Our History
Since its inception, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation has strived to teach, build, and celebrate the culture of New Orleans and a future that ensure that New Orleans’ legacy lives on in the eyes, hands, and voices of our children.
1970
Founding of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation & New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
1974
Professor Longhair Benefit Concert
1979
Creation of the Community Partnership Grants. Established the first Executive Director of the Foundation.
1980
Purchase of Foundation offices at 1205 North Rampart St.
1984
Purchase of WWOZ 90.7 FM license
1987
Tom Dent Congo Square Lecture Series is founded
1990
Don Jamison Heritage School of Music is founded
1995
Jazz Journey Concert Series is founded
1998
Seeded the Musicians Clinic, which provides free and reduced fee healthcare for music industry members.
2000
Established the official Jazz & Heritage Archive facility and full-time Archivist
2005
Helped seed Sweet Home New Orleans that channeled funds and services to the cultural community post-Katrina
2006
Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival is founded
2007
Louisiana Cajun Zydeco Festival is founded
2008
Congo Square New World Rhythms Festival and Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival are founded. Established Sync Up Conference, connecting the national music industry to the local music scene.
2009
Purchase of 1225 North Rampart to be renovated and renamed The George & Joyce Wein Jazz & Heritage Center
2012
Established “Class Got Brass,” a competition to musically inspire kids and fund music programs in schools
2014
Established Catapult Fund, which is are financial workshops for small businesses in the creative industries
2015
Opened the George & Joyce Wein Jazz & Heritage Center, housing the Heritage School of Music and state-of-the-art performance hall.
2019
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival celebrates 50 years
2020
Established The Jazz & Heritage Music Relief Fund