[8/29/2006] Tipitina's Foundation To Commemorate Katrina One-Year Anniversary By Delivering Over Half Million Dollars Of New Instruments To New Orleans Schools

5th Anniversary Instruments A-Comin' Benefit Concert Raised Record Amount

On Tuesday, August 29th, the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the Tipitina's Foundation will host a ceremony at the legendary Tipitina's Uptown venue to hand over $500,000 of new instruments for eleven New Orleans school music programs. The ceremony will feature performances by Ivan Neville and The Original Uptown Allstars w/The Dirty Dozen Horns, Troy Andrews and Orleans Avenue, Rebirth Brass Band, The T.I.P. Intern Band w/Donald Harrison and The Soul Rebels.

As part of its mission, the Tipitina's Foundation is committed to putting an instrument into the hands of every New Orleans student, and this year's recipients include every school that will have a functioning music program in place when they open in the fall.

In previous years, the Tipitina's Foundation's annual Instruments A-Comin' Benefit Concert has raised a total of $300,000 worth of new instruments. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the outpouring of support from attendees and sponsors including Popeye's, Starz TV and Bruce Springsteen boosted the results of this year's concert to a record level of $500,000.

"This year's event was a huge success -- musically, financially, and spiritually," says Adam Shipley, IAC founder and music director for the Tipitina's Foundation. "It proves we are here for the long haul."

In the hours after Hurricane Katrina hit, the Tipitina's Foundation immediately created a new Artist Relief initiative which met the changing needs of New Orleans musicians through aid with housing, instrument and gear replacement, as well as re-opening its Music Co-op Office. Once the immediate needs of Artist Relief were met, the Foundation re-directed its efforts to helping the younger generation of New Orleans artists to insure that the city's musical traditions stayed alive by hosting Master Classes and offering music lessons at Tipitina's Uptown.

This year's 5th Anniversary of Instruments A-Comin' Benefit Concert, presented by Popeye's Chicken and Biscuits, featured an all-star lineup which included Galactic, The Voice of the Wetlands Band (with George Porter Jr., Tab Benoit, Anders Osborne, and Johnny Vidacovich), and Donald Harrison with the Tipitina's Interns (and special guests Leo Nocentelli and Ivan Neville).

"It was a night of pure magic," says Bill Taylor, Executive Director of the Tipitina's Foundation. "It was proof that New Orleans music is coming back stronger than ever." As the people of New Orleans fight diligently to rebuild their wonderful city, the Tipitina's Foundation is doing its part save the city's music culture.

Tipitina's Internship Program Resumes In September

The Tipitina's Internship Program (T.I.P.) will resume in September under the artistic direction of Donald Harrison Jr. The program, designed for music students who want to pursue a career in the music industry, focuses on teaching skills in performing, recording as well as an emphasis on business acumen. Interested music students are encouraged to apply by contacting foundation@tipitinas.com.

Sunday Music Workshops To Start At Tipitina's Uptown

Starting on Septmember 10th, the Tipitina's Foundation will begin hosting weekly Sunday music workshops at Tipitina's Uptown from 12:30-3:30PM. The workshops are free and open to any music student, and they feature a rotation of teachers that represent New Orleans' finest musicians:

September Schedule:

• September 10: Stanton Moore, Robert Walter, Tim Green and Cranston Clements

• September 17: Johnny Vidacovich, David Torkanowski and Matt Perrine

• September 24: Johnny Vidacovich, Jesse Boyd and Mike Pellera

[8/26/2006] Dirty Dozen Brass Band CD Release Party for "What's Going On"

In recognition of the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band releases its reinterpretation of Marvin Gaye's classic LP What's Going On at Tipitina's Uptown on August 26. Thirty-five years after its original release, the political and social themes of the album are just as relevant as ever. Along with many others along the Gulf Coast, the members of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band lost their homes to Katrina. Their take on What's Going On is not only an attempt to express their feelings about this tragedy and other current events, but also a tribute to the spirit of their hometown of New Orleans. In stores August 29th, Shout! Factory and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band will donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each copy of What's Going On to the Tipitina's Foundation, benefiting the music community of New Orleans.

Click here for more info about "What's Going On"

[8/26-8/27/2006] Six Flags Over Georgia To Present New Orleans Music Festival

6 Flags Over Georgia will host a "New Orleans Music Festival" in support of rebuilding New Orleans music culture during the weekend of August 26-27th. The park will give a portion of the weekend's proceeds to the Tiptina's Foundation, who has in turn booked a stellar line-up of New Orleans music including: The Stooges Brass Band with Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Jumpin' Johnny Sansone and the Blues Party, Lil' Brian & The Zydeco Travelers, The Tipitina's Intern Band and many others.

Click here for more info...

Fats Domino Gives Back To New Orleans

The legendary musician is donating proceeds from his new album Alive & Kickin' to the Tipitina's Foundation. The CD may be purchased online at the Tipitina's Foundation website, or bought at Tipitina's Uptown, Tower Records and Louisiana Music Factory in New Orleans or Borders Bookstore in Metairie. Click here to listen to a clip of the title track from Alive & Kickin'.

Tipitina's Foundation Honors New Orleans Music Legend Benny Spellman

On Saturday, August 5th, Tipitina's Foundation Executive Director Bill Taylor traveled to Pensacola, Florida to honor New Orleans music legend Benny Spellman with a plaque commemorating his contributions. Spellman worked closely with Allen Toussaint at Minit Records, the label that released two of his recordings, "Fortune Teller" and "Lipstick Traces (On A Cigarette)," both of which have gone on to become New Orleans classics. Spellman also contributed the deep bass vocals to Ernie K-Doe's classic "Mother-In-Law." Read more....

Support the Tipitina's Foundation

The Tipitina's Foundation needs your help in saving the musical culture of New Orleans. Click here to make a tax-deductible donate.