The New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund, a 501(c)3 grass roots charity founded by displaced New Orleans musicians over four years ago, provides donated instruments (left) and most recently, free concerts and band uniforms. One effort we're proud of is the Mr. Ocra film at Sundance Film Festival this week, with proceeds to assist NOMRF and Make it Right. We're grateful to those who have contributed instruments including including two baby grands, one from Pearl River) to a teacher. A New Jersey school donated uniforms to Lusher School which will have its first marching band in 2010 on a field donated by Saints Quarterback Drew Brees.  As described by Chris Rose in the Times Picayune, our charity has been able to pass along evacuation vehicles, guitars, horns, drums, concertinas and more. We're sorting through 10,000 strings donated by Taylor Guitars. Hallmark Magazine recommended donating instruments to displaced musicians (tip #2), and so did Blog Action Day ( tip #10). Visit our Impact Award nominated MySpace page for details.  The first post-Katrina holidays we brought the Great Southwest Holiday Toy Sleigh Ride for musicians’ children - the airline gave the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund space to bring 200 pounds of toys home post-Katrina. We also mailed toys to displaced musicians’ children.  So many toys came in, WWOZ DJ and drummer Bob French announced that families could pull up out front of the studio while we distributed everything from skateboards to dolls. Bob is now living in Habitat for Humanity's Musicians Village, NOMRF couch and all.

Teen Helps Young Rockers Through Bat Mitzvah The New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund has given out Rock n Roll Fantasy Camp scholarships and, thanks to Chicago teenager Mel who donated her Bat Mitzvah funds to buy guitars for 14 young New Orleans musicians. One of the young rockers was able to play his new guitar at Rock Camp along with New Orleans musician Shamarr Allen (at right), now rocking Bring Em To the Dome. The rock counselors spent time with the legendary Smokey Johnson and Cosimo Matassa and named their group the Cosimo's Kids, winning Best Set of the Tour. Individual donations, from instruments to clothing, have helped keep our grass roots organization growing for four years now.

The Car so Nice, NOMRF Gave it Twice In the first few years after the storm, the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund was able to mail hundreds of direct grants to musicians across the country to help them return, but the charity now receives more physical items than financial donations, ranging from drums to desks. One example is Tanio, a brass band drummer who received a donated van for gig transportation (at left). When his NOMRF van was stolen, the lawyer who processed the donation paperwork donated her car just in time for his family's Hurricane Gustav evacuation.  Helping support NOMRF is Euclid Records which released a limited run of Benefit 45 albums with live tracks from Steve Wynn of the Dream Syndicate, Terry Adams of NRBQ, Peter Holsapple and Chris Stamey and more. Legendary album artists provided covers  HERE.

Instruments and Furniture Delivered to Musicians Village For those who have returned to New Orleans and are just now furnishing their homes, Furnishing Our Neighbors partnered with the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund's ReDefine 8/29 Campaign to offer four-star hotel-donated furniture. More than 1,000 people have already been helped with $8 and $29 furniture, and free furnishings from sofa beds to armoires have been delivered musicians including legends in the Musicians Village like Smokey Johnson, longtime Fats Domino drummer. The New Orleans Musicians Relielf Fund also brought Smokey a saxophone for his church, with the help of the ultimate friend of new Orleans music - Dr. John. Rock n Bowl which hosted Jazzfest benefit featuring Dr. John, Marcia Ball, Joe Krown, Cynthia Chen and more for a Living Legends Benefit and tribute to Eddie Bo. As we attempt to keep ReDefining 8/29 post-Katrina, our supporters are deeply appreciated.  As the new Grammy Winner told Entertainment Weekly about the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund. "It's small organizations - they've done more than these big organizations with a lot of money." Love Song to New Orleans song contest helped raise awareness for New Orleans musicians with a song contest and CD. All of our supporters' efforts to support New Orleans musicians are greatly appreciated.

Family Piano REM featured our founder's piano print (HERE), and the benefit print is available HERE to help NOMRF provide gigs, emergency help and instruments.

Sport Your Support Our reloaded New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund's ReDefine 8/29 download includes Dr. John, Ian Hunter and many others (HERE). NOMRF also offers tracks with legendary sax players through Sax on the Web, Music lovers are still reaching out to New Orleans from Southern Comfort to Sony Playstation's Little Big Planet soon offering game levels by Family Guy artists. Our tees for ReDefine 8/29, NOMRF logo, Headphone Tee (left) and more are available HERE. Jackson Squared artist L. Steve Williams, Jr. printed posters are also available at More Fun Comics on Oak Street, Snake & Jake's Christmas Club Lounge and Winky's on Magazine.