Back again this year under the gospel tent at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival will be St. Charles Parish’s own Gospel Inspirations of Boutte.
The 14-member group is celebrating its fifth year at the festival, and band manager David Diggs says that they’re all thankful to be part of the event.
“The best part about performing at jazz fest is the people,” he said. “Everyone is so friendly and well receiving of our music. The audience and atmosphere make it all worth it.”
The gospel group first formed in 1975 as part of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church choir, then with only five members.
“The one thing that has changed the most about us over the years is our size,” added Diggs. “With nearly 50 members that have come and gone, we now stand a 14. The hardest one to lose was Mack West, who passed away in 1994. He was our lead singer for six years.”
Diggs says that in addition to headlining festivals, the group performs at various concerts throughout the New Orleans and Houma areas, pointing out that, at times, the band travels as far as Texas.
“We participate in a lot of gospel shows and take part in conventions for churches. And our tour dates change each year,” he said. “But one thing that doesn’t change is our music. We stay contemporary and sometimes add a unique country-music sound to our songs.”
The Gospel Inspirations of Boutte are: Robert Lumar, Allen Milton, Rev. Rolando Bradley, L.J. Cooper, Joseph LeMeaux, Roderick Lewis, Colette Green-Joseph, Blanch Newsome, Jared Haydel, J.J. Patterson and Michael Sears.
You can see the group at jazz fest on Saturday, April 25 at 11:45 a.m., and also at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church’s spring festival in Boutte on May 23 and 24.
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