Calling all Guardians of the Groove!

Join us for the inaugural WWOZ Groove Gala on Thursday, September 6 from 6:30-10:30p in the heart of the French Quarter: Tableau & LePetit Theatre. This is not your average gala! For one, we'll be wearing New Orleans festival attire (think Bayou Wear, sun dresses, straw hats). There'll be fabulous food and drinks (provided by Dickie Brennan Restaurants) and musical performances by Irma Thomas, Amanda Shaw, Dr. Michael White Quartet, Treme Brass Band, Doreen Ketchens, Joe Krown, Michael O'Hara & more. We rely on your support, so get down and come on out to the Groove Gala!

» Groove Gala tickets

Kyle Roussel Organ Trio at the Jazz & Heritage Center

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation presents the Kyle Roussel Organ Trio in a special concert on Saturday, July 14 at the Jazz & Heritage Center, with shows at 8p and 9:30p. Admission is free, and no tickets or advance registration are required. There is no reserved seating. WWOZ will be live video streaming the 8p set on Facebook Live and on our web site.

» Kyle Roussel event details

» Watch the video stream

New Orleans Tricentennial Music Moment: Clifton Chenier

One of our most recent New Orleans Tricentennial Music Moments looks at Clifton Chenier. The King of Zydeco recorded over two dozen albums, toured the world, won Grammys (including a Lifetime Achievement Award), and even played at the White House. None of it would have happened if he hadn't decided to get into a rickety old car with his band in 1954. Hear all the details of this story on the air or online, as shared by narrator Scott Bakula.

» WWOZ's Tricentennial Music Moments

In Memoriam: Henry Butler

Our sympathies to the friends and family of New Orleans piano genius Henry Butler, who passed away last week at the age of 68 after a long battle with cancer. Blinded by glaucoma at birth, Butler began playing the piano at age six, and began arranging, composing, and performing professionally age 12. With a sound that blended jazz, Caribbean, classical, pop, blues, and R&B, Butler was one of the premier torchbearers of the New Orleans jazz and blues piano tradition. Butler had a long relationship with WWOZ and performed many times throughout the years both in our studio and at our annual Piano Night show. His music will always live on at WWOZ.

» In Memoriam: Henry Butler

Show Host Spotlight: Suzanne Corley

An athlete, writer, vegetarian chef and polyglot, Suzanne Corley joined the roster of WWOZ volunteers in January 2004. Every Saturday from 4-6p, Suzanne takes 'OZ listeners on an exquisite World Journey. You can also hear her every other Saturday on Tudo Bem, our Brazilian show, from 2-4p (she alternates hosting with Dean Ellis). Suzanne has been undergoing constant treatment for metastatic breast cancer since her diagnosis in July 2014. The median survival rate after a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis is 33 months. Suzanne challenges us to look at life with courage and inspires us to live every moment with love, strength and beauty.

» WWOZ Program Schedule

Volunteer Spotlight: Ron Clingenpeel

Father Ron Clingenpeel, Episcopal priest and working musician, joined WWOZ’s volunteer pool in 2011. He's both an off-air volunteer and a substitute show host who gives generously of his time in spite of an extremely busy work and travel schedule. Father Ron has also been a full time captain at WWOZ’s Jazz Fest hospitality tent. Father Ron says, "The commitment that the station has to musicians is unparalleled. I don’t think any other station has that [kind of] commitment to music and culture…. We are guardians AND messengers of the groove!" Thanks for all your hard work, Father Ron!

» Volunteer at WWOZ

Recipe: Blackberry Cobbler

High summer is blackberry season, and cobbler is an easy way to enjoy them. It's terrific by itself. And with a scoop of vanilla and/or some fresh whipped cream? Crazy good!

» Recipe: Blackberry Cobbler