The Music Maker Relief Foundation (Hillsborough, NC) -- created the
Baton Rogue Musicians Fund (BRMF). The fund was created in partnership
with the Baton Rouge Blues Foundation and will directly supported
musicians impacted by the Louisiana Flood. The BRMF ended up raising
over $62,000 for those impacted by the flooding.
Beginning August 12th a torrential downpour began over the state of
Louisiana. Nearly 7 trillion gallons of water fell from the sky causing
record-breaking flooding that has damaged more than 60,000 homes.
One of the damaged homes belongs to 91 year old blues pianist Henry
Gray. Henry still tours both solo and with his band, Henry Gray and the
Cats. Though he has travelled the world playing the blues with the
Rolling Stones, Howlin' Wolf and countless others, Henry still lives in a
humble home and like so many other working people, did not have flood
insurance.
Music Maker founder and president, Tim Duffy stated, “When we heard that
legends like Henry were impacted, we immediately reached out to send
aid. Music Maker has been helping roots musicians in crisis for more
than 20 years. In a situation like this, we first need to help stabilize
an artist’s health and housing situation, then we can focus on getting
instruments back in their hands and giving them access to stages so they
can rebuild their livelihood.”
The floods impact can still be felt in many areas of Louisiana and with
talking to the Baton Rouge community Music Maker Relief Foundation found
that they were struggling to fund their annual Mardi Gras Festival.
Music Maker, along with the Jazz Foundation of America, is sponsoring
this festival on Saturday, February 25th at the North Boulevard Town
Square, to give many impacted musicians a gig and to allow the people of
Baton Rouge to celebrate this great Louisiana cultural tradition.
Contemporary artists around the world recognize the significance of
roots musicians form the South. Grammy-winning artist Taj Mahal offered
"These musicians are the foundation of all popular music in the world.
When disaster turns on them it is not time to turn our backs. Let's show
them the respect!"
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