Back to News Main Page

WWOZ emails

Hello from Chicago,
“WWOZ”

In the canon of New Orleans music these letters are exalted. We give thanks to the Lords of Misrule, which cast watchful yet drunken eyes on our fair city, that WWOZ, in spirit and body, is intact and well though displaced.

___

I have a terrible vision. It is New Orleans turned Disney, turned Vegas, becoming one more cenotaph to its former self, one more tribute to America’s plastic culture. Many share this vision and there are those who embrace it for its monetary potential.

New Orleans’ beauty stems from its culture. Everyone is aware of this. That culture is in grave condition and has been threatened with extinction. The threat came from itself. It is the culture of indifference that exacerbated what was already a tragedy of immeasurable proportions. I, like everyone else, would rather sit in the shade suckin’ heads, pinchin’ tails, and drinkin’ beer than pay any mind to what the suits in government have planned for our children’s schools or the increasing poverty/racism/drug problem.

The time for indifference is over! The responsibility lies with each and every one of us: everyone who voted on strict party lines, or did not care to vote. Everyone who watched our elected officials rape the state and local budgets and shrugged it off as entertainment. You must become involved! You are your brother’s keeper. Our electorates must he held accountable. This, above all else, must change in order for New Orleans and its people to be saved.

Imagine a New Orleans that forgets Big Chief Montana’s legacy, where all the pretty feathers fly to Austin and Alabama. Imagine a New Orleans that Fats would not want to call his home. Imagine a New Orleans where no resident can recall riding the Zepher or watching Morgus. Imagine a New Orleans where Ignatius Reilly can’t be found. Imagine a New Orleans owned by national and international franchises. Imagine a New Orleans that has nothing to be blue about.

This is what is to become of New Orleans if things don’t change. Pay attention to where the money is going! Who are the contracts going to? -not New Orleans businesses. Demand disclosure!

This is my challenge to WWOZ, as a leader, catalyst and benefactor of the most diverse culture in the world: Advocate and demand this from your listening audience. When New Orleans disappears, so will WWOZ, and we just can’t have that.

New Orleans, don’t forget your National Anthem:

“Mighty cooty fiyo

He won't bow down, down on the ground”

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

George,

Hey! Welcome back. I've really enjoyed your show this morning. Its great to hear you all live again. I think that WWOZ is a national treasure (just like N.O.) and you're in our prayers and checkbooks. Please continue to keep the music alive...its very important to a lot of us.

Folsom, California

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We are so happy that wwoz is back on the air and have already pledged a
donation to help keep things going.

Listening to the music makes us pray even harder for the local citizens who
have lost their homes.

We will be looking for information about the 2006 Jazz fest. Like N.O., the
jazzfest WILL GO ON!

Cheers ... (Cincinnati, Ohio)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi George

OZ is the greatest. I am listening over the net in Victor Idaho,
just on the west side of the teton range. I listen to wwoz day in and
day out , you always make me feel so fine with the greatest music on
planet earth. Diversity is the key to survival and wwoz serves up a
most diverse selection. Thanks for keeping the tunes going , my heart
goes out to you folks after all that has been dealt this past summer.

Cheers

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So good to be able to click on and hear the sounds of the City coming from much closer to home.......
Excellent show today Sir.
The city -our friends down your way let us know that She is rising- We survived an Earthquake in '89 it was not even close to what Y'all have endured.
Hope to be down again to help soon-
Kiersten in Santa Cruz, Ca

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi there -- it's great to have you back on air and hear live shows. I have lots of friends in NO and have visited often. After Katrina some of us up here in Seattle sold pralines and coffee to send to the WWOZ rebuilding fund. It's about time to do that again,eh? No one can say no to one of my pralines.

Anyway, I'm listening on ITunes to your webstream, and just wanted to respond to your query. We are trying to keep culture alive up here in the northwest. Hang in down there!

Jen

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You have some open ears in Seattle & there is nothing better to fill
them with than OZ. Glad you survived & some sense of normalcy
(whatever that may be) appears on the horizon. Thanks for being there.
Bill

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Enjoying your stream in Seattle Washington. I have been streaming OZ for years. Much appreciation for keeping the Spirit of NOLA alive! We are with you! We are listening!!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Delighted to be listening to live wwoz again while I work.

Big fan of Bonerama, NONC, Leroy Jones, Craig Klein, Mark Mullins, Mark Braud, Lucien Barbarin, and just got introduced to the NOJO in Iowa City last week.

Can't wait to hear all the music during Mardi Gras!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear 'OZ,

My husband and I have been to Jazzfest the past two years but have been smitten with New Orleans (and all that means) since our first time out. Needless to say we were heartbroken when Katrina hit and all that ensued. Thank goodness for your website and the list of surviving musicians to ease our worried minds.

I've been listening to the station in exile, which was a great bandaid, but it's wonderful to have you back for real. It was a happy coincidence for me that you were hosted by WFUV. As a native New Yorker who was in my teens during the seminal days of FM radio, WFUV was a major source of music for me back in the day. How comforting that 35+ years later they've been bringing me my favorite radio station.

Much luck and love to you all. Can't wait to come back to the city that care forgot.


P.S. - I'll be renewing my membership later today.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi. I was born & raised in N.O. I'm in the DC area now.

My heart has been broken over what the city has gone through.
I started a blog about its recovery: www.hellsmouthcafe.com.

Glad to hear you live again, on the Net. Hope you get to go home soon.
Looking forward to Jazz Fest '06.

Best wishes,

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello,

I didn't get your name, but I sure wanted to send you an e-mail. I'm
listening to wwoz all the way in Sao Paulo, Brazil. I got to know the
station when I lived for a few years in LA, and it's just great
to be able to listen to it again through the internet.

I hope things get back soon on track to the radio and the people of New
Orleans.

Peace.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Keep up the good work.

A request: Mack the Knife; dedicated to my son Zach.

Thank you;

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Getting you loud and clear in my little office in the heart of the UAB campus here in Birmingham, Alabama.

Thanks for keeping the New Orleans spirit alive.

Namasté!

J

Tell Congress: Don't abandon pets in disasters!
http://go.care2.com/50041

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's great to have you guys back on the air!

Thanks for all the great music,

a fellow new orlenian/ecuadorian, Gabriela

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As I sat in my loft of my house watching on WWLTV.Com the catastophe unfold in my beloved New Orleans, I went to the station that has always "represented New Orleans" to me. Lo and Behold, I found WWOZ in Exile and I have been listening ever since via web. As the sun arises here in cold Alaska, I can only say CONGRATULATIONS to whomever had the idea to keep this station alive via the "In Exile" strategy and thank you. Had WWOZ In Exile not been there in those very sad days a few weeks back, I would have been a helluva lot more despondent about what was occuring in my hometown.

I will do my part to help WWOZ come alive again.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey,

I am listening to WWOZ via internet stream in Jackson Mississippi. i
have enjoyed listening to your station and all the great music New
Orleans has to offer. This station helps me appreciate the great city of
New Orleans. When i was a teenager i thought the only thing New Orleans
was famous for was Bourbon Street, but now i really know what it means
to miss New Orleans. Everybody can say what they want about New
Orleans, but New Orleans will always hold a special place in my heart.
i will never, ever miss another jazzfest as long as i am alive! I can't
wait to get back down there.

best wishes,

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for the great music. We got rain left over from the last storm here in the northeast. This is getting too old so the music helps a lot. You play a different mix than the station here in the Pittsburgh area (WDUQ) and sometimes I just need that change. Like most of the people in the country I wish everybody down there the best and promise to continue to do what I can to help out. – Aliquippa Pennsylvania

P.S. I put my bass up on Tipitinas web site. I am trying too support the music.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

george

just got your email from fred. i hope you did okay in the storm. i was glad to hear your voice this morning. and that was the most healing healing chant i've ever heard!

just wanted to touch base with you.

ari

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

so glad y'all are back on the air... it makes the daunting task of contacting ALL of our students-- to find out 1. what they're doing this semester and 2. whether they're coming back-- a lot more manageable. happily, nearly all the students i've talked to so far are indeed planning to return.

so keep the music coming! :)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey, George! Just heard you on air. Welcome back. I've been in NOLA for
over a week, clearing out my molded stuff from my house in Holy Cross.
On my way out there now. Will you play Lorraine's Song for me? I heard
it for the first time on your show the week before the storm and loved
it. Downloaded it and listened to it in Austin after the evac and
cried. Thank you for it, and other great stuff you play on your show.

Hugs,

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, God bless you all.

A world with no New Orleans flavor in it? Inconceivable!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To hear the healing chant over the airways of OZ is true revitilization for the soul. Thank you and the whole WWOZ family for bringing the soundtrack of New Orleans back to us. Amid all of the chaos that i am sure is filling your personal lives, it is truely heroic what you are doing for our city. Looking at my OZ calendar - the "Marching Band" painting to be exact, I feel almost at home.
"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything." Plato
Thank you for bringing the music back and all the hope that comes with it.
Cheers,

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

George,
As soon as I heard your voice, i had to send you an email. How great it is to hear that you are okay. David and I were worried about you and Sallie. Many stories about you two. Even though we have been away for 2 years, the impact of what happened and is still going on has affected us deeply. We are now in upstate NY, near Woodstock. It is great to finally hear a jazz show on OZ.

David was just in NOLA retreiving my mother's belongings. She now lives with us. He filmed the trip. Sadly, it is amazing footage. I have been in constant touch with Jenny and Elizabeth. Herman's house is structurally doomed. It still stands, but for how long? His negatives are safe. He is now in L.A. with his daughter.

When I think of all of the devistation and loss of life in NOLA, i simply feel my belly and know that there is a life in there waiting to make his debut. Yes, we are having a baby. He is due in mid-December. Pretty exciting stuff.

Let us know how you are doing and if there is anything that you may need.

Please visit if you are in Manhattan (1.5 hours south of us).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I’m here, listening from Long Island as I work from home….love NOLA and am anxious to come back to the jazzfest in 2006! Keep it comin’! Contributed 100 bucks last week and just luv OZ. It’ll all work out, you know. Keep the faith!! I know it has to be tough, You’ll get through. Just shout out to us for the support that you need and you’ll get what you need.

Susan...suburban gal in her very very early 50s, but still cool.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I've been tuned to the WFMU.org revenant 'OZ stream the past 2 months,
and am moved to tears myself to hear familiar voices from y'all. I hope
the computers I've gotten sent to Dwayne et al are making your jobs
easier - more are on their way. Never for a moment did I consider that
Ozillians might possibly leave OZ silent just because the worst storm in
American history destroyed our beloved "City of Dreams". More power to
you :).
--

"We do more after 2AM than most people do all day."
- The Krewe of After II

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

here's to your shout out...

Just letting you know I haven't been back to New Orleans for 7 weeks now (I stayed during the aftermath) and I'm sitting here in a north Atlanta suburb, really missing New Orleans and itching to get back - which will be this weekend - finally. I am sooooooo digging the music! And can't wait to go see some live down on Frenchmen Street.

So keep up the keepin' up, we love ya!

best,

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm from Ohio, and listen to WWOZ all the time. I spent a year
working in Bayou LaFourche, and became addicted to WWOZ. So now, I
listen a lot through the web.

We're out here, beyond the borders of Louisiana!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Back to News Main Page