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Days after Katrina, we were living in my brother's guest room watching CNN as the anchor speculated about whether a man briefly filmed in the Convention Center was former child star Barry Cowsill. "I know that's Barry," Jeff said, catching a glimpse of his former bandmate. Barry was found in the Mississippi River three months later.
In a night of closure, his estate posthumously released his CD US1 at MidCity Lanes Rock n Bowl earlier this month. There was Barry Cowsill, on video smiling down on the lanes. His nephew Jason Cowsill, Jackie Jae, brother-in-law Russ Broussard, and Jeff played anthems Barry had been writing since his teenage years when the Partridge Family bought the Cowsill's life story. "Walk Tall," recorded in 2005, was the beginning of a whole new sound. I can't help thinking of the songs he would have written if he had survived.
"Kid" is also part of ReDefine 8/29 compilation through the charity that helped us stay sane out on the road for months. Hundreds of grants and instruments later, the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund is still rolling. Over Jazzfest we brought a school that still had no percussion a mountain of congas, and Sony's Little Big Planet is about to introduce a benefit level designed by musicians and artists including Family Guy's Joe Vaux. Grass roots efforts are growing across the board. Saints Quarterback Drew Brees just raised over a million dollars to rebuild playgrounds with "The Domino Effect" in honor of Fats Domino - the image of Fats being airlifted from his home brought home the depth of tragedy to millions around the world.
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