Join us tonight as we pay tribute to one of New Orleans’ most influential and beloved founding fathers of American Music, and proprietor of the first African-American musician-owned record label, Harold Battiste Jr. on his Birthday.

Raised on LaSalle Street surrounded by the rhythms of the legendary Dew Drop Inn nearby, Harold Raymond Battiste Jr. (1931 – 2015) was a revered American musician, composer, arranger, performer, teacher, mentor and community leader from New Orleans. He is perhaps best known for his work as arranger for records by Sam Cooke, Joe Jones, Lee Dorsey, Dr. John, Ike & Tina Turner, and Sonny & Cher.

Battiste’s professional achievements as a producer and arranger for studio, film and television include Sam Cooke’s “You Send Me” and “A Change Is Gonna Come,” Sonny & Cher’s “I Got You Babe,” Lee Dorsey’s “Ya Ya,” and introducing audiences to Mac “Dr. John” Rebbenack, earning 6 Gold Records throughout his career. Among other firsts as a recording industry pioneer, Battiste notably launched the first African-American musician-owned record label, All For One (AFO Records), in 1961, which released music by his contemporary luminaries such as Ellis Marsalis Jr, Melvin Lastie, James Black, Alvin Batiste, Ed Blackwell, Alvin “Red” Tyler, Barbara George, and more.

Tonight’s performance is led by violinist, pianist and educator Jesse McBride, a senior professor at Tulane University’s Jazz Studies department and one of of Battiste’s distinct mentees.