During the first festival, Gary met Mr. Sherman Washington, leader of The Zion Harmonizers. That fortuitous meeting began a relationship that has brought The Zion Harmonizers and many other New Orleans groups to stages all over the world.
In 1972, Gary Edwards began Sound Of New Orleans Record Co by recording the Storyville Jazz Band at Montel Recording Studio in Baton Rouge, LA. The band leader was Drummer- Bob French; Bass and Vocals-George French; Piano-Ellis Marsalis; Trombone-Frog Joseph; Trumpet-Teddy Riley; Clarinet-Otis Basson. Many critics consider this one of the finest New Orleans Jazz albums ever recorded. This album is available now on the Second Line label.
Gary's desire to produce good recordings has led to a catalogue of albums by Tony Mitchel, Placide Adams, Tara Darnell, The Heavenly Stars, The Cor-Hendricks Singers, The Mighty Chariots, The Bemiss Brothers, The New Orleans Spiritualettes, The Treme Brass Band, The Algiers Brass Band, The High Steppers Brass Band, The Coolbone Brass Band, The Bayou Jazz Band, Mike Vax, Harmonica Red, Tommy Ridgley, Warren Ceasar & The Creole Zydeco Snap Band, The Adams/Griffin Project, Beau Bassin Cajun Band, Casa Samba and David & Roselyn.
Productions currently in progress include: The Bayou Renegades (Mardi Gras Indians), Steve Giarantano, Frisson Cajun Band, Kipori Woods, L. J. Hamilton, Eddie Bo, Rockin' Dopsie Jr. & The Zydeco Twisters, The Gospel Dedicators.
The company's guideline has always been to allow the artists to express themselves freely. This freedom sometimes requires more work, but it has also created some very interesting music.
During Gary's stay as stage manager of the Blue Room of the Fairmont Hotel from 1981 through 1989, an awareness of the international popularity of Louisiana music caused Sound Of New Orleans to become interested in all of what Louisiana has to offer musically.
Some years back, the New Orleans Jazz And Heritage Fetival began a program of providing to the schools of New Orleans free musical performances. These performances are called the Jazz Workshops and they feature artists that play at the Jazz Festival. Gary has had the good fortune to work with this wonderful program since it's inception. This is a truly worthwhile use of Jazz Festival profits and deserves more attention.
The company has recently focused on another facet of Louisiana music, Zydeco, and will be producing several more Zydeco recordings in 1995. Now, Cajun music is not far behind in the sounds coming from the little company that is bringing Louisiana music to the world. Two new recordings are in the works and more to come.
In the past five years, SONO has sent groups to perform for over five hundred foreign concerts.
For booking information call Gary Edwards at (504) 484-7222 or fax him at (504) 483-9018.
E-mail Gary Edwards at bedico@bellsouth.net