For the most part, yes. Much of Katrina's and Rita's worst effects occurred east of the city, while several of the town's most artistically important areas suffered only minor flood damage. In addition, wind damage was largely insignificant in the French Quarter, Uptown, and the Central Business District -- it's the storm surge caused by the wind that does the real work, and the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, sadly, bore the brunt of most of the heavy winds. With that in mind, here's a look at how the Crescent City landmarks of rock history weathered the tragedy.
J&M Studios (838-840 N. Rampart St.)
Why it's famous: This is the original site of Cosimo Matassa's legendary studio, the only one operating in New Orleans for years and therefore Ground Zero for the recorded musical scene that started in the late Forties. Waxed here were such classics as:- "Good Rockin' Tonight," Roy Brown
- "The Fat Man," "Goin' Home," "Poor Me," "I'm In Love Again," "My Blue Heaven," Fats Domino
- "Lawdy Miss Clawdy," Lloyd Price
- "Honey Hush," Big Joe Turner
- "The Things That I Used To Do," Guitar Slim
- "I Hear You Knocking," Smiley Lewis
- "Tutti Frutti," "Long Tall Sally," "Slipping And Sliding," Little Richard
- "Feel So Good," Shirley and Lee
- also the first recordings of Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis, Earl King, and Ernie K-Doe
Depth of water: 2.8 inches
Prognosis: Good. The French Quarter came through better than almost any other part of town. In fact, at least one bar in the area (Johnny White's) remained open throughout the storm and its aftermath!
Cosimo's Studio (525 Governor Nicholls St.)
Why it's famous: Cosimo moved his headquarters here in 1956, where the city's legacy of recorded rock and roll milestones really started to roll out. Recorded here:- "One Night," Smiley Lewis
- "When My Dreamboat Comes Home," I'm Walkin'," "Valley Of Tears," "Whole Lotta Loving," "I'm Ready," "I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday," "I Want To Walk You Home," "Be My Guest," "Walking To New Orleans," "Let The Four Winds Blow," Fats Domino
- "Ain't Got No Home," "(I Don't Know Why I Love You) But I Do," Clarence "Frogman" Henry
- "Go To The Mardi Gras," "Big Chief," Professor Longhair
- "Don't You Just Know It," Huey "Piano" Smith and the Clowns
- "Sea Cruise," Frankie Ford
- "Rip It Up," "Ready Teddy," "Lucille," "The Girl Can't Help It," "Jenny, Jenny," "Good Golly Miss Molly," Little Richard
- "Let The Good Times Roll," "I Feel Good," Shirley and Lee
- "Ooh Poo Pah Doo," Jessie Hill
- "You Talk Too Much," Joe Jones
- "There's Something On Your Mind," Bobby Marchan
- "Come On," "Trick Bag," Earl King
- "Mother In Law," "A Certain Girl," Ernie K-Doe
- "It Will Stand," The Showmen
- "I Know (You Don't Love Me No More)," Barbara George
- "It's Raining," "Ruler Of My Heart," Irma Thomas
- "I Like It Like That," "Land of 1000 Dances," Chris Kenner
- "Lipstick Traces," "Fortune Teller," Benny Spellman
- "You'll Lose A Good Thing," Barbara Lynn
- "Ya Ya," "Ride Your Pony," Lee Dorsey
- also the first recordings of Sam Cooke, Aaron Neville, Dr. John, Johnny Rivers, Allen Toussaint, and Art Neville
What it is now: A series of luxury apartments.
Depth of water: 3.5 feet
Prognosis: Not good. This address is more near the middle of the city and thus not far from one of the canal breaks.
Jazz City (Camp St.)
Why it's famous: Cosimo wound up his stunning career here in the mid-Sixties, overseeing latter day hits by Lee Dorsey ("Working In The Coal Mine"), one-offs by people like Robert Parker ("Barefootin'") and Aaron Neville's "Tell It Like It Is." This is probably most famous as the birth of the city's funk scene, at least on record; it's where the Meters cut their teeth.What it is now: An office building.
Depth of water: None
Prognosis: Good. Most of the famous street is untouched. Miraculous, considering its surroundings. (Though there was about a foot of water near Canal St.)
