This week marks the 5 year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. As one of the worst hurricanes in US history, Katrina destroyed the city of New Orleans and the spirits of those who lived there. Music Maker artists Little Freddie King and Alabama Slim, artists who relied on performances throughout New Orleans, were forced to relocate until the city was rebuilt.

Tim Duffy, Executive Director recalls: “I will always feel a great debt to Alabama Slim; he saved Music Maker artist Little Freddie King from the flooding waters of Katrina. As the water was rising in the Lower Ninth Ward, Slim urged Freddie to higher-ground safety in the French Quarter where Freddie and his wife were able to bunker down in the Monteleone Hotel. It was also Slim who, as the flood worsened, found a safe haven for himself and Freddie in Dallas, Texas.

I recently took a trip to New Orleans where I visited Alabama Slim and stayed with Little Freddie at his home in the Musicians’ Village. After Katrina, both musicians rushed at the chance to move back to their home city. ‘There really was no choice,’ Slim commented. ‘This is our home, we love it here, but it is still tough.’

While there, I asked the guys about gigs and only Freddie was finding regular work in town and occasionally abroad. As for Slim, he plays at a few bars, but is lucky to earn $100 split between band members for four hours of performing. It is difficult to understand that some of the finest deep Blues musicians struggle on a daily basis in our nation’s greatest musical city; this is why Music Maker exists. We offer our services to these musicians and provide hope for them during this difficult economic time.”

Records from ‘Big Easy’ Artists

Soon after the flood, we released Alabama Slim’s first album with Little Freddie King entitled “The Mighty Flood.” Five years later, we recorded “Blue & Lonesome.” As producer Ardie Dean reflects on this album:

“It took five long years, but the fellas finally came back to record again and this time they brought a few friends. The renewed spirit of New Orleans can be heard here from the city’s premier Bluesmen.

Instead of Slim singing about ‘helicopters flying overhead and babies crying,’ he’s now singing songs like, ‘I Love My Guitar’ and ‘Old Folks Boogie’. Possessing the most mesmerizing voice in all of Blues, Alabama Slim could single handedly put a trance on any soul within earshot; but when you add the raw genius of Little Freddie King, mortals don’t stand a chance! This is deep Blues, the kind that will take you there, right there. ‘Blue & Lonesome’ is your ticket!”

Earlier this year, we released an album for Little Freddie. “At Home in the New Orleans Musicians’ Village” is nothing but pure “gut bucket blues” from the Crescent City’s greatest guitarist.