An Exhibit You Can Dance To:
Unsung Heroes:
The Secret History of Louisiana Rock ‘n’ Roll
A New Exhibit By The Louisiana State Museum
Friday, March 5th, 2010
The Arsenal, 601 St. Peter Street
New Orleans, Louisiana
Patron Party: 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Main Party: 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Cost
Patron Party tickets start at $250 per person and go up to various levels which include Louisiana Museum Foundation memberships.
Main Party tickets are $50 per person and include all of the activities described in the main party overview. For $100 per person, main party guests will also receive free parking, admittance to the exhibit at 7:30 p.m. and, if two $100 tickets are purchased, one appreciation gift.
Tickets will be available at the door at the Arsenal; however, advance ticket purchasers will be entered into a drawing at the event for an opportunity to win another special prize. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Louisiana Museum Foundation at (504) 558-0493 or by visiting the Louisiana Museum Foundation Offices at 632 Dumaine St., in the back building of Madame John’s Legacy. Advance ticket sales will cease at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 5th.
Attire
Come dressed in the era of early rock and roll, from Fonzie’s jeans and leather jacket to Ward and June Cleaver’s black tie and pearls.
Contact Information
The Louisiana Museum Foundation is located at Madame John’s Legacy, 632 Dumaine Street, New Orleans, LA 70116: Phone: (504) 558-0493 Fax: (504) 568-6965 e-mail: info@thelmf.org
*A portion of each ticket purchase is tax deductible.
More About the Exhibit
In the Unsung Heroes exhibit, visitors will learn how artists in different parts of Louisiana created their own sounds, influenced one another, and how their work has impacted American music for the past 60 years.
Exhibit highlights include Clifton Chenier’s royal crown; James Black’s drum set; Fats Domino’s piano; Louisiana blues legend Lazy Lester’s harmonicas; Earl Palmer’s drum; Dave Bartholomew's trumpet; a Shirley & Lee concert poster from 1955; a sign from legendary Cosimo Matassa’s historic J&M Record Studio (where Fats Domino, Little Richard, Ray Charles, Dr. John, and others cut groundbreaking sides); and a sampling of rare 45 and 78 rpm records.
The exhibit was lovingly organized by New Orleans’ own Ira “Dr. Ike” Padnos, an anesthesiologist, musicologist, and creator of the Ponderosa Stomp. Founded in New Orleans in 2002, Pondersoa Stomp is dedicated to recognizing the architects of rock-n-roll, blues, jazz, country, swamp pop and soul music. The Stomp has traditionally taken place in New Orleans in between two weekends of Jazz Fest. (In 2010 it will move to September). Its aim is to celebrate the legacy, revitalize the careers and preserve the history of the unsung heroes of American music.
Patrons and Supporters of the Louisiana State Museum have a chance to go back in time to honor Louisiana’s other musical roots, with An Exhibit You Can Dance To: of the Louisiana State Museum’s latest exhibit, Unsung Heroes: The Secret History of Louisiana Rock ‘n’ Roll. The celebration consists of a Patron Party and Main Party on Friday, March 5, 2010, at The Arsenal, 601 St. Peter Street, and in the Jackson Square Pedestrian Mall.
The Unsung Heroes exhibit – also at The Arsenal, on the 2nd floor — showcases a little-known gem of Louisiana and music history. The exhibit reveals Louisiana’s impact on music’s most popular genre, examining the state’s musical history by region. It also brings together a sampling of rare artifacts to illustrate the stories of musical pioneers.
Patron Party & Main Party: Rock Around The Clock
Patron Party – 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The Louisiana Museum Foundation and Thea Pagel Productions create a rockin’, foot stompin’ good time not to be missed. Lucky Patrons will be the first guests of the evening to view the Unsung Heroes exhibit, and will be treated to delectable passed hors d’oeuvres by Dooky Chase, an open bar, Jay Chevalier and the Ponderosa Stomp House Ensemble, and a drawing for a special gift.
Main Party – 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Following the Patrons, guests at the main party will view Unsung Heroes, and will be treated to a fabulous buffet provided by acclaimed area restaurants. Open bars will be in service and guests will dance to the music of The Ponderosa Stomp Bayou State Revue Band, a versatile, high-energy ensemble that will offer a sampling of groundbreaking music from around the state.
One of the evening’s highlights will be a ceremony to honor 60th anniversary of Fats Domino’s “The Fat Man” , considered by many to be the first rock n’ roll record. Unsung hero Dave Bartholomew, arranger, producer and co-writer of “The Fat Man,” and Cosimo Matassa, the studio engineer and owner of J & M Record Studio, where ”Fat Man” was recorded, will also be honored. In addition, Dr. Ira Padnos—curator of the Unsung Heroes Exhibit—and his Ponderosa Stomp Foundation will be honored for their tireless efforts on behalf of Louisiana’s musical pioneers.
Special prizes valued at around $100 each will be awarded to the guests whose attire best represents the era of early rock and roll (The 50s, 60s and 70s). Local personalities will judge the attire contest. The main party will also feature a silent auction of luxury items from the city’s finest merchants.
Special Thanks to the Donors for this Event:
The Goldring Family Foundation
The Lupin Foundation
The Berger and Tiller Families
AT&T
Regions Bank
Gustaf Westfeldt
McIlhenny Family Foundation
Patrick F. Taylor Foundation
Whitney Bank
Chevron
Mr. & Mrs. Randy Ewing
Kay and Tim Favrot
Katherine and Tony Gelderman
Iberia Bank
Maple Jam
Mrs. Anne K. Montgomery
Tia Nolan and Jimmy Roddy
The Louisiana Museum Foundation