Louisiana Music Hall of Fame - News Musique March 2010

LMHOF is on the verge of breaking through to “the next level” with a realistic path to purchase and restore an entire block on Canal St. in New Orleans which includes the historic Loew’s State (Palace) Theater. Yes, you heard right. The owners want LMHOF to be entrusted with this venerable property. Our well researched, cost-effective business plan to transform the area has been met with favorable reviews by banks, potential funders, business leaders and, perhaps most importantly, the artists that I have personally shared this vision with. It’s time that everyone become aware of this bold and workable proposal.

The LMHOF project, originally launched in 1980 and revived in 2005 under our IRS certified 501 (C) (3) nonprofit organization, La Musique de Louisianne, Inc., has yet to receive any financial support from the State in either incarnation. The incredible volume of induction work, archiving of materials and presentations on our online Galleries Musique Virtual Museum has been accomplished by generous donations by a few “angels” and rank and file dues paying members who recognize its importance and potential. And frankly, it’s taken a tremendous amount of my own time and treasure and the efforts of a handful of committed “heroes” to help make this happen.

It’s time for LMHOF (and people like you who love Louisiana music and want to see it continue to flourish) to work together and generate some significant revenue and publicity. This will help us demonstrate what we can accomplish to major funders in both public and private sectors and to secure the “down payment” to start this major redevelopment project. Obviously this is a major piece in our continuing implementation of plans to preserve our heritage and bring back a robust music industry within the state.

Louisiana was a dominant force in the business of music for a large part of the 20^th Century. Sadly, much of that infrastructure has been allowed to wane away for the past three plus decades and we have witnessed many of our best and brightest going elsewhere to create and conduct business. It’s as if an invisible “Katrina” has steadily blown people away to base themselves elsewhere.

Clearly, the way of doing business and the lack of vision and action to properly attract and keep the money flowing in our state from music has not worked. It’s time to do something meaningful!

YOU can help in this cause by becoming a member, sending people to our Web site and facebook pages, and buying a ticket to our events (don’t miss the Homecoming event in May – more below). And if you know an individual or investment-oriented business that might partner with us to secure the Loew’s property (we can rapidly return a large part of an investment from tax credits alone) feel free to contact me and I will share our copyrighted plan.

INDUCTION NEWS (visit Galleries Musique at www.LMHOF.org for more)

Lawdy Miss Clawdy! Lloyd Price Receives Induction for 77^th Birthday

Lloyd Price smiled like a kid getting the best birthday present ever.

Lloyd Price, a driving forces in early rock & roll with hits like “Lawdy Miss Clawdy,” "Personality" and “Stagger Lee,” received an unusual 77^th birthday present on March 9^th while visiting New Orleans: induction into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. Price, a native of Kenner who now resides in New York, is the only person to be voted unanimously into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on the first ballot. Price was in New Orleans taping segments for inclusion in and promotion for an upcoming Time Life music series, and that gave us the opportunity for the birthday “ambush” induction.

LMHOF Executive Director Mike Shepherd presented Price with dual inductions into LMHOF and the Louisiana Songwriters Association Hall of Fame, represented by graphic awards including certificates signed by Gov. Bobby Jindal and Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu respectively. He also presented the music icon with “Lloyd Price Day” proclamations from the Cities of Kenner and New Orleans, the New Orleans City Council and Gov. Jindal. The topper was a fresh Looziana strawberry "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" birthday cake. Price was deeply moved with the expression of appreciation coming from his home state.

Dean Shapiro was among invited guests and wrote a nice slice for Music Notes at NewOrleans.com with more details you will enjoy.

Sammy Kershaw Finally Gets His Award

Sammy Kershaw (left) will long remember the sunny Acadiana day he received his LMHOF recognition.

The road to fame for Sammy Kershaw has not been easy. After a promising rise as a teen phenom, Kershaw fell victim to the stress of early success and had to overcome personal issues to make a comeback. And what a comeback it has been. Since 1991, the cousin of LMHOF member Doug Kershaw made his own mark scoring three platinum and two gold records and placing more than 25 singles on the Billboard Top 40 Hot Country Songs charts, including the Number One hit "She Don't Know She's Beautiful" and ten more Top Tens. Another new release is set to come out next month.

Sammy also had to make a comeback to collect his LMHOF induction award. He was originally scheduled to receive it at a 2008 LMHOF program but had to cancel at the last minute. In February we finally caught up with him at a show in Lafayette where he tearfully accepted the honor as nearly 2,000 fans cheered the moment.

LMHOF Baton Rouge Region/Songwriter Honors at Dots Reunion:Steve Cropper and a Blues Brother Sit In

Still Rockin’ (L to R): Leon Medica (LMHOF), Steve Cropper (R&R HOF), Johnny Ross, Andrew Bernard (LMHOF), Lenny Capello (LMHOF), Cyril Vetter (LMHOF), David St. Romain (LSA)

LMHOF’s Baton Rouge Region level of recognition was christened in January at a reunion of The Dots, Red Stick’s first rock and roll band formed way back in 1956. New Orleans Region Hall Member and Dots member Lenny Capello organized the Eagles Club tribute event so we jumped onboard and added some extra spice by making The Dots our inaugural Baton Rouge Region inductee. LMHOF Songwriter’s Annex honors were also bestowed on Leon Medica (“New Orleans Ladies”) Dots member Cyril Vetter (“Double Shot of My Baby’s Love”) and Andrew Bernard (“Judy In Disguise”). All joined in the music making, and up and comer David St. Romain showed up to add another guitar to Lenny’s tasty picking.

Speaking of guitars, a surprise guest was R&B legend Steve Cropper, known to whippersnappers as a Blues Brothers Band member but revered by older fans as the “ax” in the Stax Record Memphis house band (Booker T and the MG’s and a long list of others) and for writing hits like “In the Midnight Hour” “Knock on Wood” and “Mr. Pitiful.“ That doesn’t even touch all of the other studios and stages he’s been asked to join. Cropper had a Mardi Gras ball gig but came to town a day early to sit in and brought along Blues Brothers current co-front man Johnny Ross. We rewarded Cropper with a Honorary Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame member award. “The Colonel” said that he would treasure the award because of his deep love for the music of Louisiana and for his admiration for LMHOF and its Virtual Museum. We even heard him say LMHOF was “on a mission from God.” Okay, we made that last part up.

Web Site: The Hits Just Keep On Comin’LMHOF’s momentum continues to build and multiply with each new induction, project and event. The proof lies on the spinning counter that measures visitors to our Web site and Virtual Museum. Not only is the aggregate number impressive – over 180,000 as of this newsletter distribution – we are excited to see that the daily “hits” have steadily grown. While some museum exhibits in the state are only drawing 10,000 visitors per year, the Virtual Museum at www.LMHOF.org is now attracting over 10,000 visitors per month. We regularly get emails from all over world expressing thanks for the entertainment and education we are providing. Keep spreading the word and sending folks to this amazing collection. Also, please consider becoming a Krew Musique member or making a donation to LMHOF to help keep the hits coming. The only thing keeping us from doing more is having the budget to get the work done.

“Louisiana Music Homecoming” Benefit Show Planned for May 16^th

You Ain’t Ready for This!

In the spirit of large scale benefit concerts like Farm Aid, LMHOF is establishing an annual “homecoming” event that celebrates Louisiana music, increases awareness about our righteous cause, and raises much-needed funds to move us forward.Louisiana Music Homecoming will be just what it suggests – an all-day concert event featuring our inductees and friends to help the cause. But that’s just the start. The 2010 inaugural Homecoming will take place Sunday, May 16^th at the Lamar- Dixon Expo Center in Ascension Parish between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Because much of the expenses for producing this are being donated or underwritten, your paid admission will include a tax-deductable LMHOF Krewe Musique Basic membership!Here’s what to expect:

LIVE PERFORMANCES – Multiple LA artists and genres, more than 40 expected to participate. All current LMHOF inducted members are invited to attend and perform; numerous new inductions will take place on stage; also expect some special “Friends of The Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame” from out of state. Stay tuned for the lineup!

PRESENTATION OF SHORT FILMS & SPEAKERS about LMHOF and LA musicFOOD COURT featuring Louisiana cuisine and food products – Beer will be sold.

“EXHIBIT STUDIO” - Booths and Exhibits by LA music organizations and causes (Initial list includes LMHOF, LA Songwriters Assn, LA Musicians Assn., Songwriters Guild of America, GNOE Foundation, Voodoo Blues Society, Voice of the Wetlands, Louisiana Rocks, LSU Band Hall Drive, and more. Free space will be given as grants at the discretion of LMHOF – please inquire if you want your group to participate.

LIVE SIMULCASTS on www.LMHOFRADIO.org and www.SWAMPPOP RADIO.com , plus a Limited HD Telethon on PELICAN (KPBN) network - COX BR,NO,LFY, plus HD broadcast) is in the works.

Watch for more details on www.LMHOF.org and a dedicated facebook page coming soon Bookmark www.LMHOFHOMECOMING.com or www.LAMUSICHOMECOMING.com for updates.For info about corporate sponsorship, volunteering, concessions and exhibit space:

Please contact Mike Shepherd at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it / This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

LMHOF Radio Debuts This Month

LMHOF Radio’s mission is to represent ALL music that the state is famed for creating or contributing to, and to make sure the world NEVER forgets our unique role in American music. This is one more piece of the picture to help promote our music industry’s return to prominence.

One of the many outreach projects in our Master Plan to help educate and promote Louisiana music (as well as our organization) is taking its first baby step in late March. LMHOF Radio is an online streaming channel that proudly presents the best of ALL of Louisiana’s music from our constantly growing archives. While you will hear the hits and best-known music of the pioneers and legends, we will also present rare and/or lost tracks, live and original recordings, interviews and even new material from rising talents that represent the legacy of Louisiana music. LMHOF Radio is not intended to replace or “compete” with other great niche channels like WWOZ, Swamp Pop Radio and others that focus on specific genres of Louisiana music.

Help LMHOF and LSA Celebrate “Year of the Song” In Louisiana

2010 has been proclaimed as the Year of the Song in Louisiana by Governor Bobby Jindal. To help promote this theme LMHOF, in alliance with our "sister" 501 c3 foundation, the Louisiana Songwriters Associations (LSA), has established a Year of The Song (YOTS) Web site where the Governor's official proclamation, LA Mayor's proclamations and LMHOF's commemorative artwork can be viewed. While there, you can also vote in an informal poll for your favorite song from 32 LMHOF inductees to get you into the spirit. Later this year we will conduct a YOTS new song search and related events – stay tuned!. If you are a songwriter or just want to support the craft and to be a part of LSA, visit www.LAsongs.org and become a member. There is an LSA Songwriters Hall of Fame that recognizes a broader scope of writers than the LMHOF Songwriters Annex.

How Can You Help? Become a supporting member with a tax-deductible donation of $25 or more today. For membership information please visit the "Krewe Musique" page. You can also simply click the "DONATE" button on our Home Page to go to our secure online payment page. To comment or volunteer, please email us at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it . THANK YOU!

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