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A few of the functions on our website are having troubles including the tourdates, store and forum. We expect to have these problems fixed within a few days. So in the meantime, here are reminders of several dates coming up:

Kermit Ruffins plays most Tuesdays at Bullet’s in New Orleans (6:30pm)
Kermit Ruffins plays most Thursdays at Vaughan’s in New Orleans (10:30pm)
Irvin Mayfield plays most Wednesdays at Snug Harbor in New Orleans (8pm&10pm)
Dr. Michael White will be in Paris on September 9th.
You can find Jon Cleary’s complete schedule at www.JonCleary.com.
You can find Henry Butler’s complete schedule at www.HenryButler.com.
You can find Theresa Andersson’s complete schedule at www.TheresaAndersson.com.

George Brumat, the owner of New Orleans’ famous jazz club, Snug Harbor, passed away during his sleep on Saturday night from an apparent heart attack. He was 63. He was a good friend and supporter of Basin Street Records, a supporter of musicians, and a supporter of Jazz. We will miss him. For more information, read the piece written by Keith Spera of the Times-Picayune HERE.

On Thursday, June 28th, 2007 I attended my closing (a simple 30 minute process) for the Road Home program and was promised that the funds would be wired to my account within 14 days. Today, 11 days later, I received the wire transfer. Very glad that my wait is over, and I hope that for all of the other 10s of thousands of people waiting that their money comes quickly. I’ve been at it since long before the “official” announcement of the program back in August, but my first 2 hour meeting with the Road Home was on September 21st.

Basin Street Records’ recording artist, Kermit Ruffins, performed at the Congressional picnic at the White House in front of about 1500 people on Tuesday, June 19th. Kermit and his band were greeted by President Bush and the First Lady. Tony Snow’s band, Beats Workin’, also performed. Read all about the event and take a look at a picture of Kermit with President Bush HERE (there are a few pictures in this article). Also, view an AP photo of Kermit and the President HERE. And this just in…Bill O’Reilly included a clip of Kermit Ruffins with the President in his “Most Ridiculous Item of the Day” on June 21st. Watch it HERE.

Dr. Michael White is featured in today’s Times-Picayune Lagniappe section. Read it HERE.

Also, listen to an archived live broadcast of Dr. Michael White from the Iridium HERE.

This past week’s issue of The Independent (Lafayette’s weekly) published a story on Governor Blanco’s miserably failing Road Home program, and the absolute incompetence of ICF (the company administering the program).

Basin Street Records and Mark Samuels are included prominently in the piece. Thank you to Scott Jordan for shedding light on this disaster.

Please read it HERE.

UPDATE 6/22/07: While standing on the White House lawn on Tuesday, June 19th while waiting for Kermit Ruffins and his band to come back from their photo opportunity with President Bush, I received a phone call from the Road Home program reviewing the numbers with me, asking which option I was taking, and letting me know that I should receive a phone call within 3 weeks to schedule a closing. I actually received the call to schedule the closing on Thursday, June 21st, and my closing is scheduled for next week. I was told by the woman who scheduled my closing that I should have the money within 2 weeks after the closing. It has been a long, long, wait and there are still tens of thousands of more people waiting, but it will sure be a big relief when the money comes.
UPDATE 7/15/07: This time, a promise made by the Road Home came through and I have received my money. It actually came in about 10 days after the closing.