The Soul of New Orleans Is At Risk, Along with Its Blues, Jazz, and Funk

When the COVID-19 pandemic rolled across the globe, it silenced live music everywhere. Perhaps nowhere was that silence more deafening than New Orleans.

This unprecedented crisis has led to the indefinite cancellation of gigs, event postponements, and venue closures around the world. It has left many Louisiana musicians and others who work in the music industry facing a total or near-total loss of income for the foreseeable future.

To help offset the fallout for struggling musicians, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation launched a Music Relief Fund last spring. Through their efforts, they’ve distributed more than $1MM to musicians across Louisiana. This year, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation will commence the next wave of relief efforts in partnership with independent creative agency LIGHT+CO, by asking people everywhere a simple question:

Have you ever been saved by a song?

Jazz & Heritage Foundation’s latest effort is a PSA called “Rise and Shine.” The short film was directed by Benjamin Sonntag and features New Orleans’ own Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews.

“By canceling live music in New Orleans, the pandemic robbed the city’s musical community of not just their sound, but their livelihood. Their ability to make ends meet, and do what they do best: share their sound with the world. We’ve all had that moment when music has saved our lives. Now it’s time to save music,” says David Cameron, CEO of LIGHT+CO.

“It’s been a rough time for our city’s musicians—many are hurting. Being a part of this community, I know that we have to be there for one another,” says Andrews.

DonMarshall, Executive Director of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, says, “For generations, the musicians of our community have been the true soul of Louisiana. The goal of this fund is to help our musicians impacted by quarantine, disruptions of income, and several other challenges, all while ensuring an equitable distribution of funds.”