We Made the Local News finally!!
Arabi Wrecking Krewe is finally getting some local recognition! Here is the article that appeared in today's TP (Times-Picayune)
Gutting takes a lot of heart
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Sheila Stroup
"Bring them home. Bring them all home" is the mantra of the Arabi Wrecking Krewe. They're working tirelessly to bring musicians back to New Orleans.
It's hot work, hard work, dirty work gutting houses. And they've been at it since people were allowed back in the city after the storm.
"We zeroed in on musicians right away," Armand "Sheik" Richardson said. "We said, 'What's the thing New Orleans needs most right now? The rhythm in the street.' "
It was mostly friends helping friends at first. The day a few guys went to help trombonist Craig Klein at his house in Arabi, Sheik got so upset at the mess 10 feet of water had left behind he ran to a wall and whacked it with a hammer, turning Sheetrock into rubble.
"Wow! You're a one-man wrecking crew," Craig said, and the Arabi Wrecking Krewe was born.
Music lovers got guts
The homegrown krewe keeps growing as music lovers find out about it. Jazzfesters from around the country pitched in when they were here.
Volunteers have cleaned out, gutted and pressure-washed dozens of houses, including the homes of Irma Thomas, Michael White and Benny Jones.
"I could name names all day long," Sheik said. "Almost all our musicians lived in areas that flooded."
Saturday, 15 volunteers worked on the home of Wilbert Rawlins Jr. in eastern New Orleans.
Wil was the band director at Carver High School before it filled with water. He recently left "a dream job" in Beaumont, Texas, and came home to organize a band at O. Perry Walker High School because he knows New Orleans children need him.
"We're honored to help him," Sheik said. "A guy who can play is one thing, but a guy who can teach and play is like gold in this city now."
City of gold
'For Wil and his wife, Belinda, watching their life being carted to the curb in wheelbarrows was heart-breaking.
"It's rough. I lost all my instruments, my keyboard, everything," Wil said. "But just seeing people going in and out that door does something for me."
Krewe members want to do more than clean out houses. They want to help musicians like Wil rebuild their homes and their dreams.
They need more volunteers, supplies, equipment and donations. They also need to hire craftsmen, licensed electricians and plumbers.
"If they left New Orleans after the storm, we'll help them come home, and we'll pay them to work for us," Sheik said.
When Sheik and his friends started the Wrecking Krewe, they thought they'd be helping a few weeks, a few months. But now, they figure five years, 10 years, whatever it takes.
They want to see neighborhoods filled with children. They want to see the city made whole again. They want to bring back the soundtrack of New Orleans.
. . . . . . .
For information about the Arabi Wrecking Krewe or to contact them, go to www.arabiwreckingkrewe.com.
Arabi Wrecking Krewe is finally getting some local recognition! Here is the article that appeared in today's TP (Times-Picayune)
Gutting takes a lot of heart
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Sheila Stroup
"Bring them home. Bring them all home" is the mantra of the Arabi Wrecking Krewe. They're working tirelessly to bring musicians back to New Orleans.
It's hot work, hard work, dirty work gutting houses. And they've been at it since people were allowed back in the city after the storm.
"We zeroed in on musicians right away," Armand "Sheik" Richardson said. "We said, 'What's the thing New Orleans needs most right now? The rhythm in the street.' "
It was mostly friends helping friends at first. The day a few guys went to help trombonist Craig Klein at his house in Arabi, Sheik got so upset at the mess 10 feet of water had left behind he ran to a wall and whacked it with a hammer, turning Sheetrock into rubble.
"Wow! You're a one-man wrecking crew," Craig said, and the Arabi Wrecking Krewe was born.
Music lovers got guts
The homegrown krewe keeps growing as music lovers find out about it. Jazzfesters from around the country pitched in when they were here.
Volunteers have cleaned out, gutted and pressure-washed dozens of houses, including the homes of Irma Thomas, Michael White and Benny Jones.
"I could name names all day long," Sheik said. "Almost all our musicians lived in areas that flooded."
Saturday, 15 volunteers worked on the home of Wilbert Rawlins Jr. in eastern New Orleans.
Wil was the band director at Carver High School before it filled with water. He recently left "a dream job" in Beaumont, Texas, and came home to organize a band at O. Perry Walker High School because he knows New Orleans children need him.
"We're honored to help him," Sheik said. "A guy who can play is one thing, but a guy who can teach and play is like gold in this city now."
City of gold
'For Wil and his wife, Belinda, watching their life being carted to the curb in wheelbarrows was heart-breaking.
"It's rough. I lost all my instruments, my keyboard, everything," Wil said. "But just seeing people going in and out that door does something for me."
Krewe members want to do more than clean out houses. They want to help musicians like Wil rebuild their homes and their dreams.
They need more volunteers, supplies, equipment and donations. They also need to hire craftsmen, licensed electricians and plumbers.
"If they left New Orleans after the storm, we'll help them come home, and we'll pay them to work for us," Sheik said.
When Sheik and his friends started the Wrecking Krewe, they thought they'd be helping a few weeks, a few months. But now, they figure five years, 10 years, whatever it takes.
They want to see neighborhoods filled with children. They want to see the city made whole again. They want to bring back the soundtrack of New Orleans.
. . . . . . .
For information about the Arabi Wrecking Krewe or to contact them, go to www.arabiwreckingkrewe.com.
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