Southern Stars Poster
Encyclopedia
The "Southern Stars" poster included famous Louisiana musicians and was created for a booking agency called Omni Attractions which was based in New Orleans from 1982 to 1994. Omni Attractions' founder Dianna Chenevert commissioned artist/illustrator Mischa Philippoff to design the poster with a dual purpose in mind: to promote her agency and historically preserve childhood photographs of famous living musicians from New Orleans and surrounding areas of Louisiana.
In 1983, USA Today
made its debut in New Orleans. Fats Domino autographed one of the Southern Stars posters, welcoming them to his home town, and Chenevert made the presentation to Al Neuharth Founder of USA Today. On October 12, USA Today included a story about the poster. Reporter Miles White wrote: "Southern Stars, a poster-size collection of childhood pictures of famous living musicians from New Orleans and Louisiana, has been printed in a limited edition of 1,000. The star-studded poster, which took eight months to construct, features early pictures of Fats Domino
, Clarence Gatemouth Brown
, Clarence "Frogman" Henry, the Neville Brothers
, Frankie Ford
, Ernie K-Doe
and dozens more. Some are calling it a work of art. But instead of being sold, framed and autographed copies of the poster are being given to anyone booking one of the musicians through Omni Attractions, a local talent agency."
Among other musicians and singers included on the poster are "Louisiana Man" Doug Kershaw
, Aaron Neville
, Irma Thomas
, Olympia Brass Band
, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Dave Bartholomew
, Earl King
, Benny Spellman
, Tommy Ridgley
, Tuts Washington
, Bobby Mitchell, Oliver Morgan
, The Aubrey Twins; Luther Kent
and Tony Katka - both formerly with Blood, Sweat and Tears; Deacon John Moore
's brother Charles Moore - representing Deacon John and the Ivories; Danny Barker
, Blue Lu Barker
, Willie Tee
, Jean Knight
, Al "Carnival Time" Johnson
, The Dixie Cups
, Johnny Adams
, Walter "Wolfman" Washington
and Leslie Blackshear Smith. Years later almost all of the artists included on the Southern Stars poster were inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame
.
Another “Southern Stars” poster recipient was the Hard Rock Café. According to Times-Picayune columnist Betty Guillaud Domino autographed a pair of his shoes for the Hard Rock. He also autographed a black grand piano lid and a “Southern Stars” poster for Peter Morton, founder of the famous Hard Rock Cafe
s. Dianna Chenevert acquired other memorabilia for the Hard Rock from her music connections too, including: Queen Ida, Beausoleil, Doug Kershaw, The Dixie Kups, Aaron Neville, Chief Jolly and The Wild Tchoupitoulas Indians, Professor Longhair
, Charlie Thomas (musician) of The Drifters
, Frankie Ford, Rockin' Sidney
; Rockin' Dopsie
, Chuck Berry
, Allen Toussaint
, Buckwheat Zydeco
, Clifton Chenier
, Dr. John
, and BB King. Peter Morton’s Hard Rock Cafe chain opened in New Orleans on December 11 in the Jax Brewery with a benefit for the Louisiana Children’s Museum and the “Southern Stars” poster was on display at the Grand Opening.
The Southern Stars poster made its way into the hands of collectors who both booked musicians that were on the poster when the agency was first established, and in later years as other famous entertainers were added to Chenevet’s entertainment roster. Clients like Al Copeland
(owner of Popeye’s Fried Chicken), received a Southern Stars poster when he booked Walter “Wolfman” Washington & Harry Connick, Jr.
from Dianna Chenevert for a private Christmas party at his home; In 1988 Lee Atwater
received one when Benny Spellman
was booked for a private party in August for George H. W. Bush
, at Riverwalk’s Spanish Plaza in New Orleans (which coincided with the Republican National Convention); Dolly Parton
, received a Southern Stars poster for booking Dr. John and Irma Thomas for the “Dolly Parton Special” filmed at “Storyville,” and in June of 1988 Vincent Marcello (& Carlos Marcello-managers/owners of the Old Absinthe House Bar on Bourbon Street) received another Southern Stars poster for booking Earl King and Ernie K-Doe for a private party given for Robert Plant
before his Now and Zen
concert in New Orleans. "Mr. Mardi Gras "Blaine Kern (who'd been a friend/associate of Chenevert's since the mid 1970's), and son Barry Kern received Southern Stars posters for booking several acts over the years.
SOUTHERN STARS POSTER GOES INTERNATIONAL: The Southern Stars poster went to Israel in 1986. Chenevert booked the “Olympia Brass Band” for a month long engagement at the night club El Hamm. It was Olympia’s first trip to Israel and they arrived at the Tel Aviv airport wearing their traditional band outfits (red blazers, black pants and white hats). Israeli immigration officials detained Olympia at customs, mistaking them as Black Hebrews, a sect at odds with the government. Seventy-seven year old band leader Herold Dejan wasn't worried about the brief delay, partly because of all of the international press coverage, which he felt was good advertising. His comment was “everything’s lovely!”
The poster was the brainchild of Dianna Chenevert (she appears on the poster in the lower right corner as a two-year-old with phone in hand). It took approximately eight months to put the "Southern Stars" poster together. Photos of the entertainers as children and or young adults, were provided courtesy of the musicians and singers themselves. Among the innumerable gems in the collection are: Art Neville sitting on a pony; Doug Kershaw at age eleven wearing coveralls and wide eyes; Frogman Henry at twenty-eight with an early Kermit the frog prototype on his shoulder; Fats Domino captured in a 1958 recording session; Aaron Neville at sixteen years of age; Earl King at 2 years old wearing a suit, top hat, and bow-tie, while sporting a cane in one hand and a fake cigarette in the other. Dirty Dozen Brass Band members: Charles Joseph, Roger Lewis, Benny Jones, Efrem Towns, Kevin Harris and Jenell "Chi-Lite" Marshall; along with Olympia Brass Band members: Harold Dejan, Richard Matthews and Milton Batiste are also on the poster, along with pianist James Booker
, who died a month after the poster was debuted.
Band members aboard were: Mick Jagger
(with Jerry Hall
), Keith Richards
, guitarist Ron Wood
, bassist Bill Wyman
, and keyboardist Ian Stewart
. There were approximately 500 guests. Writer Betty Guillaud mentioned the following guests in attendance: Jimmy Coleman Jr. (Queen Elizabeth’s royal representative in N.O.), Sybil Calhoun, Mary Lou (Mrs. John) Ochsner with daughter Joby; Gordon Maginnis, Marguerite Littman (friend of Bianca Jagger) and her brother Speed Lamkin; Prince Rupert Lowenstein; artist-restaurateur Marti Shambra; Patrick Sargent, Debbie Thibodaux; Taft Blake, Bill Dow (President of the New Orleans Steamship Co., which recently purchased the riverboat President), Stephen Stills (of Crosby, Stills & Nash), Dr. Rise Ochsner, Paula and Barry Mendelson, Bill Johnston, Bill Fagaly, Dawn Dedeaux, Paul Varisco, Sandra Doss, Robert Alford, Rupert Surcouf (Al Hurt’s nephew who traveled with the Stones for a couple of years as previous manager of the The Meters
and Neville Brothers), Susan Sierra, Leon Steele, Jason Berry with his bride and brother Jack, Nancy Kittary, Cherel Katz, Dr. Bill Coleman, Jim Pertuit and son Jimbo, Pres Kabacoff, Arthur Pulitzer, Lori Taylor, Michael Botnick, Russell Rocke, and Dianna Chenevert with her Beaumont buddy Debra Jo Fondren
, Hugh Heffner’s Playmate of the Year, circa ’78.
Included on stage for the evening’s entertainment were: Tuts Washington, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Clarence “Frogman” Henry, the Meters, Oliver “Who Shot the La La” Morgan, Deacon John, and the Neville Brothers. Chef Paul Prudhomme
, proprietor of K-Paul’s Restaurant supplied an array of Louisiana culinary delights including platters of crawfish pie, Cajun popcorn (fried crawfish), hushpuppies, fried catfish, blackened red fish, salad, red beans and rice, gumbo, crabmeat tortillas, pralines and pies.
The party was hosted by Atlantic Records, who had recently released the Stones' album Tattoo You, and Bill Graham
. According to Bunny Matthews
, the Stones' private party cost $85,000. Fats Domino had recently returned from a European tour and didn’t perform or attend because of his ailing vocal cords.
In 1983, USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
made its debut in New Orleans. Fats Domino autographed one of the Southern Stars posters, welcoming them to his home town, and Chenevert made the presentation to Al Neuharth Founder of USA Today. On October 12, USA Today included a story about the poster. Reporter Miles White wrote: "Southern Stars, a poster-size collection of childhood pictures of famous living musicians from New Orleans and Louisiana, has been printed in a limited edition of 1,000. The star-studded poster, which took eight months to construct, features early pictures of Fats Domino
Fats Domino
Antoine Dominique "Fats" Domino, Jr. is an American R&B and rock and roll pianist and singer-songwriter. He was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Creole was his first language....
, Clarence Gatemouth Brown
Clarence Gatemouth Brown
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown was an American musician from Louisiana and Texas. He is best known for his work as a blues musician, but embraced other styles of music, having "spent his career fighting purism by synthesizing old blues, country, jazz, Cajun music and R&B styles"He was an acclaimed...
, Clarence "Frogman" Henry, the Neville Brothers
The Neville Brothers
The Neville Brothers, an American R&B and soul group, was formed in 1977 in New Orleans, Louisiana.-History:The group notion started in 1976, when the four brothers of the Neville family, Art , Charles , Aaron , and Cyril The Neville Brothers, an American R&B and soul group, was formed in 1977 in...
, Frankie Ford
Frankie Ford
Frankie Ford is an American rock and roll and rhythm and blues singer.He is the adopted son of Vincent and Anna Guzzo, who named him Francis Guzzo. He was born in Gretna, Louisiana, across the Mississippi River from New Orleans, where he still lives...
, Ernie K-Doe
Ernie K-Doe
Ernie K-Doe , born Ernest Kador, Jr., was an African American rhythm and blues singer best known for his 1961 hit single "Mother-in-Law" which went to #1 on the Billboard pop chart in the U.S.-Early career:...
and dozens more. Some are calling it a work of art. But instead of being sold, framed and autographed copies of the poster are being given to anyone booking one of the musicians through Omni Attractions, a local talent agency."
Among other musicians and singers included on the poster are "Louisiana Man" Doug Kershaw
Doug Kershaw
Doug Kershaw, born January 24, 1936, is an American fiddle player, singer and songwriter from Louisiana. Active since 1949, Kershaw has recorded fifteen albums and charted on the Hot Country Songs charts.- Early life :...
, Aaron Neville
Aaron Neville
Aaron Neville is an American soul and R&B singer and musician. He has had four top-20 hits in the United States along with four platinum-certified albums...
, Irma Thomas
Irma Thomas
Irma Thomas is an American Grammy Award-winning soul and rhythm and blues singer from New Orleans. She is known as the "Soul Queen of New Orleans"....
, Olympia Brass Band
Olympia Brass Band
The Olympia Brass Band is a New Orleans jazz brass band.The first "Olympia Brass Band" was active from the late 19th century to around World War I...
, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Dave Bartholomew
Dave Bartholomew
Dave Bartholomew is a musician, band leader, composer and arranger, prominent in the music of New Orleans throughout the second half of the 20th century...
, Earl King
Earl King
This article is about the musical artist. For the Earl King convicted of murdering a ship's officer, see Earl King, Ernest Ramsay, and Frank Conner...
, Benny Spellman
Benny Spellman
Benny Spellman was an American rhythm and blues singer, best known for his 1962 hit "Lipstick Traces ," written by Allen Toussaint and the original version of "Fortune Teller", covered by The Rolling Stones among others. "Lipstick Traces" reached #28 on the US Billboard Black singles chart and #80...
, Tommy Ridgley
Tommy Ridgley
Tommy Ridgley was an American R&B singer and bandleader in New Orleans, Louisiana.-Biography:Born Thomas Herman Ridgley, he released his debut single "Shrewsbury Blues" in New Orleans in 1949The success of Shrewsbury Blues lead to Ridgley being billed as the 'Shrewsbury Kid' for a number of years...
, Tuts Washington
Tuts Washington
Isidore "Tuts" Washington was an American Louisiana blues pianist, who exemplified the New Orleans rhythm and blues style, also made famous by musicians such as Professor Longhair....
, Bobby Mitchell, Oliver Morgan
Oliver Morgan
Oliver Morgan was an American R&B singer.-History:Morgan was born and raised in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, Louisiana, alongside Fats Domino, Jessie Hill and Smiley Lewis....
, The Aubrey Twins; Luther Kent
Luther Kent
Luther Kent is an American blues singer based in New Orleans, Louisiana. Kent is known for a big soulful voice and his big horn-based group Luther Kent & Trick Bag that mixed swinging blues with New Orleans R&B.- Biography :...
and Tony Katka - both formerly with Blood, Sweat and Tears; Deacon John Moore
Deacon John Moore
Deacon John Moore better known as Deacon John is a blues, rhythm and blues and rock and roll musician, singer, and bandleader.-Career:Moore grew up in New Orleans' 8th Ward...
's brother Charles Moore - representing Deacon John and the Ivories; Danny Barker
Danny Barker
Danny Barker , born Daniel Moses Barker, was a jazz banjoist, singer, guitarist, songwriter, ukelele player and author from New Orleans, founder of the locally famous Fairview Baptist Church Marching Band...
, Blue Lu Barker
Blue Lu Barker
Blue Lu Barker was an American jazz and blues singer. Her better known recordings included "Don't You Feel My Leg" and "Look What Baby's Got For You."...
, Willie Tee
Willie Tee
Willie Tee was an American keyboardist, songwriter, singer, producer and notable early architect of New Orleans funk and soul, who helped shape the sound of New Orleans for more than four decades.-Biography:...
, Jean Knight
Jean Knight
Jean Knight is an African-American soul/R&B/funk singer, best known for her 1971 Stax Records hit single, "Mr. Big Stuff".-Early years:...
, Al "Carnival Time" Johnson
Al "Carnival Time" Johnson
Al "Carnival Time" Johnson is an American singer and piano player best known for the Mardi Gras song "Carnival Time".- Early life and career :...
, The Dixie Cups
The Dixie Cups
The Dixie Cups are an American pop music girl group of the 1960s. They are best known for their 1964 million selling disc, "Chapel of Love".-Career:...
, Johnny Adams
Johnny Adams
Laten John Adams , known as Johnny Adams, was an American blues, jazz and gospel singer, known as "The Tan Canary" for the multi-octave range of his singing voice, his swooping vocal mannerisms and falsetto...
, Walter "Wolfman" Washington
Walter "Wolfman" Washington
Walter "Wolfman" Washington is an American singer and guitarist, based in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. While his roots are in blues music, he blends in the essence of funk and R&B to create his own unique sound....
and Leslie Blackshear Smith. Years later almost all of the artists included on the Southern Stars poster were inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame
Louisiana Music Hall of Fame
The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame is an IRS certified 501 non-profit organization based in the state capitol of Baton Rouge, La., that seeks to preserve Louisiana's rich music culture and heritage and to further educate its citizens and people worldwide about the state’s unique role contributing...
.
Another “Southern Stars” poster recipient was the Hard Rock Café. According to Times-Picayune columnist Betty Guillaud Domino autographed a pair of his shoes for the Hard Rock. He also autographed a black grand piano lid and a “Southern Stars” poster for Peter Morton, founder of the famous Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe is a chain of theme restaurants founded in 1971 by Americans Peter Morton & Isaac Tigrett. In 1979, the cafe began covering its walls with rock and roll memorabilia, a tradition which expanded to others in the chain. In 2006, Hard Rock was sold to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and...
s. Dianna Chenevert acquired other memorabilia for the Hard Rock from her music connections too, including: Queen Ida, Beausoleil, Doug Kershaw, The Dixie Kups, Aaron Neville, Chief Jolly and The Wild Tchoupitoulas Indians, Professor Longhair
Professor Longhair
Professor Longhair was a New Orleans blues singer and pianist...
, Charlie Thomas (musician) of The Drifters
The Drifters
The Drifters are a long-lived American doo-wop and R&B/soul vocal group with a peak in popularity from 1953 to 1963, though several splinter Drifters continue to perform today. They were originally formed to serve as Clyde McPhatter's backing group in 1953...
, Frankie Ford, Rockin' Sidney
Rockin' Sidney
Sidney Simien aka Rockin' Sidney and Count Rockin' Sidney, was an American R&B, zydeco, and soul musician who began recording in the late 1950s and continued performing until his death.-Biography:...
; Rockin' Dopsie
Rockin' Dopsie
Rockin' Dopsie was born Alton Rubin in Carencro, Louisiana. He was a leading Zydeco musician and button accordion player who enjoyed popular success first in Europe and later in the United States...
, Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
, Allen Toussaint
Allen Toussaint
Allen Toussaint is an American musician, composer, record producer, and influential figure in New Orleans R&B.Many of Toussaint's songs have become familiar through numerous cover versions, including "Working in the Coalmine", "Ride Your Pony", "Fortune Teller", "Play Something Sweet ", "Southern...
, Buckwheat Zydeco
Buckwheat Zydeco
Buckwheat Zydeco is the stage name of Stanley Dural, Jr. , an American accordionist and zydeco musician. He is one of the few zydeco artists to achieve mainstream success...
, Clifton Chenier
Clifton Chenier
Clifton Chenier , a Creole French-speaking native of Opelousas, Louisiana, was an eminent performer and recording artist of Zydeco, which arose from Cajun and Creole music, with R&B, jazz, and blues influences. He played the accordion and won a Grammy Award in 1983...
, Dr. John
Dr. John
Malcolm John "Mac" Rebennack, Jr. , better known by the stage name Dr. John , is an American singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist, whose music combines blues, pop, jazz as well as Zydeco, boogie woogie and rock and roll.Active as a session musician since the late 1950s, he came to wider...
, and BB King. Peter Morton’s Hard Rock Cafe chain opened in New Orleans on December 11 in the Jax Brewery with a benefit for the Louisiana Children’s Museum and the “Southern Stars” poster was on display at the Grand Opening.
The Southern Stars poster made its way into the hands of collectors who both booked musicians that were on the poster when the agency was first established, and in later years as other famous entertainers were added to Chenevet’s entertainment roster. Clients like Al Copeland
Al Copeland
Alvin Charles "Al" Copeland was an American entrepreneur who created the Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits fast food chain. He was also a successful restaurateur who created many successful upscale restaurants.-Personal life:...
(owner of Popeye’s Fried Chicken), received a Southern Stars poster when he booked Walter “Wolfman” Washington & Harry Connick, Jr.
Harry Connick, Jr.
Joseph Harry Fowler Connick, Jr. is an American singer, big-band leader/conductor, pianist, actor, and composer. He has sold over 25 million albums worldwide. Connick is ranked among the top 60 best-selling male artists in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America, with...
from Dianna Chenevert for a private Christmas party at his home; In 1988 Lee Atwater
Lee Atwater
Harvey LeRoy "Lee" Atwater was an American political consultant and strategist to the Republican Party. He was an advisor of U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush and Chairman of the Republican National Committee.-Childhood and early life:...
received one when Benny Spellman
Benny Spellman
Benny Spellman was an American rhythm and blues singer, best known for his 1962 hit "Lipstick Traces ," written by Allen Toussaint and the original version of "Fortune Teller", covered by The Rolling Stones among others. "Lipstick Traces" reached #28 on the US Billboard Black singles chart and #80...
was booked for a private party in August for George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
, at Riverwalk’s Spanish Plaza in New Orleans (which coincided with the Republican National Convention); Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
, received a Southern Stars poster for booking Dr. John and Irma Thomas for the “Dolly Parton Special” filmed at “Storyville,” and in June of 1988 Vincent Marcello (& Carlos Marcello-managers/owners of the Old Absinthe House Bar on Bourbon Street) received another Southern Stars poster for booking Earl King and Ernie K-Doe for a private party given for Robert Plant
Robert Plant
Robert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
before his Now and Zen
Now and Zen
Now and Zen is an album by the former Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant, released in 1988 under the label Es Paranza. The album made the top 10 in both the U.S. and the UK, reaching #6 in the former, and #10 in the latter...
concert in New Orleans. "Mr. Mardi Gras "Blaine Kern (who'd been a friend/associate of Chenevert's since the mid 1970's), and son Barry Kern received Southern Stars posters for booking several acts over the years.
SOUTHERN STARS POSTER GOES INTERNATIONAL: The Southern Stars poster went to Israel in 1986. Chenevert booked the “Olympia Brass Band” for a month long engagement at the night club El Hamm. It was Olympia’s first trip to Israel and they arrived at the Tel Aviv airport wearing their traditional band outfits (red blazers, black pants and white hats). Israeli immigration officials detained Olympia at customs, mistaking them as Black Hebrews, a sect at odds with the government. Seventy-seven year old band leader Herold Dejan wasn't worried about the brief delay, partly because of all of the international press coverage, which he felt was good advertising. His comment was “everything’s lovely!”
History
A picture taken in front of the Omni Attractions office building, which at the time was located at 500 Valence Street (corner of Tchopitoulas): in New Orleans, provided an additional view of some of the artists as adults for the Southern Stars poster. Musicians and singers gathered around a white Rolls Royce with founder Dianna Chenevert, as photographer Michael P. Smith documented this historical event: Pictured left to right, on the front row was: Brent Seidenburg, David Torkanowsky, Art and Aaron Neville, Rossetta Ramsey, Reggie Hall. Second row: Dianna Chenevert, Frankie Ford, Rosa Hawkins, Bruce Daigrepont, Ed Billeaud, Bobby Cure, Jean Knight, Bobby Mitchell, Johnny Adams, Barbara Hawkins, Al Johnson, Jack Schulman, Jessie hill, Charles Neville, Oliver Morgan, Joe Gendusa, Jimmy Maxwell. Third row: Steve Kuni, David Lastie, David Curlee, Tommy Sanchez, Chuck Carbo, Tommy Ridgely, Mark Jones, Skeet Stiller, Rennie Flettrich. Back row: Earl King, Geri Hall, Susan Malone, Blue Lu and Danny Barker, Allen Kable, Shirley Peters, Carla Norman, Roxanne Gilbert, Gina Burras and John Berthelot.The poster was the brainchild of Dianna Chenevert (she appears on the poster in the lower right corner as a two-year-old with phone in hand). It took approximately eight months to put the "Southern Stars" poster together. Photos of the entertainers as children and or young adults, were provided courtesy of the musicians and singers themselves. Among the innumerable gems in the collection are: Art Neville sitting on a pony; Doug Kershaw at age eleven wearing coveralls and wide eyes; Frogman Henry at twenty-eight with an early Kermit the frog prototype on his shoulder; Fats Domino captured in a 1958 recording session; Aaron Neville at sixteen years of age; Earl King at 2 years old wearing a suit, top hat, and bow-tie, while sporting a cane in one hand and a fake cigarette in the other. Dirty Dozen Brass Band members: Charles Joseph, Roger Lewis, Benny Jones, Efrem Towns, Kevin Harris and Jenell "Chi-Lite" Marshall; along with Olympia Brass Band members: Harold Dejan, Richard Matthews and Milton Batiste are also on the poster, along with pianist James Booker
James Booker
James Carroll Booker III was a jazz, New Orleans rhythm and blues and soul musician born in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.-Biography:...
, who died a month after the poster was debuted.
Rolling Stones private party
A private party for the Rolling Stones was held on Thursday, December 3, 1981, aboard the riverboat President in New Orleans, prior to a Stones concert in the Superdome. Before Dianna Chenevert founded Omni Attractions, she was a licensed talent agent through the Musicians Union. Chenevert booked musicians for the Stones' private party and later included them on the “Southern Stars” poster. A picture of the Dirty Dozen Brass band performing at the Stones' party was also used for Omni’s agency brochure.Band members aboard were: Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
(with Jerry Hall
Jerry Hall
Jerry Faye Hall is an American model and actress, also known for her long-term relationship with Mick Jagger, with whom she had four children.-Early life:...
), Keith Richards
Keith Richards
Keith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
, guitarist Ron Wood
Ron Wood
Ronald David "Ronnie" Wood is an English rock guitarist and bassist best known as a former member of The Jeff Beck Group, Faces, and current member of The Rolling Stones. He also plays lap and pedal steel guitar....
, bassist Bill Wyman
Bill Wyman
Bill Wyman is an English musician best known as the bass guitarist for the English rock and roll band the Rolling Stones from 1962 until 1992. Since 1997, he has recorded and toured with his own band, Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings...
, and keyboardist Ian Stewart
Ian Stewart (musician)
Ian Andrew Robert Stewart was a Scottish keyboardist, co-founder of The Rolling Stones and inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
. There were approximately 500 guests. Writer Betty Guillaud mentioned the following guests in attendance: Jimmy Coleman Jr. (Queen Elizabeth’s royal representative in N.O.), Sybil Calhoun, Mary Lou (Mrs. John) Ochsner with daughter Joby; Gordon Maginnis, Marguerite Littman (friend of Bianca Jagger) and her brother Speed Lamkin; Prince Rupert Lowenstein; artist-restaurateur Marti Shambra; Patrick Sargent, Debbie Thibodaux; Taft Blake, Bill Dow (President of the New Orleans Steamship Co., which recently purchased the riverboat President), Stephen Stills (of Crosby, Stills & Nash), Dr. Rise Ochsner, Paula and Barry Mendelson, Bill Johnston, Bill Fagaly, Dawn Dedeaux, Paul Varisco, Sandra Doss, Robert Alford, Rupert Surcouf (Al Hurt’s nephew who traveled with the Stones for a couple of years as previous manager of the The Meters
The Meters
The Meters are an American funk band based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Meters performed and recorded their own music from the late 1960s until 1977...
and Neville Brothers), Susan Sierra, Leon Steele, Jason Berry with his bride and brother Jack, Nancy Kittary, Cherel Katz, Dr. Bill Coleman, Jim Pertuit and son Jimbo, Pres Kabacoff, Arthur Pulitzer, Lori Taylor, Michael Botnick, Russell Rocke, and Dianna Chenevert with her Beaumont buddy Debra Jo Fondren
Debra Jo Fondren
Debra Jo Fondren is an American model and actress. She was Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month for the September 1977 issue and Playmate of the Year for 1978...
, Hugh Heffner’s Playmate of the Year, circa ’78.
Included on stage for the evening’s entertainment were: Tuts Washington, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Clarence “Frogman” Henry, the Meters, Oliver “Who Shot the La La” Morgan, Deacon John, and the Neville Brothers. Chef Paul Prudhomme
Paul Prudhomme
Paul Prudhomme is an American celebrity chef whose specialty is Cajun cuisine. He is also the owner of one of the top restaurants in New Orleans, K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen.-Early life:...
, proprietor of K-Paul’s Restaurant supplied an array of Louisiana culinary delights including platters of crawfish pie, Cajun popcorn (fried crawfish), hushpuppies, fried catfish, blackened red fish, salad, red beans and rice, gumbo, crabmeat tortillas, pralines and pies.
The party was hosted by Atlantic Records, who had recently released the Stones' album Tattoo You, and Bill Graham
Bill Graham (promoter)
Bill Graham was an American impresario and rock concert promoter from the 1960s until his death.-Early life:...
. According to Bunny Matthews
Bunny Matthews
Bunny Matthews is the creator of classic New Orleans, "Nint' Ward"-based cartoon characters "Vic and Nat'ly". Some of his artwork can be viewed in the Louisiana State Museum in Baton Rouge, the Audubon Insectarium in New Orleans, and gracing the sides of New Orleans bakery Leidenheimer Baking Co.'s...
, the Stones' private party cost $85,000. Fats Domino had recently returned from a European tour and didn’t perform or attend because of his ailing vocal cords.
External links
- http://www.louisianamusichalloffame.org/
- http://lutherkent.com/info/luther.html
- http://www.michaelpsmithphotography.com/bio.html
- http://blog.nola.com/keithspera/2009/05/stevie_wonder_performed_saturd.html
- http://www.kernstudios.com/about-blaine-kern-studios/history
- http://www.kernstudios.com/about-blaine-kern-studios
- http://www.wwoz.org/artist/david-torkanowsky