The Preservation Hall Foundation Legacy Program was established in 2015 to reflect the values and practices from Preservation Hall’s history, ensuring that New Orleans’ culture bearers are honored, and that their enduring contributions to New Orleans music, culture and traditions are rewarded and celebrated for generations to come.

Since its founding in 1961, Preservation Hall has been dedicated to preserving New Orleans musical traditions. From its inception, founders Allan and Sandra Jaffe fostered a community of inclusion, committed to the preservation of New Orleans Jazz and to caring for elder musicians.

Normally, more than 150,000 visitors attend memorable shows with the 60 musicians who make up the Hall’s Musical Collective, 360 nights each year, at 726 St. Peter Street. While the building may not have changed much over its history, the Hall ensures that musical traditions are revered and celebrated, while allowing it to breathe and evolve with the contributions of subsequent generations, and raise up those who play and appreciate it.

The Legacy Program currently consists of 17 elder Preservation Hall musicians. Six new inductees will join their ranks at a Legacy Celebration on Monday, October 3, at the Toulouse Theatre (615 Toulouse Street) beginning at 6:30 p.m.

 The 2022 inductees include Shannon Powell, Craig Klein, Louis Ford, Will Smith, Mark Brooks and Leroy Jones.

The Legacy Celebration will include musical performances and special presentations to the honored Master Practitioners. The event is free and open to the public and will offer a cash bar. Register in advance here.

The Legacy Program distributes monthly financial stipends to elder Preservation Hall Collective musicians aged 60 and up, and provides access to additional support, benefits and resources for professional development. So far this year, the Foundation has distributed over $65,000 in direct monthly financial support to the musicians in the program.

For more information about the Legacy musicians, visit here.