Free Music Industry Forum Features Exclusive Interviews with Mardi Gras Indians 2/13

The music industry studies program at Loyola University New Orleans presents Jim Gabour, extraordinary professor of video technology, in "Jockomo-fee-nahnay," a forum highlighting the history of the Mardi Gras Indians on Monday, Feb. 13 at 5 p.m. in Nunemaker Auditorium in Monroe Hall. The forum, which features never before seen footage and interviews of some of New Orleans' most legendary Indian tribes, is free and open to the public.

Gabour is an award-winning film producer and director whose work focuses primarily on music and the diversity of cultures. In the late 1970s, he began shooting interviews and footage of the various Mardi Gras Indian tribes and chiefs, famous for their elaborate feathered costumes and Carnival performances.

In celebration of the Mardi Gras season, Gabour will screen and discuss excerpts from several of his clips, including a 1986 interview on beading and costumes with Bo Dollis, Big Chief of The Wild Magnolias; a "meeting of the tribes" at Tipitina's in 1985 with the Big Chiefs of the Wild Magnolia, Golden Eagle and Creole Wild West tribes; and The Wild Magnolias performing with the Neville Brothers at the 1984 World's Fair jazz and gospel tent.

The forum will also feature footage of street runs, performances and interviews with three different chiefs of Wild Tchoupitoulas between 1978 and 1984, including Big Chief Jolly, the late George Landry, who inspired and sang on the legendary Neville Brothers album, "Wild Tchoupitoulas."

"These men and women are a deep cultural treasure for the city of New Orleans," Gabour said. "I am grateful for the opportunities I have been allowed to document their lives and art."

During his career, Gabour has earned five Cable ACE Awards, as well as medals at the International Film & Television Festival of New York and the WorldFest Film Festival. Gabour was the featured director of the year at the International Broadcasters Conference in Amsterdam in 2004, 2007 and 2010. He has produced multi-platinum DVDs for Norah Jones, documentaries on famed soul singer Al Green, and the 25th anniversary concert film for the mockumentary trio Spinal Tap. The DVD for Gabour's feature-length documentary film, "Flow: Living in the Stream of Music," was nominated for a 2007 Grammy Award. An official selection of film festivals around the globe, the film was added to the Permanent Collection of the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City, Mo.

For more information, contact Jess Brown in Loyola's Office of Public Affairs at jlbrown@loyno.edu or call 504-861-5882. Visit http://calendar.loyno.edu/2012-02-13 to learn more about the Mardi Gras events at Loyola.