Happy Birthday, Tom McDermott!

Pianist and composer Tom McDermott was born on September 24, 1957, in St. Louis, Missouri. He began studying piano at age seven, became a professional musician at 16, received a Master of Music degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 1982, and wrote about music for the morning paper. In 1984, inspired by his love of James Booker, Professor Longhair and Dr. John, he moved to New Orleans and became known for playing its styles of music, especially traditional jazz and New Orleans R&B. He was in the group "Dukes of Dixieland" through much of the 1990s, and in 1994 he co-founded and wrote arrangements for the innovative brass band the New Orleans Nightcrawlers, which took him to Europe, Asia, South America and all over the States.

He has released 17 CDs as a leader, which include 85 original tunes, and is known for his eclecticism, including a great love of Brazilian music. Since 2001, he has devoted much time traveling there to study and record choro music. In addition to Brazil, McDermott has visited all 50 states and six continents, and is a travel writer in addition to being a music journalist. In 2017, “Five Lines, No Waiting,” a book of his limericks and drawings, was published by Sagging Meniscus Press. Today let’s celebrate the birthday of this multi-talented New Orleanian. Happy Birthday, Tom!

Photo: Infrogmation of New Orleans

Celebrating the Birthday of Henry Butler

Jazz and Blues pianist Henry Butler was born in New Orleans on September 21, 1948. Blinded by glaucoma at birth, at five years old he entered the Louisiana State School for the Blind. There was no piano in his home, so he memorized piano melodies until he found a piano to play. Butler was performing regularly by age 16, attending school during the day and playing, arranging and composing for the groups he played with at night. Butler not only played piano, he also learned drums and saxophone, and was successful both as a soloist and in groups in Los Angeles and New York City. A true Renaissance man, Butler earned a college degree and graduate degree and taught at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts. Sadly, Henry passed away on July 2, 2018, but his music lives on.

By Dezz - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45049229

Mardigramus - Universal Remote

Mardigramus the soothsayer dispenses pointless wisdom and useless observations every Tuesday. Today’s sooth is called “Universal Remote”. Click on the image to view his visionary video.

Tales of the Cocktail - 9/20 - 23/2021

Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is pleased to announce the dates for Tales of the Cocktail® 2021 (TOTC). The world’s largest cocktail conference will return for its 19th year from September 20 – 23, 2021. 

TOTC2020 marked the Foundation’s first foray into converting its annual festival into a digital conference, a decision born out of necessity due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. For 2021, the Foundation is offering a digital format once again to prioritize the health and safety of its attendees and ensure a global audience has complimentary access to participate in its programming. While the festival will largely be digital in September, the Foundation is leaving the door open for local activations in global markets wherever it proves both safe and valuable for attendees.

Click here for the link to the TOTC YouTube Channel!

Celebrating the Birthday of Eddie Bo

Singer, pianist and songwriter Eddie Bo (Edwin Joseph Bocage) was born on September 20, 1929, in New Orleans, and grew up in Algiers and the Ninth Ward. Eddie, who was trained in jazz, was known for his blues, soul and funk recordings, and released more single records than anyone else in New Orleans other than Fats Domino. Eddie won two Lifetime Achievement awards from the South Louisiana Music Association and Music/Offbeat Best of the Beat. He was a veteran of the New Orleans music scene who has been sorely missed since his passing on March 18, 2009.

By Masahiro Sumori - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2066510

Arrrr! It's International Talk Like A Pirate Day!

Ahoy! Avast me hearties and landlubbers alike, ‘tis a day to hoist yer Jolly Roger, and celebrate with yer favorite grog ‘til ye are three sheets to the wind! Or, at least to talk like you would do all those things! Since 2002, International Talk Like A Pirate Day has been enjoyed by Seadogs and Scurvy Dogs around the world!