From Mojo Mouth “A Big Thank You!” for your help in literally keeping OffBeat (and me) alive!  I’m so thrilled to be writing this, my first column in print since OffBeat’s 2022 Jazz Fest Bible™ in April.

It’s been a ragged summer, to say the least. In June, I had to make a trip to the local ER, as I was in severe pain (turned out to be something that was pretty commonplace), and as a routine part of the treatment, I had to get a CT scan—in fact two CT scans. Much to my surprise and horror, the radiologist told me that the second CT scan was performed to verify that I had a mass in my lung. Several scans and a biopsy later, it was confirmed that I had cancer in the right lung, but lucky for me, it was caught early, and the prognosis is good. I’ll begin treatment in mid-November.

I have been blown away by the people who have been so thoughtful, concerned, and good to me since the tumor was discovered. Michael Murphy and his wife Cilista Eberle started a GoFundMe campaign; Chris Beary and his cohorts at the Funky Uncle did a benefit for me at Tipitina’s on October 2 that featured an amazing number of bands (you are the BEST!); and Michael Patrick Welch organized another benefit towards the end of October at Welch’s Algiers restaurant, Beside The Point.

Thank you to every single one of you that has donated, played or helped organize an event for OffBeat or for me personally. You are in my heart forever.

Thanks also to my husband, Joseph Irrera, who has been my rock for over 26 years, and who has been the “silent partner” in OffBeat since 1996. Without his work at the magazine (managing editor, writer wrangler, proofreader, business manager, subscriptions and circulation manager and a lot more), OffBeat would not exist. His good sense and steady guidance has me tethered to the earth—I would have floated into the nethersphere a long time ago without him.

As you know, OffBeat is now located in the New Orleans Jazz Museum through the generosity of Greg Lambousy and his staff there. We are continuing to work closely together as the New Orleans Jazz Museum grows and expands to reach its full potential as a world-class facility dedicated to our music. I’d also like to express my gratitude to OffBeat’s staff (Joseph Irrera, Noé Cugny, Veronika Lee Claghorn, David Johnson) and the many great writers and photographers who have kept OffBeat alive during and post-COVID. I wish John Swenson were here!

In the 36 years since I began to become involved with the New Orleans and Louisiana music community, I’ve made some dear friends, some enemies (well, that stuff happens), and have gotten to know and appreciate how much our musicians and music businesses contribute to this city’s economy and culture. I have devoted the last three and a half decades to the music community here, and my intention is to continue to support these artists, culture bearers and music businesses—whom I still feel are under-appreciated by this community)—as long as I am able. OffBeat has been my life’s work, and it continues to be the focus of my life, along with my family and friends.

It was not an easy choice to convert the print magazine to a digital-only product, but 1) I’m getting old and my energy as an ad person is waning; 2) printing is an extremely expensive proposition now (our printing costs have literally doubled). I am seriously considering the idea of converting OffBeat into a permanent program of the OffBeat Music & Cultural Arts Foundation (OMACAF), the non-profit that presents the Best of The Beat Awards, then directing my efforts to more educational and historical endeavors related to our music. Hopefully, this also benefit what OffBeat brings to the table vis a vis the New Orleans Jazz Museum.

I hope you enjoy the Awards this year; please send me your feedback on the event as well as what you feel might be the best path in the future for OffBeat.