Friday April 15th, 2005

Tambourine man Brison Colbert parading in front of the Backstreet Cultural Museum in the Treme

Sylvester Francis of the Backstreet Cultural Museum was honored yesterday. It was a great tribute which included the Treme Brass Band, Scott Aiges from the Mayor's Office, Big Chief Victor Harris from Fi-yi-yi, Big Chief Kevin from the Flaming Arrows. Pat Jolly, James Andrews and Karen Gant, Jacques Morial, Sydney Byrd, Mimsie, and hundreds of others attended.

Sylvester has spent his whole life as a photographer and videographer, collecting and maintaining suits, photographs, and memorobilia documenting the life in New Orleans. His work culminated in the creation of the Backstreet Museum .which is a center for information about the culture, especially distributing the invaluable route sheets for the Second Lines!

The party culiminated in a hourlong Indian jam with the boisterous drumming and tambourine playing working the lobby of the chic International House into a frenzy. With free Louisiana Rum on hand the fire was well-fueled.