An assortment of local artists and Mardi Gras Indian leaders will gather for a benefit show for the family of Toriano “Tory” Massey, who passed away unexpectedly earlier this month. Massey, who was also affectionately known as “Toe,” was Flag Boy for The Flaming Arrows and The Cherokee Hunters.
Slated for Wednesday, June 15 at the Historic Carver Theater, the event will feature appearances by James Andrews and The Crescent City All Stars, The Caesar Brothers’ Funk Box, The 79rs Gang, Iris P, Judy Hill, Big Chiefs Kevin Goodman, Alfred Doucette, Bo Dollis, Jr., Kenny Young, and Brick, Chuck Perkins, Cinnamon Black, and Barbara Lacey. Special guests are expected sit in throughout the night.
Massey is survived by his wife, Venita, four children, and five grandchildren. All proceeds from the show will go toward covering the Massey family’s funeral expenses. A GoFundMe campaign has also been launched to assist in this effort.
Kevin Goodman, Kevin Young and Thaddeus Ramsey at one of last week’s Indian practices. Photo by Karen Lozinski.
“I knew right away I had to do as much as I could to help,” said Kevin Goodman, Big Chief of The Flaming Arrows and a lifelong friend friend of Massey. “At first, we all pulled together and tried to help ourselves and the family by coming together and grieving. But I knew there was more work to be done.”
“Toe was the kind of guy you could count on in a crisis. The one friend, if you’re lucky to have him, who answers the phone, day or night,” added Goodman, who masked Indian with Massey since the 1980s. “No one expected to lose him like this, least of all his family. They were not prepared for a loss of this magnitude. None of us were.”
Wednesdays show will follow a week’s worth of Indian practices at the New Orleans Cultural Exchange, which were scheduled as a way to bring together those that are grieving and to organize the upcoming benefit.
A $10 donation is suggested for admission to event, but no one will be turned away due to lack of money. In addition, there will be an after party at the Ooh Poo Pah Doo Bar immediately after the the Carver show ends.
