It was a bright and sunny day in New Orleans.

On October 14th, 1998, sixty-three legendary musicians, spanning three generations, gathered in Armstrong Park to capture a “decisive moment in time” in the photograph, A Great Day in New Orleans.

New Orleans’ legend, Dr. John wanted to honor the city’s finest musicians at a “Musical Family Reunion.” At the time, he was working on a documentary film with Louisiana filmmaker, Lawrence Cumbo. He asked Cumbo to create a photograph inspired by Art Kane’s iconic 1958 jazz portrait, later known as A Great Day in Harlem. 

After months of planning, the cherished artists gathered together to celebrate their diverse talents and remarkable influence on American music. It became an all day party in the Treme’. Just a few of the musicians illuminated in the photo are Allen Toussaint, George Porter Jr, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Harry Connick Sr, James Andrews, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Tab Benoit, Ernie-K-Doe, Marva Wright and Cosimo Matassa. 

As Allen Toussaint expressed that day, “the who's who is here, this musical congregation is outstanding, and it certainly shows the links in the chain of the city’s musical traditions”. 

In 2005, those musical traditions were shaken to the core in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, While on assignment for National Geographic, Cumbo returned to his beloved Louisiana, and chronicled the utter devastation in the city that care forgot, including the house where some many gathered in celebration years earlier. It is still sitting abandoned and we want to help save it.

Now, twenty-five years later, Cumbo is making the photograph available to the public, and he is bringing the surviving “greats" and the next generation of musicians together in a new documentary film. It’s an authentic blend of history, faith, family, food and culture making up our unique musical gumbo in south Louisiana. 

By purchasing a print today, you are helping us tell our treasured musicians’ stories and bring attention to their struggles and successes contributing to American Music.

Have a Great Day and Thank You!