Local New
Orleans musicians and cultural-bearers find themselves in a familiar struggle
trying to navigate through this unrelenting pandemic. Because of the ongoing restrictions
on gatherings that continue to affect the live music scene, some musicians are
still finding it difficult to maintain employment. With efforts to remain
resilient and overcome this obstacle, Habitat for
Humanity and Nonesuch/Warner Records are teaming up to
raise money for culture-bearers and musicians within the community.
The funds will be put toward
affordable housing and will be raised via a remastered version of Our New Orleans, which was recorded in 2005 as
a post-Katrina benefit album. This album previously raised $1.5 million to
construct The Musician's Village and Ellis Marsalis Center for Music. The
new version of the album includes a two-LP set, which includes
five formerly unreleased tracks, including "Walking by The River" by the late Dr. John. (Click HERE
to see a previously unseen video of Dr. John and his band performing "Walking
by the River" in a New York City studio in September 2005.)
The history of how the
album came about expands over the course of a month in one-day sessions across
the country. All production costs were donated by Nonesuch's parent company, Warner
Records, and the album was also made possible with the help of many volunteers
who worked toward creating it. The proceeds from the re-release of the album will
benefit Habitat for Humanity and its continued
efforts to supply opportunities, as well as affordable homes, for the musicians
and culture-bearers of New Orleans.
