At Last, Some Good News from New Orleans

Fats Domino and Allen Toussaint are both OK.

Frequent Hit & Run commenter Steve Koppelman describes the prophetically titled Fats Domino anthology Out of New Orleans: "every cut is the best song ever recorded in the whole wide world until you get to the next one." As for Toussaint, if you don't know who he is, run don't walk to buy this CD.

I don't think they've found Irma Thomas yet. Anyone hear anything?

Update: A reader sends word that Thomas is alive. Also, the Rebirth Brass Band's website is tracking the fates of other New Orleans musicians.

Comments

[Dynamist]

If any of y’all care about brass band musicians, look here.

[Matt]

Jesse,

Wayne Kahn, who puts together the right on rhythm newsletter for Blues/Jazz in the DC area, reports that Irma Thomas has been found.

[Jesse Walker]

Thanks, Matt. Do you have a link for that?

[Matt]

I have an email I get from him weekly, which I would be glad to forward. I briefly checked the http://www.rightonrhythm.com website but couldnt find it there. I forget where I signed up for the newsletter.

[Matt]

Jesse, forwarded the newsletter to your reason email. Its just a one sentence blurb about Irma Thomas, with no link, about twenty lines down. I bet Wayne would respond rather quickly if you emailed him. [e-mail]

[Jesse Walker]

Thanks. I’ll add an update.

[B.P.]

What about Quintron and Miss Pussycat?

[Jim Walsh]

I’ve always wanted to spend some serious party time in the Big Easy. Here’s hoping I still can…

[Jim Walsh]

BTW: I was wondering about Dr. John, The Night Tripper. His website says he’s touring in the Midwest. Can anyone verify?

[poco]

John Goodman? Anne Rice?

[arch_stanton]

He wasn’t in New Orleans, but Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown’s home in Slidell was reportedly destroyed, and his whereabouts (to me so far, at least) are unknown. Anyone hear anything about him?

[vidkunquisling]

I saw Irma Thomas in Austin Tuesday night singing a few numbers with Marcia Ball at Pianorama at Threadgill’s.

[Jesse Walker]

I hear Clarence Gatemouth Brown is alive.

No word on Alex Chilton yet.

[Jim Walsh]

Here’s a partial listing of New Orleans musicians who are safe and accounted for. (Add Frankie Ford to the list – he’s OK. And you will keep your jokes about his taking a Sea Cruise to yourself, thank you very much…)