MUSIC IN EXILE
I’m a transplanted New Orleans native (and musician) living in Memphis. I moved away 30 years ago, because at least in 1976 I couldn’t make a living playing music in New Orleans, so I wasn’t displaced by Katrina, though my elderly mother, relatives, and my musical friends down there have all been affected. I’ve just finished moving my mother up here to Memphis since her Metairie home won’t be livable in the near future.)
I attended the Memphis International Film Festival’s screening of Robert Mugge’s new film [Music in Exile] in which you [Jan Ramsey] are extensively interviewed. Jon Hornyak and Reid Wick from the Memphis NARAS chapter were instrumental in getting the film shown here. I just want to say how important your comments in the film are, and how much I admire what you’re doing now to help the music scene recover. OffBeat did a great job pre-Katrina and I am glad you’re fighting to keep it going.
—Gene Nunez, Cordova, TN
RADIO PROGRAMING
I can’t do without the “grooviest, funkiest music magazine in the world.” Your magazine helps to program the Kansas City Blues Show which I have hosted for the past 20 years on KCFX The Fox 101.1 FM.
—Lindsay Shannon, Kansas City, MO
THANK YOU
We live over here in Gulf Shores Alabama and we feel your pain. After Hurricane Ivan it got us down but not out and things a year and a half latter are great. We will continue to visit New Orleans — one of the greatest cities in the world. Here is our lifetime renewal early, hope it helps. Keep up the good work!
—David and Debbie Janettas, Gulf Shores, AL
Just an update that we have been receiving our OffBeat in ample time these days to plan some premeditated New Orleans fun. Looking forward to going to Jazz Fest in April. We are going to a zydeco/crawfish festival this weekend in St. Petersburg, Florida, and we’re gonna show how it’s done! Wayne Toups is playing, so how can you help but move?!
—Sandra Sigur and Richard Sznerch, Celebration, FL
Years ago my brother Tim took me to Jazz Fest, so what goes around comes around. I was trying to think of a way to help someone in New Orleans and y’all at the OffBeat have done such a great job over the years. A gift subscription seemed like the way to go.
—Rob Krumm, Urbana, IL
ADVERTISING SUPPORT
As you may recall, when OffBeat was awarded a Keeping the Blues Alive Award in 2005, I told you about the days coming to New Orleans from Panama in the ’90s and not being comfortable until I had an OffBeat in my hand because I could be missing something and not know about it. I have been reading the letters in recent magazines and of course, feel the same way about OffBeat. Providing you with much-needed financial support in the Katrina’s aftermath is certainly one of the reasons The Blues Foundation took out full page ads for the 2006 Blues Music Awards on May 11. The other reason, of course, is that discerning music lovers around the globe read OffBeat.
—Jay Sieleman, Executive Director, The Blues Foundation, Memphis, TN
GLOSSY READABILITY
How about less arty background pages and more readability, which is why I subscribe. The Mardi Gras Indians story and the Cowboy Mouth story were very hard to read.
Thanks and I am very happy you are back but please keep up good work.
—Bob Gottlieb, Tucson, AZ
It is great to see OffBeat back. I am also pleased to see that you are using glossy paper stock. I had a hard time reading the older version of the magazine because the text blended in with the newspaper-like stock that made up most of the magazine. You’re still using a really small point size for much of the writing but it stands out more on the glossy stock. Admittedly, my 51-year-old eyes aren’t what they used to be and I still have trouble reading the newer version but it is very much improved. Could bolding (putting everything in bold) or just using a darker ink (or use a different type/font) help?
Nonetheless, I am very happy to see OffBeat back!
—John Lippincott, Wesley Hills, NY
