When jazz legend Maynard Ferguson (remember the Star Wars and Rocky themes in the 70s?) played John Wehner’s Famous Door in New Orleans last month, it served as a reminder that this venerable music club at 339 Bourbon Street has been around since 1934.

The building itself was built in 1826 by a Frenchman, Don Andre Gullory, and later housed a pharmacy. In 1934, Hypolite “Hyp” Guinle leased the building for $50 a month and opened the Famous Door as a music/entertainment club with only 45 cents in his pocket. Several years later, he purchased the building.

Throughout the years that Hyp had the club, he would have celebrities sign the “guest book.” The club then etched 261 of the most famous names on a plaque which is now affixed near the entrance of the Famous Door. Some of those names include: Al Hirt, Louis Armstrong, George Girard, Sharkey Bonano and Harry Connick, Jr., who played piano at the club when he was just 13.

Hyp ran the club until his death in 1965. His widow, Genevieve, continued to run the club for eight years until 1973 when she sold the property to Nick Karno. The Karno Family ran the club until the business was sold to its current owners, the Wehners, Estelle, Vern and son, John, in August 1992.

Wehner, an accomplished musician in his own right, has gathered together a three-piece rhythm section, five horns and a female singer. The Dream Band performs three, 75-minute shows each night at 9:30 p.m., 11:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m., Wednesday through Sunday, in the famous old club on Bourbon Street.

Heralded as the “hottest thing to come out of Louisiana since Paul Prudhomme,” by Guitar Player Magazine, blues guitarist/vocalist Tab Benoit has signed a multi-album deal with Santa Monica-based Vanguard Records. His label debut is slated for a fall 1999 release.

Kevin Welk, the general manager of Vanguard, said, “Signing Tab brings Vanguard back to the forefront of blues music. With a tremendous catalog of legendary blues artists including Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Skip James and Mississippi John Hurt, Vanguard intends on further building this catalog with the signing of artists of Tab’s stature.”

Benoit’s Cajun-influenced blues made its debut in 1972 with the release of Nice and Warm for Houston-based Justice Records. He subsequently release What I Live For (1994), Standing on the Bank (1995) and Swampland Blues (1997).

Guitar phenomenon and Shreveport native, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, whose smash album, Trouble Is…, received a Grammy nomination for “Best Rock Instrumental Performance,” held the top position on Billboard’s Blues Chart for an astonishing 33 weeks in 1998. Congratulations, Kenny!

And speaking of the Grammys: How do you follow-up a 1998 Grammy for “Best Traditional Folk Album?” Well, if you’re BeauSoleil, America’s premiere Cajun band, you put out Cajunization, the brand-new release on Rhino due in stores on March 16. Consisting of 14 tracks, Cajunization finds the band applying its unique bayou spin to songs from a number of different genres, including blues, surf, Cuban and Hawaiian. The CD will be available at all retail outlets or by calling RhinoDirect at 800/432-0020.

Jazz trumpter, film composer and New Orleans native Terence Blanchard makes his debut this month as an exclusive artist on the Sony Classical label with Jazz in Film. Blanchard is joined on Jazz in Film by an all-star jazz ensemble and orchestra. The all-star line-up is headed by tenor sax legend, Joe Henderson. Other special guests include Donald Harrison (alto sax), representing a reunion fo the Blanchard/Harrison duo of the early 1980s, and Steve Turre (trombone).

Nelson Lunding & Blues in the Pocket will release their new CD, Whiskey and A Beer To Go, on March 12 at Tipitina’s French Quarter. Lunding also has gigs on March 13 (in-store at LA Music Factory, 3 p.m.,) and March 31 at the Maple Leaf.

Mardi Gras Records is currently working on the new CD from Beau Jocque & the Zydeco Hi Rollers. The full-length CD is set for a May 1999 release. And Tabby Thomas released Long Live the King (of the Swamp Blues) last month on Blue Beat Records in Baton Rouge.

The Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival presents its 13th annual Weekend Named Desire honoring America’s legendary playwright, March 24-28, 1999. Williams, who often called New Orleans his “spiritual home” wrote many of his distinguished plays, including A Streetcar Named Desire, during his intervals in residence. Kim Hunter, who played Streetcar’s Stella to Marlon Brando’s Stanley on Broadway and in the 1951 film (she won the Academy Award for her performance) will be the star attraction at the festival’s opening night gathering on Thursday, March 25. Following a cocktail reception, Ms. Hunter will discuss her career and her experiences working with Tennessee Williams.

In addition, the long weekend will feature over two dozen literary panels, the Festival’s own production of William’s lesser known but highly praised play The Seven Descents of Myrtle, poetry readings and a variety of French Quarter walking tours and a book fair. And, as his customary, the Stanley and Stella Shouting Contest, which awards prizes to the best interpretation of Streetcar’s warring mates, is the festival finale. For more information about tickets and help with travel plans, including special package rates, call DMI Travel at 800/479-8222, or contact the Festival at 504/581-1144.

The nominations for the 20th annual W.C. Handy Blues awards were announced last month. The local bands and performers who were nominated include: the late Johnny Adams (Blues Entertainer of the Year, Soul/Blues Male Artist of the Year and Soul Blues Album of the Year, Man of My Word); Walter “Wolfman” Washington & the Roadmasters (Blues Band of the Year); Marcia Ball, Irma Thomas, Tracy Nelson (Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year and Best Contemporary Blues Album of the Year, Sing It); Irma Thomas again for Soul/Blues Female Artist of the Year. Congratulations to everyone on their nominations! The awards ceremony will be held in Memphis on May 7.

On Saturday, March 27, one of five New Orleans bands will be selected to compete in Jim Beam’s Back Room “Band Search Rock Edition” finals at the Hard Rock Cafe in Chicago (scheduled for May 13). The local competition on March 27 will be held at the Hard Rock Cafe New Orleans and is being sponsored by Jim Beam and radio station B97. At press time, the five bands hadn’t been determined, so turn out later this month and find out who will be winging their way to the Windy City.

The USA Songwriting Competition has launched the 1999 year’s songwriting event. The world’s leading international songwriting contest, the USA Songwriting Competition is an annual musical event aimed at promoting excellence in music and the art of songwriting. Amateur and professional songwriters, musicians and music enthusiasts are encouraged to participate. Entries are accepted from now through May 31, 1999.

Entrants stand to win a grand prize of over $22,000 in cash and music merchandise. Songs may be entered in 15 different categories, such as Pop, Rock, Country, R&B, Hip-Hop/Rap, Folk, Jazz, World, Latin and others. Entrants may submit as many of their songs as they wish.

For more information on the event’s rules, regulations and entry forms, contact: USA Songwriting Competition, Toll Free (in U.S.) 1-877-USA-SONG. Outside U.S.: (781) 397-0256

Looking to get out of time a bit before the next big thing in New Orleans? Then you may want want to head over to Florida for the Pensacola MusicFest ’99, March 12-14. Headlining the three-day (rain or shine) fest will be: Denise LaSalle, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers and Bobby Rush. For more information, call 1 (800) 874-1234 or visit the web site at www.visitpensacola.com.

Rod Bernard is mixing his latest CD at La Louisianne studios in Lafayette. Look for a late spring/early summer release from CSP Records. In addition, CPS Records has licensed the highly sought-after swamp/pop album Bits & Pieces for a March release. Jimmy Rogers, president of CPS, says, “We’re going to release this album on cassette and CD. Bits & Pieces is a very popular group from the Baton Rouge/Gonzales area that released this very successful self-titled album in 1993. This album hasn’t been available for several years. But, due to the popular demand, we’re proud to be re-releasing this particular CD.”

And, Cat’s Paw Records of New York, in conjunction with Malaco Jazz, is releasing the new CD by Baton Rouge-based contemporary jazz guitarist, David Frazier. The CD entitled, A Touch of Blues, is an electic collection of original compositions by the artist combined with his innovative arrangements of some popular classics.

Pagan Radio will make their live performance debut on Thursday, March 18 at the Mermaid Lounge beginning at 10:30 p.m. The group of seasoned musicians includes guitarist Paul Hayes, bassist Spike Perkins, keyboardist Kim Foreman and drummer Matt Swiler. Their music can best be described as a mixture of roots music and contemporary rock.

One of the city’s oldest neighborhood main streets will be the site of the Second Annual Freret Street Festival.

Once a classic example of urban decline, Freret celebrates its comeback with some of New Orleans’ favorite performers including Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr., the Wild Magnolias and Davell Crawford. Check it out on Saturday, March 20 from noon to 6 p.m. at the corner of Freret Street and Napoleon Avenue.