The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame (LMHOF) teamed up with BREAKTHRU Media Magazine of New Orleans for the induction of five New Orleans, USA and world music figures; Harold Battiste, Wardell Quezergue, Larry McKinley, Kidd Jordan and James "Sugarboy" Crawford where each recipient received a plaque presented by LMHOF President Mike Shepherd. The reception ceremony was held at Montrel's Bistro in the famed New Orleans French Quarters on Sunday, November 7, 2010.
In addition to those legends, the LMHOF also premiered their "Future Famers" honors of "Stars for the 21st Century," as they honor Glen David Andrews and Amanda Shaw.
Some notes about the Inductees:
Kidd Jordan ‐ internationally honored 75 year old Jazz saxophonist/reed artist and educator specializing in improvisation, has performed with Jazz, Rock and R & B artists including Lena Horne, Ellis Marsalis, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Larry Williams, Johnny Adams and R E M to name only a few. His work has been documented by CBS News 60 Minutes and he was honored with Offbeat magazine's first Lifetime Achievement Award for Music Education. In 1985 the French Ministry of Culture bestowed knighthood on Mr. Jordan as a Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, the French government's highest artistic award for his work as an educator and performer. In 2008 Mr. Jordan was also named a Lifetime Achievement Honoree at the Vision Festival XIII in New York City.
Wardell Quezergue ‐ the 80 year old "Creole Beethoven" is a renowned arranger, producer and bandleader, has worked with Dave Bartholomew, Fats Domino, Paul Simon, Willie Nelson and Mac Rebennack, founded NOLA Records (Robert Parker, Eddie Bo, Willie Tee), arranged at Malaco Records (King Floyd, Jean Knight), arranged Deacon John's "Goin' Back to New Orleans" and created the "Creole Mass". After playing with Dave Bartholomew's band from the late 1940s and serving as an army musician in Korea, he emerged as a bandleader in his own right in the mid-1950s with his Royal Dukes of Rhythm. He also worked as an arranger with the cream of New Orleans musicians, including Professor Longhair and Fats Domino.
Harold Battiste ‐ the 79 year old musician, arranger educator has arranged hits from Sam Cooke's "You Send Me" to Sonny & Cher's "The Beat Goes On," co‐founded AFO Records (Barbara George's "I Know") and established the AFO Foundation, a service and educational organization. A native of New Orleans and graduate of Dillard University, Battiste joined Ellis Marsalis in 1989 on the Jazz Studies faculty at the University of New Orleans after 30 years in Los Angeles. He has been active as a publisher, producer, conductor and musical director for studio, stage, motion pictures and television with credits in jazz, classical, blues and pop.
Larry McKinley ‐ 82 year old announcer, disk jockey, founder of Minit/Instant Records (Ernie K‐Doe, Benny Spellman, Irma Thomas, Jessie Hill), "the voice of the Jazz Fest announcements," manager of Ernie K‐Doe and Jazz Fest Board of Directors. As a young DJ in the sixties, McKinley also gave voice to the civil rights movement over radio station WMRY, covering freedom marches, the integration of New Orleans schools and other struggles led by Dr. Martin Luther King.
James "Sugarboy" Crawford ‐ 76 year old vocalist and songwriter famous in New Orleans for "Morning Star" and "Jock‐A‐Mo" (CHESS Records) and in Baton Rouge for "Danny Boy" (Montel), Sugar Boy is respected as one of "THE" singers of the 50's and early 60's. Starting out on trombone, he formed a band which local DJ Doctor Daddy-O named "The Chapaka Shawee" (Creole for "We Aren't Raccoons"). Signed on by Chess Records president Leonard Chess, the group was re-named "Sugar Boy and his Cane Cutters". Author of the classic "Iko Iko" (initially called "Jockomo"), a hit for him in 1954, and later covered by many other artists. Crawford claims to have never gotten any royalties from the song in spite of many cover version exist by other artists.
Glen David Andrews ‐ this spectacular 30 year old sometimes outspoken trombonist and vocalist (from the brass band Andrews clan) has set New Orleans on fire with his talent and energy as he carries on the brass band traditions with new flair and enthusiasm. He has one foot planted in the more contemporary, funky sounds that define today's New Orleans brass band scene; meanwhile, Andrews shows his elders the respect he believes they deserve, as his other foot rests firmly in the music's time-honored traditions.
Amanda Shaw ‐ this 20 year old classically trained violinist has achieved success from the Baton Rouge Symphony to Jazz Fest with her mix of trained and Cajun flavored fiddling and vocals. When Amanda Shaw takes the stage, the petite fiddler commands the attention of the audience with a poignant and rhythmic sound that only a Louisiana prodigy could deliver.
Music critic Dean Shapiro reports that "the capacity crowd for the event included luminaries in the music industry, as well as their families, friends and other fans and supporters of Louisiana's greatest exports to the world — its indigenous music. Two previous LMHOF inductees were also in attendance, pianist/vocalist Al "Carnival Time" Johnson and bassist/vocalist Lenny Capello."
The Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame (La Musique de Louisianne Inc.) is an IRS registered and certified 501c3, declared the "Official honors and recognition organization and information resource for and about Louisiana's music, musicians and musical heritage by the Louisiana Legislature. More can be found on the LMHOF at www.LMHOF.org.
Vincent Sylvain is publisher of The New Orleans Agenda.com, the leading local alternative for information on News, Arts, Culture & Entertainment in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast Region.
Official poster of the Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame 2010 inductees courtesy of LMHF. Group photo of Hall of Fame inductees by Vincent Sylvain.
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