmatched by any other American city.
Written and Compiled By Plutonic Writer:
Ray Hogan
