Pioneer New Orleans songwriter/bandleader/producer Dave Bartholomew was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame last month at a dinner ceremony in New York City. Sponsored by the Academy of Popular Music, the event honored Bartholomew along with notable songwriters Antoine “Fats” Domino (with whom he co-wrote dozens of America’s most popular songs), Paul Simon, John Williams and John Barry.
About the evening, Bartholomew remarked, “It was a tremendous night. The New York City Sheraton was packed and jammed with people. My wife and kids came with me and some of the people who have worked with me throughout the years.”
During the ceremony, Bartholomew played “Lawdy Miss Claudy” along with Allen Toussaint (who accepted the award for Domino) and Lloyd Price.
Bartholomew’s vast catalogue, which includes such hits as “Ain’t That A Shame,” “I Hear You Knocking,” “Blue Monday” and “One Night,” has been tapped by, among others, Domino, Pat Boone, Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson, Paul McCartney and Bob Seger.
U.S. Senator John Breaux sent a letter to Bartholomew which read in part: “Music says a great deal about society. That’s why I am particularly proud of the Louisiana inductees into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame [Bartholomew and Domino]. The heart and soul exposed in their music has contributed greatly to the cultural richness of Louisiana.”
Semi-retired today, Bartholomew still occasionally picks up the trumpet for appearances with his Big Band at music festivals and special events. Congratulations Dave!
In late May, Peabody won the five-week “battle of the bands,” a contest featuring four of New Orleans’ top female-led groups. Peabody won the $5,000 prize in the Virginia Slims Dueling Divas music program. Local music fans (21 and over) selected the winning band by popular vote while also raising $10,000 for the NO/AIDS Task Force, a local AIDS/HIV charity. Peabody competed against Issac’s Guns, Love Grin and Kim Carson.
KRUSH, u.k. guitarist Trey Kelly was involved in a head-on collision in Baton Rouge last month. Although the band had to cancel several shows because of the accident, the good news is that Kelly will soon rejoin the band to record a second demo tape. Their first, romatic depressive, sold out of two pressings.
When another magazine mentions OffBeat and Rolling Stone in the same sentence, well, we just have to reprint what they had to say. The following is from Girlfriends’ June edition: “Three women-on-top magazines are our top favorites this month. The first, OffBeat, you might mistake for a simple music magazine. With a circulation of 50,000, OffBeat isn’t threatening Rolling Stone’s market share, but that’s a shame because founder Jan Ramsey’s pub is one of the few to feature women — especially African-American women — over half the time.”
Noted columnist and music writer, Alexander Cockburn, writing in the New York Press (May 13-19, 1998) quoted our own Mark Miester’s critique of Jimmy Buffett’s then upcoming Jazz Fest performance: “I don’t care for Buffett’s schtick and I care even less for his cult of yuppie parrot-brains.” Cockburn parenthetically noted that this wasn’t “an insult intended for parrots, least of all Ernie, the African gray [parrot] at my elbow, who is more intelligent and equipped with a larger vocabulary than 90% of the U.S. Congress.”
If the summer heat has got you down, make your way over to the CAC and check out the revival of Class of ’70something, Carl Walker’s irreverent and affectionate revue of the music, morals and mass-media of a decade. The musical won a Big Easy award in 1996 and it’s easy to see why. Tickets range from $15.50 to $20.50 and group sales are available. Call the CAC box office at 525-5528 for more info.
Pioneer Music Group will release Tiny Town’s debut CD on August 18.
Vic’s Kangaroo Cafe will hold a double-feature July 4 bash featuring Kike Bonilla (from 5-8 p.m.) followed by Stan & the Groovers (10 p.m. to 2 a.m.). Vic’s was one of the clubs listed in Rolling Stone’s 30th anniversary issue, which included a guide to blues clubs and juke joints around the country (The Maple Leaf, Tipitina’s, and House of Blues also got nods from RS).
RK’s Rainbow will feature weekly showcases of art beginning on Friday, July 10 at 8:30 p.m. There will be five spoken word performances — by Mack Finley and Brad Sumrall — interspersed with four musical performances by Maggie Louie. Paintings by Stephen Owen Myers will also be on display. RK’s Rainbow is located at 626 St. Philip.
The J.J. Muggler Band was holed up at Studio in the Country last month recording their third CD which should be completed sometime in September. The Bad Oyster Band plays twice a month at Donna’s on Sunday evenings. Mark your calendars for the Labor Day weekend when Morgan City will once again hold their annual Shrimp & Petroleum Festival. The Push Kings (who’ve been compared to the Beatles!?) will play the Mermaid Lounge on July 12. Look for Jethro Tull at the Saenger Theatre on July 23 and red-hot Matchbox 20 will play UNO Lakefront Arena on July 29. Igor Kitty will perform at Tipitina’s on July 16 with Willem McCormick and Stoneville.
Vocalist/Guitarist Chip Wilson along with A Jumpin’ Somethin’ will be appearing at the Columns Hotel every Tuesday throughout the summer. The venue is normally occupied by Tony Green but Wilson, who regularly performs with Green, will be filling in while Green is in Venice for the summer. Performances are every Tuesday beginning at 8 p.m.
Mama’s Got a Squeeze-Box and Daddy Never Sleeps at Night… that’s because the 1998 American Accordionists’ Association’s 60th anniversary celebration is in town from July 8-13. Check out the hundreds of accordionists in Jackson Square performing en masse at noon on July 10.
And finally this month, all of us at OffBeat want to wish Doug MacCash (“Eye Music” columnist) well as he leaves us for a less deadline-oriented lifestyle. We’ll miss his well-trained eyes that were always searching to tell us what was good visually around town.
