Each year, the New Orleans Women in Music (NOWIM) organization hosts a special event to pay homage to the women that have shaped New Orleans music history and pioneered their respective genres. This year’s annual concert and networking event takes place on Friday, October 18 at Cafe Istanbul, and will pay tribute to three of the Crescent City’s late greats in gospel-blues: Mahalia Jackson, Marva Wright and Juanita Brooks.

Mahalia Jackson

Known as the “Queen of Gospel,” Mahalia Jackson needs no introduction. Countless award-winning gospel, blues, soul and jazz singers cite her as one of their key influences. Over the course of her career, she was nominated for six Grammys (four of which she took home), and has been inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Grammy Hall of Fame  and more, since her death. Contemporaries like Irma Thomas embody the potent influence of Jackson’s legacy in infusing raw soul vocals with the cultural faith and experience of generations of New Orleanians.

Marva Wright - OffBeat, November 1992.

Marva Wright‘s story as the “Queen of Blues” is one of a late-bloomer who quickly became a French Quarter favorite and in-demand artist in Europe. Like the other women celebrated this Friday, she too began her singing roots in the church and struggled to agree to embark on a secular vocal career once her powerhouse chops were discovered by locals and tourists alike. But Marva did not begin singing outside of the church until she was nearly 40-years-old, and unfortunately was only able to share her gift with the world for 20 years before she passed away. Yet, her transition from church to stage brought out her blues side, for which she would eventually become most famous.

Juanita Brooks

Perhaps an often unsung New Orleans woman in music was gospel-jazz chanteuse, Juanita Brooks. 2009 was a tragic year for New Orleans gospel-blues, as the music community lost both Marva Wright and Juanita Brooks.  A dynamic vocalist, Brooks sung everything from early spirituals and traditional jazz at the city’s most famed clubs, to R&B with Eddie Bo and leads in the New Orleans-centric off-Broadway musical, One Mo Time. With her tributes to jazz and soul giants like Bessie Smith and Aretha Franklin, New Orleans bandleaders and songwriters like Allen Toussaint have all noted the great loss to the local music scene with her passing at age 55.

At this Friday’s concert, New Orleans vocalists who are preserving the traditions of these cherished women through their music will perform songs in homage to their legacies and inspiration. Artists performing Friday include: Charmaine Neville and Amasa Miller, Venessa “VeeJay” Williams, 30 x 90 Blues Women, Tara Alexander, Sharon Martin, The Honey Pots, Judy Spellman, Michaela Harrison, Naydja Cojoe and Mikhala “Jazz Muffin” Iversen and other special guests.

NOWIM’s philosophy of helping to promote, educate and enhance the music careers of professional New Orleans women means that the annual event is also a networking event, where those involved in the music industry or music community at large are encouraged to attend and get to know the contemporary New Orleans women in music.

Additionally, the concert will raise funds for local charities. Each year NOWIM selects a non-profit group to benefit and focuses its efforts on that group for that year. This year the beneficiary is the St. Bernard Community Center. Both monetary donations and fall/winter coats for kids will be collected for the center.

The 2013 New Orleans Women in Music annual concert is Friday, October 18 at Cafe Istanbul (2372 St. Claude Ave). Doors are at 6 p.m. with networking from 7 p.m. until 8 p.m., and live performances beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15.  More Info:  www.nowim.org