This is the Professor's house. Pianist Professor Longhair (1918-1980) was world famous for his unique blend of blues, jazz, mambo and Calypso styles. It's his legacy that inspires Tipitina's. (AP Photo/Daphne Carr)
Dancing to the sounds of the ReBirth Brass Band. (AP Photo/Daphne Carr)
Phil Frazier, tuba player and leader, aka "father, brother, sister, mother, janitor" for the ReBirth Brass Band. (AP Photo/Daphne Carr)
Daphne Carr explores the lure and legacy of New Orleans nightclub Tipitina's.

NEW ORLEANS _ At the corner of Tchoupitoulas and Napoleon, where floats get ready to begin their stride down the streets for New Orleans Mardi Gras parades, there stands one of the city's most famous nightclubs, Tipitina's.

The club honors pianist Henry Roeland Byrd (aka Professor Longhair)one of New Orleans' legendary musicians. This place is named after one of Professor Longhair's songs.

Founded in 1977, Tipitina's was the last musical residence of the Professor, and was started as a place to rally for the city's live music legends in an era when the nightclub crowd only wanted to dance to disco.

Since that time, Tipitina's has not only supported a who's who of live music, but it has fostered the growth of subsequent generations of New Orleans musicians through assorted community projects. Five years ago, the club birthed Tipitina's Foundation, a nonprofit whose primary goal is to support music in local public high schools. One of the foundation's programs is called Instruments A Comin' and in 2006 they raised over a half million dollars to buy instruments for local schools.

In this asap podcast, Daphne Carr visits the club and talks to fans, employees and musicians about Tipitina's influence.

__

Daphne Carr is the editor of the Da Capo Best Music Writing series. She lives in Los Angeles.

___

Want to comment? Sound off at soundoffasap@ap.org .

©2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.