2012 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival features Blues legends and fresh faces from Music Maker Relief Foundation

Music Maker Relief Foundation is pleased to announce that several Music Maker partner artists will perform at the 2012 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (Jazzfest.) Guitar Lightnin’ Lee and Ironing Board Sam, in addition to Next Generation artists the Carolina Chocolate Drops and Leyla McCalla, will play the first weekend of Jazzfest. Little Freddie King will perform during the first week.

Tim Duffy, Music Maker founder, said, “It is a great honor for so many Music Maker artists to be appearing the world’s greatest premier roots music festival. We can’t wait to see them perform in a lineup that includes everyone from Bonnie Raitt to Bruce Springsteen.”

Little Freddie King has been performing his particular brand of “gut bucket blues” at Jazzfest since the first event in 1970, and is a fixture on the New Orleans music scene. Freddie will take the stage in the Blues Tent on Friday, May 4th from 5:45 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Returning to Jazzfest this year after a 41-year absence is Ironing Board Sam, who also performed at the event in 1970. Sam, a singer, songwriter and piano player, was forced into early retirement after hurricane Katrina, but since partnering with Music Maker in 2010 he has released a new album and has been performing around the U.S. Sam will perform Sunday, April 29^th in the Blues Tent from 1:50 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

Grammy-Award winning string band the Carolina Chocolate Drops, hailing from Durham, N.C., will play Jazzfest for the first time in 2012. Their performance will follow the release of their new album, Leaving Eden, in February. The Chocolate Drops will perform Saturday, April 28^th on the Sheraton New Orleans Fais Do-do stage from 4:20 p.m. – 5:35 p.m.

Guitar Lightnin’ Lee, a rhythm and blues purist and native of New Orleans, will also take the stage that first weekend of Jazzfest, which will be his debut performance at the event. Guitar Lightnin’ Lee will perform Friday, April 27^th on the Lagniappe stage from 5:15 p.m. – 6:25 p.m.

Music Maker Next Generation artist and New Orleans resident Leyla McCalla has spent the first part of 2012 touring with the Carolina Chocolate Drops between recording her debut album. A singer, cellist and banjo player, Leyla incorporates many facets into her music including Haitian folk songs and the poetry of Langston Hughes. Leyla performs on Friday, April 27 on the Lagniappe stage from 2:20 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.

Music Maker Relief Foundation partners with elderly traditional musicians in order to document their art, assist them in building their careers, and ensure they live in safety and comfort. Music Maker’s Next Generation program connects younger musicians with veteran artists, passing along traditional music to future generations.

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About Music Maker Relief Foundation:

Music Maker Relief Foundation, Inc. is a tax exempt, public charity under IRS code 501(c)3. Music Maker aims to keep our Southern culture vital by directly supporting senior (over 55) American roots musicians in need, expanding their professional careers, and assisting Next Generation artists in the development of their professional careers. Since the organization’s founding in 1994, Music Maker has assisted hundreds of musicians who represent the traditions of Blues, Gospel, Old-Time String Band, Jazz and more. Music Maker’s programs ensure the talents of these cultural treasures are accessible so that our rich musical heritage can be shared with the world and preserved for future generations.