To honor the much-anticipated return of New Orleans’ music festivals in April and May, WYES Channel 12 will present more than a dozen programs featuring some of the city’s musical icons—including Fats Domino, Irma Thomas, Deacon John and Allen Toussaint—as well as up and coming talent, including Grammy Award-winning superstar Jon Batiste and singer-songwriter Samantha Fish.
Several of the programs airing on WYES, wyes.org/live and the WYES and PBS apps are presented in partnership with Michael Murphy Productions and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation. Other programs are from WYES senior producer Peggy Scott Laborde, independent producers Cyril E. Vetter, Gabrielle D. Vetter, Marian Gay and Jonathan Evans, as well as the public television mainstay, Austin City Limits.
Highlights include an Austin City Limits episode featuring Kenner native Jon Batiste, the recent winner of five Grammy awards, including album of the year. On an episode that originally aired on October 16, 2021, Batiste performs several songs from the Grammy-winning album We Are, including the title track, “Freedom,” along with “I Need You” and “Cry.”
Several of the programs airing as part of the special lineup are by producers Cilista Eberle and Michael Murphy and are now part of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation Archive. They include Legends of New Orleans: The Music of Fats Domino, Legends of New Orleans: The Music of Allen Toussaint, Dr. John and the Neville Brothers, and BeauSoleil Live from the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
Also airing is Irma: My Life in Music, the critically-acclaimed 90-minute profile of New Orleans music legend Irma Thomas. Produced by Murphy, Eberle, Rachel Lyons, Jim Moriarty, WYES and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, the program has aired on public television stations nationwide.
WYES will premiere Love Letters: Samantha Fish Live from New Orleans. The half-hour show, narrated by Gwen Thompkins and produced and directed by Marian Gay and Jonathan Evans, profiles the popular New Orleans-based musician who is performing at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on May 7.
Two programs by producers Cyril E. Vetter and Gabrielle D. Vetter feature a who’s who of New Orleans music greats. Deacon John’s Jump Blues and the expanded 90-minute film Going Back to New Orleans: The Deacon John Film feature performances by music legends Deacon John, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Teedy Boutte and the Zion Harmonizers, as well as interviews with Dave Bartholomew, Cosimo Matassa, Irma Thomas and many others.
The television lineup will include:
Saturday, April 30, 4 p.m.
Little Satchmo
This documentary film explores the life and legacy of Louis Armstrong through his relationship with the daughter that the public never knew existed, Sharon Preston-Folta. Directed by John Alexander, it premieres this month on WYES as part of the Reel South series.
Saturday, April 30, 5 p.m.
Satchmo in New Orleans
Originally produced in 1990 by Peggy Scott Laborde, this program narrated by Charmaine Neville explores the music icon’s New Orleans roots.
Saturday, April 30, 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 1, 10 a.m.
Legends of New Orleans: The Music of Fats Domino
Features interviews and performance from Fats Domino’s 2001 performance at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
Saturday, April 30 at 8pm & Monday, May 2 at 9pm
Deacon John’s Jump Blues
Features performances from a 2002 concert filmed at the Orpheum Theater with music greats Deacon John Moore, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, the Zion Harmonizers, Henry Butler, Teedy Boutte, Amadee Castenell and Davell Crawford.
Saturday, April 30, 9 p.m., and Sunday, May 8, 10 a.m.
Legends of New Orleans: The Music of Allen Toussaint, Dr. John and the Neville Brothers
Featuring performances at the 2000 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
Saturday, April 30, 10 p.m.
Austin City Limits featuring Jon Batiste
This episode features Batiste, the Grammy and Oscar winner, backed by an 18-piece band performing highlights from his Grammy-winning album We Are. Batiste performs several songs from the album, including “We Are,” “I Need You,” “Freedom,” “Cry,” “Boy Hood,” “Whatchutalkinbout” and “Tell the Truth.” The program also features the Hot 8 Brass Band.
Saturday, April 30, 11 p.m.
BeauSoleil Live from the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Features the Cajun music greats performing at the 2002 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
Saturday, May 7, 7 p.m.
Going Back to New Orleans; The Deacon John Film
This 90-minute documentary film features performances and interviews with Deacon John, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Irma Thomas and the Zion Harmonizers as well as interviews with Dave Bartholomew, Cosimo Matassa, Wardell Quezergue and many others.
Saturday, May 7, 8:30pm
Irma: My Life in Music
Interviews and performance footage from Michael Murphy Productions and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation Archive chronicle the life story of the Soul Queen of New Orleans, Irma Thomas.
Saturday, May 7, 10pm
Austin City Limits featuring Allen Toussaint
Originally broadcast in 2010, the program features the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer performing such favorites as “Mother-in-Law,” “Fortune Teller,” Working in the Coal Mine” and “Southern Nights” as well as “Yes We Can Can” and “Get Out of My Life Woman.”
Saturday, May 7, 11 p.m.
Love Letters: Samantha Fish Live from New Orleans
Produced and directed by Marian Gay and Jonathan Evans and narrated by Gwen Thompkins, this program features concert performances and interviews with Samantha Fish, the New Orleans-based guitarist and singer.
Saturday, May 7, 11:30 p.m.
Mystery of the Purple Rose: The Saga of Creole Jazz Pioneers
Produced by Peggy Scott Laborde and narrated by Vernel Bagneris, this 1988 documentary chronicles Creole jazz pioneers such as Armand J. Piron, and features commentary from Danny Barker, Al Rose, Dr. Michael White and William Russell.
