John Boutte
Surf music! Love Surf Music!
But we had a hurricane threat here last week (
surf too big!). Nate turned out to be nothing for us, and not anything too difficult for Mississippi either. But I didn't realize how just that threat would bring back a bunch of things I'd rather forget; bring on a dread that took me by surprise.
It took me back to the days after Katrina when a voice helped rally our city. To me John Boutte is a really underapreciated vocalist - describing him as a national treasure doesn't seem an understatement to me at all.
So I've been listening to John again. You may have actually heard him too. He did the themesong for the series "Treme" and appeared as himself a few times. So here's a little playlist. And here are some of the sort of things posted about him:
"he's gained a spot with Aaron Neville as one of the few people who could sing the phone book interestingly"
(paraphrase - I can't find it) "I've worked with John before. I have seen him literally part the heavens and the let the light shine down. And I've seen this more that once."
And here's a few notes on the playlist:
The first song is mostly John's family. The Bouttes have been a part of the city's fabric for some time. He has a sister Lilian who is a well respected Jazz singer and a niece Tricia, "Sista Teedy" who gained some notoriety with an "island reggae band". She's been in Norway for awhile now doing trad Jazz. I think Bekken knows her.
Also in that first video is Vance Vaucresson, another Creole icon, not for music, but for one of our other famous commodities, food. Vaucresson Hot Sausage is the standard by which all others are judged here, as they have been around for over a century. His shop was washed out by Katrina, then when he bought new equipment someone stole it - probably just for the scrap metal value. You can catch him now at Jazz Fest and other events. You used to be able to order the sausage online. He doesn't have it listed now, but maybe if you call. Look here:
http://vaucressonsausage.com/
For an example of "singing the phonebook", check out the Charity Hospital song.
And the wedding song for Debbie Davis is for a friend of mine who also happens to be New Orleans best known Ukulele player. Check her (and her old model Southcoast Alto Largo Ukulele) here:
https://www.debbiedavismusic.com/
On "This Little Light" you'll hear perhaps the finest trumpet in the city of trumpets, Terrance Blanchard. That segment was from an an ABC special: "Katrina: 10 years after the Storm" with Robin Roberts, a native daughter. Her older sister Sally Ann has truly been "our anchor" on the morning news for decades.
And a lot of people who've heard John have seen the heavens part in some form or fashion. Last week as we were still in doubt over Nate, I posted about my experience here:
http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com/showthread.php?129490-can-anyone-identify-quot-Margie-quot
There's a download of one of his out of print albums there as well.
And while the playlist is full of gems, at the end you hear one of the "part the heavens" live performances.
So here's the playlist. Hope it lifts your spirit:
Well ..... for some reason, only the first song plays here. For the rest of the playlist go here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsnWlnwOavE&list=PLfVCj2C0TnIoOTnkzDrhK1cSqlR9eHPA1