Music History
Discover New Orleans's musical past. Our music history web site, A Closer Walk NOLA, lets you explore historical locales (like Congo Square or the Eagle Saloon) and take self-guided music history neighborhood tours. Check out Tricentennial Music Moments, our series of mini-video documentaries, and fifty years of music and culture at Jazz Fest.
Browse music history locations and programs.
Music History Locales
- Fats Domino’s House
- J&M Recording Studio
- Sea-Saint Studio
- Congo Square
- Ernie K-Doe’s Mother-in-Law Lounge
- Dr. John Mural
- Eagle Saloon
- Economy Hall
- Club Desire
- Caldonia Inn
- Tipitina’s
- John Mcdonogh High School
... more New Orleans music history locations at acloserwalknola.com
Music History Tours
- Treme - Place Congo: Armstrong Park Tour
- Walk On Guilded Splinters: Dr. John Tour
- Did You Saw What I Heard?: Music Murals Tour
- Treme - Under The Bridge: Treme/7th Ward Festival Tour
- Jazz Fest Tour: Heritage Sites Near The Fair Grounds
- French Quarter - Do The Grind: Bourbon Street Tour
- Benevolent Society / Social Aid & Pleasure Club Tour
- Jazz A La Creole: Seventh Ward Tour
- French Quarter - Struttin': French Quarter Walking Tour
- Back O’ Town Blues: Louis Armstrong In New Orleans Tour
- High Society Rag: The First Venues For Jazz Tour
- Sew, Sew, Sew: The Music, Dance, And Suits Of The Mardi Gras Indians Tour
... more New Orleans music history tours at acloserwalknola.com
Festing in Place Cubes
- Jazz Festing in Place, April-May 2020
- Festing in Place: The Next Fest Thing, Fall 2020
- Festing in Place: Happy New Year from New Orleans
- Jazz Festing in Place, April-May 2021
- Jazz Festing in Place, Fall 2021
- Festing in Place, Fall 2022
Tricentennial Music Moments
- New Year's Eve, Louis Fires A Gun
- Mahalia Jackson
- The Meters and the birth of funk
- The Beatles play City Park and meet Fats Domino
- Harold Battiste + AFO Records
- Clifton Chenier's Zydeco Road
- The Heritage Fair
- Jazz Fest begins on the S.S. President: April 22, 1970
- 1983: French Quarter Fest is born
- Fats Domino's big break
- Sidney Bechet makes his debut
- Louis Prima's Sheik of Araby
- Irma Thomas
- Skull & Bones Gang in the Street
- Louis Armstrong returns as Zulu King
- Cleoma and Joe Falcon make first Cajun music record ever
- Pete Fountain Says "Yes"
- Funky Butt Hall
- Charity Hospital
- Danny Barker
Jazz Fest turns 50!
- The Return of Professor Longhair
- Parades
- 2006
- Allison Miner and the Music Heritage Stage
- Jazz Fest and French Louisiana
- S.S. President
- Longtime Performers
- WWOZ
- Louis Armstrong Centennial
- The Heritage Fair
- The Cubes
- Stevie Wonder
- The Poster
- Jazz Fest Stands by Haiti
- The Closing Slot
...more Jazz Fest 50 Time Capsules
Jazz Fest 50 Flashbacks
A series of video stories and reminiscences from people connected to Jazz Fest in various ways. Listen as these musicians, artists, food vendors, and more tell the story of their Festival.
...more Jazz Fest 50 Flashbacks
Jazz Fest 50 Photos
365 historical Jazz Fest shots
In Memoriam
- Charles "Action" Jackson
- George Wein
- Ellis Marsalis
- Henry Butler
- Art Neville
- Dr. John
- Fats Domino
- Allen Toussaint
...more In Memoriam
Videos
Explore hundreds of videos featuring a who's who of contemporary New Orleans music and culture, including performances captured in the WWOZ studio and venues around town,, plus Jazz Funerals, Mardi Gras Indian and Social Aid & Pleasure Club events, documentaries, oral histories, and more. Browse playlists below, or search for videos by keyword.
Search WWOZ's Youtube Channel
Videos
Songs
- Allen Toussaint + the Funky Meters, "Ride Your Pony"
- Bonerama, "Mr Okra"
- Ani DiFranco, "Binary"
- Tank & the Bangas, "Ants (Live)"
- Kermit Ruffins & the BBQ Swingers, "Marie"
- Meschiya Lake & the Little Big Horns, "Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down"
- Samantha Fish, "Gone For Good"
- Doreen's Jazz New Orleans, "I Want You Back"
- John Boutte Trio, "La Vie en Rose / A Change Is Gonna Come"
- Monk Boudreaux, "Shotgun Joe"
- Chubby Carrier, "Eunice Two Step"
- Pinettes Brass Band, "Valerie"
Culture
- Satirical parades return: Krewe du Vieux + Krewe Delusion 2022
- New Orleans Mardi Gras House Floats 2022
- Nine Times 2nd Line featuring Nine Times Kids
- Professor Longhair's House
- New Mardi Gras Indian tribe: Young Maasi Hunters
- Funeral of Flaming Arrows Mardi Gras Indian Queen Shirley Goodman
- Mardi Gras Indian Battle at the Congo Square Rhythms
- Interview: Robert Parker, New Orleans R&B Legend, Sept 2019
- Interview: Dave Bartholomew + Cosimo Matassa at WWOZ, Dec 2008
School Groove
- Langston Hughes Brass Band
- Holy Cross Tigers Brass Band
- Da Wright Way Brass Band, Dec 2019
- Langston Hughes Academy Brass Band, Nov 2019
- KIPP Believe Jazz Ensemble, Sept 2019
- Loyola Summer Jazz Camp, Jun 2019
- The Edna Karr Brass Band, May 2019
- Da Wright Way Brass Band, Jan 2019
- Warren Easton's Jazz Band, Oct 2018
- Jesuit High School Jazz Band, Sept 2018
- Riverdale High School, Aug 2018
- Louis Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp, July 2018
- Young Audiences Charter School
...more from the next generation of New Orleans musicans on School Groove
Video Playlists
Around the Station
- Live from the WWOZ Studio - 56 videos
- Piano Night 2015-16 - 3 videos
- WWOZ at Basin Street Station - 11 videos
Membership Drives
Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival
- 2022 Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival
- 2019 Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival
- 2018 Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival
- Highlights from CC Blues BBQ Fest 2014-2018
- 2014 Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival
Other Festivals & Events
Annual "Best of" Collections
Miscellaneous
Photos
Over 30,000 photos featuring musicans, festivals, parades, Mardi Gras Indians and other shots from around New Orleans. Courtesy of our talented volunteers photographers and the vaults of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Archive. Browse galleries below, or search for photos by keyword.
Search WWOZ's Flickr Archive
Photo galleries by category
Jazz Fest
- 2022 Highlights
- 2019 Highlights
- 2019 Food
- 2019 Fashion
- 2018 Highlights
- 2018 Food
- 2018 Fashion
- 2017 Highlights
- 2017 Food
- 2017 Fashion
- 2016 Highlights
- 2015 Highlights
- 2015 Fashion
- 2014 Highlights
- 2013 Highlights
- 2013 Fashion
- 2012 Highlights
- 2010 Highlights
- 2009 Highlights
Piano Night
- 2022 Highlights
- 2019 Highlights
- 2018 Highlights
- 2016 Highlights
- 2015 Highlights
- 2014 Highlights
- 2013 Highlights
- 2012 Highlights
- 2011 Highlights
- 2010 Highlights
Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival
- 2022 Highlights
- 2019 Highlights
- 2018 Highlights
- 2013 Highlights
- 2012 Highlights
- 2011 Highlights
- 2010 Highlights
- 2008 Highlights
Satchmo SummerFest
- 2022 Highlights
- 2019 Highlights
- 2018 Highlights
- 2013 Highlights
- 2012 Highlights
- 2011 Highlights
- 2010 Highlights
Mardi Gras
- Mardi Gras 2022
- Mardi Gras 2020
- Krewe du Vieux, 2019
- Krewe Boheme, 2019
- Mardi Gras 2017
- Mardi Gras Day in French Quarter, 2015
- Red Beans and Rice Parade, Lundi Gras, 2015
- Joan of Arc Parade, 2015
- Mardi Gras, 2014
- Zulu, 2014
- Joan of Arc Parade, 2014
- Fat Tuesday, 2013
- Mardi Gras, 2013
- Fat Tuesday, 2012
- Mardi Gras, 2012
- Mardi Gras, 2011
- Mardi Gras, 2010
- Barkus, 2009
Annual Photo Highlights
- 2022 Highlights
- 2019 Highlights
- 2018 Highlights
- 2017 Highlights
- 2016 Highlights
- 2015 Highlights
- 2014 Highlights
- 2013 Highlights
Interviews & Audio
Listen to influencers from the world of New Orleans music and culture, including members of the Mardi Gras Indian and Social Aid & Pleasure Club communities, and episodes of our audio documentery series, "New Orleans Calling."
Takin' It to the Streets Interviews
- Interview: Ed Buckner of Original Big Seven, May 2021
- Interview: NOLA Shorty, May 2021
- Interview: Shamarr Allen, April 2021
- Interview: Craig Klein of New Orleans Nightcrawlers, March 2021
- Interview: Perfect Gentlemen president Travis Lyons, Jan 2021
- Interview: Baby Doll Butterfly Jan of Treme Baby Dolls
- Interview: Mohawk Hunters Big Chief Tyrone Casby
- Interview with the Mossman
- Interview: Slick Leo, January 2020
- Interview: NOLA Shorty, Grand Marshal, November 2019
- Interview: Eric Burt, November 2019
- Interview: Designer Henri Devezin, October 2019
- Interview: Big Chief Donald Harrison, October 2019
- Interview: Derwyn Bunton, Chief District Defender, and the Second Line for Equal Justice, October 2019
- Interview: Spy Boy Charlie Tenner, October 2019
- Interview: Spy Boy Ricky Getteridge, September 2019
- Interview: Benny Jones, Sr., leader of Treme Brass Band, September 2019
- Interview: Ronald W. Lewis, Original Big 9 founder, August 2019
- Interview: photographer Freddy Hill, September 2019
- InterviewInterview: Mr. C, second line videographer, August 2019
- Interview: Baby Doll Satin Mitchell, July 2019
- Interview: Ben "Da Grill Man" Smith, July 2019
- Norman Dixon, Jr., Jazz Fest Flashback, March 2019
More "Streets" Interviews
- Interview: Lois Andrews Nelson, Queen of krewedelusion, February 2019
- Interview: Diane Honore of Black Storyville Baby Dolls, February 2019
- Interview: Bone Man Quinn, February 2019
- Interview: Joe Lastie, December 2018
- Interview: Big Chief Kito of Seminole Mardi Gras Indians, December 2018
- Interview: Janice Kimble of Treme Baby Dolls, November 2018
- Interview with Eric Waters, author of 'Freedom's Dance', August 2018
- Interview with Big 6 Brass Band, August 2018
- Interview: Merline Kimble of the Gold Digger Baby Dolls, August 2018
- Interview: Black Flame Hunters Big Chief Black, August 2018
- Interview: Edward Jackson III of TBC Brass Band, July 2018
- Interview with Spy Boy Timothy Washington of the 9th Ward Hunters, July 2018
- Interview: Cinnamon Black of Treme Million Dollar Baby Dolls, June 2018
- Interview: Yellow Pocahontas Gang Flag Boy Belden Batiste, June 2018
New Orleans Calling Episodes
- The Second Year: Mentors and Students
- Rock with the Hot 8
- That's A Plenty: Seva Venet
- Springtime Reunion at Jazz Fest (redux)
- Baton Rouge Road Trip
- Donald Harrison Jr: You Have To Live It
- Alvin Batiste: Music Came
- Shallow Water - Mardi Gras Indian Stories
- Allen Toussaint 2 - Last Train
- Allen Toussaint 1 - Say Yes To Music
- Portrait of a Drummer
- Four Guitars
- The Graduates
- Harold Battiste 2 - Keeping The Music Alive
- Harold Battiste 1 - The Beat Goes On
- Let The Good Times Roll
- Ponderosa Stomp: The Doctor is In
- After the Flood: An Untold Story of WWOZ
- Ain't Misbehaving
- Rhythm Pilgrimage
- Mo Cream From The Crop!
- Where Ya From?
- On Jackson Square and Royal Street
- Boudin: The New Orleans Music Stories
- Springtime Reunion
- Fish Fried and Green Gumbo
- Festival Season
- All On A Mardi Gras Day
- Carnival Time
- Rampart Street Ramble
- Christmas Gumbo
- Born In A Cast Iron Pot
- A Visit to the Ooh Poo Pah Doo
- City Of The Dead
- St James Infirmary
- Rhythm Of Life
- The Love of Your Life
- The Squeezebox
- Play It By Ear
- Lipstick Traces
- In Search of Satchmo
- Summer Days And Nights
- Didn't It Rain
- The Piano Player
... more New Orleans Calling
Search Groovapedia
Search WWOZ.org and ACloserWalkNOLA.com by artist name or other keyword, e.g. "Fats Domino" or "Sea-Saint Studio"
