The Ponderosa Stomp Concert, a New Orleans musical tradition, highlights the world’s most authentic musicians of rockabilly, R&B, jazz, blues, garage, soul, funk, and swamp pop. The annual show has become a must-see event, functioning as a showcase for living musical history. The Ponderosa Stomp exists to acknowledge, pay tribute to, and teach the cultural significance of the unsung heroes and heroines of rock-n-roll, rhythm & blues and other forms of American roots music. The Stomp began when a group of like-minded friends began presenting shows at a small club; it has evolved into a multi-faceted musical, cultural and educational juggernaut. Events in New Orleans every spring include two jam-packed nights of music, a conference and symposium, film festival, record hop and now, a museum exhibit. Unsung Heroes: The Secret History of Louisiana Rock & Roll is currently on display at the Louisiana State Museum in historic Cabildo in the heart of the French Quarter, running through May 2010.
American Routes, the nationally syndicated roots music show, recorded interviews and live performances at the New Orleans Stomp in late April 2009. As part of the 4th of July show, American Routes will air this show the week of Independence Day, listeners can check their local listings for specific days and times in each market.
The organization behind the show and conference, The Ponderosa Stomp Foundation, is dedicated to celebrating the legacy, revitalizing the careers and preserving the history of the architects of American music. By providing them a voice and a stage, many Stomp performers enjoy increased visibility as well as new recording and performing opportunities.
For 47 years Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts has been a national leader in programming for the arts. As presenter for 400 events annually, there are few institutions as dedicated to the preservation and performance of a myriad of musical genres, dance and other art forms. The collaboration between the Ponderosa Stomp and Lincoln Center is a perfect pairing of two organizations with a mission: to expose and celebrate incredible music and help preserve traditions with transcendent cultural value.
The first two nights of The Ponderosa Stomp at Lincoln Center, July 16th and 17th are part of Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Nights Swing, taking
place at Damrosch Park. Each night kicks off with a dance lesson at 6:30 and the music starts at 7:30. Thursday night features The Get Down, a night of soul music excellence featuring William Bell, Harvey Scales, The Bobbettes and the incomparable Bo-Keys. Friday night brings rockabilly to the forefront with the Best Dance in Town, in which New Orleans wild man Joe Clay, Sun Record’s Carl Mann and the legendary brother/sister duo The Collins Kids throw down, backed by Deke Dickerson and his Ecco-fonics.
Sunday, July 19th, an tribute performance takes place at Alice Tully Hall in the Starr Theatre, in which a high-octane array of Stomp artists will pay musical tribute to the Creole Beethoven, Wardell Quezergue. Quezergue, nicknamed by Allan Toussaint, has made musical history countless times as the man behind timeless hits like “Mr. Big Stuff”, “Iko Iko” and “Chapel of Love”. A genius musician, arranger and producer who is largely unknown outside of New
Orleans, Quezergue helped shape the soulful sounds of the south into international hit records. The show features R&B icons The Dixie Cups and Robert Parker; soul greats Jean Knight, Dorothy Moore, Tammy Lynn, and Tony Owens; legendary New Orleans drummer Zigaboo Modeliste; New Orleans musician, producer, and session man Mac Rebennack (Dr. John); garage-music pioneer Michael Hurtt; plus Wardell Quezergue’s Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, an all-star ten-piece band led by Quezergue himself in a rare New York appearance.
July 16th (Midsummer Night’s Swing): Ponderosa Stomp: The Get Down:
* William Bell – a principal architect of the Stax/Volt sound.
* The Bobbettes – girl group known as the Harlem Queens known for their hit, Mr Lee
* Bo-Keys – authentic, greasy Memphis soul stew w/ Stax Records stars
* Harvey Scales – a hard-hitting soul man, writer of ”Disco Lady” and “Love-i-tus”
July 17th (Midsummer Night’s Swing):Ponderosa Stomp: Best Dance In Town:
* Joe Clay – New Orleans proto-rockabilly genius, appeared with Elvis
* The Collins Kids – 50 TV faves, this brother/sister duo features double neck guitar pyrotechnics
* Deke Dickerson & The Eccofonics – the nitro-charged country and rockabilly specialists
* Carl Mann – Sun Records artist had his first hit with Nat King Cole’s “Mona Lisa”
July 19th (Lincoln Center Festival): A Tribute to “The Creole Beethoven,” Wardell Quezergue, celebrated New Orleans arranger and mastermind behind
countless rhythm and blues classics. On the bill:
* The Dixie Cups – hit makers who recorded classics, “Chapel of Love” and “Iko Iko.”
* Jean Knight – New Orleans-based singer of “Mr. Big Stuff.”
* Tammy Lynn – soul singer and legendary background singer for the Rolling Stones, Dr. John, and countless others.
* Zigaboo Modeliste – New Orleans master drummer and member of funk originators the Meters.
* Dorothy Moore – Malaco Records’ soul/blues balladeer.
* Tony Owens – Lost soul king of New Orleans.
* Robert Parker – recorded his hit record, “Barefootin with Querzegue”
* Mac Rebennack – New Orleans musician/producer/arranger songwriter better known as Dr. John.
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