Saturday, April 25, 2009
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival opened Friday with a salute to its roots and a tribute to the late gospel singer Mahalia Jackson.
Thousands of fans turned out for the tribute and dozens of other musical performances, enjoyed in the sunny weather and with plenty of food around.
To a packed tent, Grammy-winning soul singer Irma Thomas and gospel singers Mavis Staples and Pamela Landrum sang such Jackson hits as “Troubles of the World” and “Come on Children, Let’s Sing.”
Members of the audience stood, some clapping, others waving outstretched arms as Thomas sang: “I found the answer, I learned to pray.”
Friday’s other highlights included blues rocker Joe Cocker and trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis.
The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.