(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Mark Samuels, president of the New Orleans based label Basin Street Records, has heard from all of his artists (not including sidemen). "This is a truly tragic time for the Crescent City, home to so many of today’s great musicians," said Samuels. "Thankfully all of our Basin Street recording artists have fled New Orleans and are safe, albeit uncertain as to the future of their beloved city so steeped in music. We thank everyone for their well wishes and concern."
The following Basin Street artists are safe and refugees in the following cities: Theresa Anderson, Irvin Mayfield, and Kermit Ruffins are currently in Baton Rouge; Bill Summers is safe, location unknown; Jon Cleary is in California; Dr. Michael White is in Houston; Henry Butler is in Monroe, LA; and Jason Marsalis is in Japan recording with Marcus Roberts. Samuels is currently in St. Louis, and his brother Will Samuels is in New York. “Our staff is safe, with the exception of our creative director, Hal Braden, who we have not heard from since Sunday," said Samuels..
“All of us here at Basin Street are looking forward to being able to return home to start to rebuild the city we love and are so deeply rooted to," said Samuels. "In the meantime, even though communication is difficult, we would like to make ourselves available to any press outlets and would like to be a part of any fundraising benefit efforts."
Basin Street Records is still open for business and is easily reachable by email; info@basinstreetrecords.com. Their distribution, which is handled by MRI Label Group through Red Distribution, has not been disrupted. –Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen
