February 2004

BackTalk

Chris Owens
Entering Chris Owens’ luxurious French Quarter home, visitors first encounter her highly territorial Maltese terrier Bousi (Arabic for “Kissy”), diligently guarding… – Bunny Matthews

Best of the Beat Lifetime Achivement in Music Award: Eddie Bo
One of the last living exponents of the long lost “Junkers” piano style popularized by men such as Champion Jack Dupree,… – Michael Hurtt

An Ode to Carnival Joy
Mardi Gras is the most important day in the New Orleans calendar, 24 hours that epitomize the city’s splendid culture. Mardi… – Bunny Matthews
An Ode to Carnival Joy
– Bunny Matthews
2003 Best of the Beat Award Winners
OffBeat’s ninth annual Best of the Beat awards honor Louisiana’s finest musicians, as nominated by their fellow musicians and music industry… – OffBeat Staff
Best of the Beat Lifetime Achievement in Music Business Award: Jim Russell
Jim Russell, the recipient of OffBeat’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Music Business and the “youngest” 84-year-old in New Orleans, is my… – Bunny Matthews
Best of the Beat Lifetime Achievement Sideman Award: Smokey Johnson
Joseph “Smokey” Johnson occupied the drum stool in Fats Domino’s band for 28 years and his powerhouse beats can be heard… – Michael Hurtt
Best of the Beat Living Legend Award: Wardell Quezergue
From “Big Chief” and “It Ain’t My Fault” to “Deacon John’s Jump Blues,” from “Iko Iko” and “Trick Bag” to Creole… – John Swenson
Best of the Beat Lifetime Achievement in Music Education: Alvin Batiste
Many people might presume that after some five decades spent in the field of education a person could become jaded or… – Geraldine Wyckoff
Best of the Beat Heartbeat Award: Sylvester Francis
This 2004 article has been updated to include a 2015 photo of Sylvester Francis - Ed. Sylvester Francis never planned to… – Geraldine Wyckoff

The Stooges: Sweet on the Street
The Stooges Brass Band hit it on the sweet spot when it dubbed its debut release It’s About Time. Folks on… – Geraldine Wyckoff

Letters February 2004
AND THE BEAT GOES ON I, too, agree with Mr. Peterson’s letter in January’s OffBeat. I moved to New Orleans in… – OffBeat Readers

The Beat Generation
Here they are: the winners of the ninth annual OffBeat Best Of The Beat Music Awards. I sort of hesitate to… – Jan Ramsey