Ponderosa Stomp

infobox music festival
founders = The Ponderosa Stomp Foundation (Mystic Knights of the Mau-Mau)
music_festival_name = Ponderosa Stomp


caption =
location = New Orleans, Louisiana, Memphis, Tennessee
years_active = 2002 - present
dates = Two nights in end of April or early May
genre = Rock and roll, Country, Blues, Jazz, Swamp pop, Soul
website = [http://www.ponderosastomp.com/ Ponderosastomp.com]

The Ponderosa Stomp is an annual American roots music festival dedicated to recognizing the architects of rock-n-roll, blues, jazz, country, swamp pop and soul music. Founded in New Orleans in 2002 [ [http://www.ponderosastomp.com/press_more.php?headline=Christian+Science+Monitor%3A+The+early+sound+still+rocks+on+-Stomp%233+Preview&id=23 Christian Science Monitor: The early sound still rocks on -Stomp#3 Preview] ] and produced by the non-profit Mystic Knights of the Mau Mau (MK Charities, Inc & Ponderosa Stomp Foundation), a 501(c) 3 cultural organization dedicated to preserving and presenting the history of American roots music.

The Festival takes place in New Orleans in between two weekends of New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The first five Festivals were held at the Mid City Rock n' Bowl. In 2006, it temporarily moved to Memphis due to the effect of Hurricane Katrina. [ [http://www.ponderosastomp.com/press_more.php?headline=Ponderosa+Stomp+goes+on+in+Memphis%3A+Detroit+News&id=57 Ponderosa Stomp goes on in Memphis: Detroit News] ] The Festival moved back to New Orleans the following year and was held at the House of Blues in the French Quarter.

The Festival was named after a song by Lazy Lester who also has appeared at the Festival. [ [http://www.lazylester.net/index.cfm?do=biography Lazy Lester Biography] ]

The Ponderosa Stomp Foundation is dedicated to celebrating the legacy, revitalizing the careers and preserving the history of the unsung heroes of American music.

The music of the blues, soul, rockabilly, swamp pop, funk and New Orleans R&B, are the building blocks of rock and roll, rhythm and blues, hip hop and other contemporary music forms. Many of us sing along to this music, made popular by musicians as varied as Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Ramones, the White Stripes and the Velvet Underground . Yet, the musicians who created such famous songs as “Wooly Bully,” “Mr. Big Stuff,” “Groove Me,” “Leader of the Pack,” or “96 Tears,” aren’t recognized for their contributions to, and influence on, contemporary popular culture.

With many of these unsung heroes aging, it is essential to celebrate and honor their pioneering cultural contributions for generations to come. And, it is with this sense of urgency and profound respect for the individuals and their music that the Ponderosa Stomp Foundation continues its work to:

• Celebrate the legacy of the unsung heroes of rock ‘n roll whose influence and contributions have shaped American culture for over 50 years;

• Help revitalize the musical careers of these American music icons while they’re still alive;

• Preserve the history of rock ‘n roll history by educating audiences about American music’s unsung heroes.

The Ponderosa Stomp Foundation achieves its mission through the presentation of unique and varied programming, ranging from music education initiatives in public schools and museums to the signature annual concert event, The Ponderosa Stomp. It is a project of MK Charities, Inc. a 501(c) (3), non-profit educational organization.

"Preserving Rock ‘n Roll History"

Educational Series An exciting expansion of our efforts is the continuing development of educational and preservationist programs that educates both young and old about the contributions and impact of unknown American music legends. Through our partnership with New Orleans’ Ogden Museum of Southern Art, we’ve launched a concert series that adds the “Stomp” flavor to the weekly award-winning Ogden After Hours program. One week each month, The Ponderosa Stomp Foundation presents American music legends whose performances and accompanying live interviews are recorded as part of an ongoing oral history project that will serve as an essential resource of American music for years to come. In conjunction with the performance series and Ogden, the artists also visit and perform at public schools, bringing an unparalleled, vivid experience of American music history into the classroom. Currently, this program is conducted at The Good Shepherd School in New Orleans.

Ponderosa Stomp Music Conference In 2008, the foundation is partnering with the Louisiana State Museum, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, and the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame to launch the first-ever music conference dedicated to the unsung heroes of American music and their influence on contemporary music and culture. The Ponderosa Stomp Music Conference offers a full slate of daytime panel discussions and oral histories also set for April 29 and 30, at the historic Cabildo in New Orleans' Jackson Square. The conference will bring together American music historians, writers, educators and musicians to explore the heritage of rock ‘n roll music and the pioneering musicians who created it and shaped musical culture and heritage worldwide. Featured speakers include Ponderosa Stomp-certified performers Sonny Burgess, Barbara Lynn, Lazy Lester, Dale Hawkins and Roy Head, as well as acclaimed authors Peter Guralnick, Holly George-Warren and Robert Gordon, and music biz legends Joe Bihari (founder of RPM and Modern Records), and Bob Sullivan (original engineer for the Louisiana Hayride) among others. American music topics to be discussed include “Women in a Man’s World of Rock ‘n Roll,” and “New Orleans Drum Summit: the Reach and Influence of New Orleans Drumming.” Each session will be recorded and donated for preservation in the archives of the Louisiana State Museum, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, The Hogan Jazz Archive at Tulane University and the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame.

Oral Histories A key component to honoring the history of the unsung heroes of American music is to capture, document and archive their stories. Interviews are conducted with the musicians who provided Little Richard with the backbeat for his fiery debut recordings, backed Elvis Presley on the road and in the studio and taught Ray Charles how to mix the sacred and profane to create rock ‘n roll. Oral histories are being conducted throughout the year as well as at the Ponderosa Stomp Music Conference. The histories will be among the rich materials donated to partnering organizations dedicated to preserving them.

About MK Charities, Inc.

MK Charities, Inc. was started by rock n’ roll aficionados and members of the Mystic Knights of the Mau Mau who considered it their mission to rediscover and celebrate America’s overlooked musical pioneers of the blues, soul, rockabilly, swamp pop, funk and New Orleans R&B who wrote, produced, arranged and played on songs that are embedded in our consciousness, though the artists’ names may not be. Since its inception in 2001, MK Charities, Inc. has put on over 50 shows employing more than 200 musical legends and given a forgotten generation of musicians a platform to perform – and reeducate – the public about their pioneering cultural contributions to American contemporary music, including rock ‘n roll, rhythm and blues and hip hop.

The 7th annual Ponderosa Stomp took place on April 29th and 30th, 2008 at the House of Blues.

References

External links

* [http://www.ponderosastomp.com/ Ponderosa Stomp Homepage]