The members of the Hot 8 were all born and raised in New Orleans; many of them began playing together in high school. In 1995 they came together and began playing traditional New Orleans brass band music professionally.
Founded by Bennie Pete, Jerome Jones, and Harry Cook in 1995, the band has played in traditional Second Line parades hosted each Sunday by a Social Aid and Pleasure Club ever since. The Hot 8 are famous for playing all day in the sun, then hopping to a club gig and playing through the night. But even more than their boundless energy, what makes the Hot 8 special are the sounds they coax from their well-loved, well-worn horns.
The Hot 8 Brass Band has toured in Japan, Italy, France, Spain, Finland, England, and Sardinia. They play regularly at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival ("Jazz Fest") and have played in the Village Halloween Parade in New York City, the Putumayo World Musics Concert of Thanksgiving in New Orleans, the Mardi Gras day Zulu parade, San Antonio Zulu Association Festival, the City of New Orleans New Year's Celebration and Mo' Fest, the Tom Joyner Morning Show, and the Master P music video Hootie Hoo.
Following Hurricane Katrina and the devastation wrought upon New Orleans, The Hot 8 became the featured band in the SAVE OUR BRASS! relief project, which brought music to evacuee shelters, temporary trailer parks, and communities that have reached out to New Orleanians. As a result, the Hot 8 Brass Band have been featured on CNN, Nightline, WDSU-TV (New Orleans) and in the New York Times.
Howdy Hot 8! I wanted to drop you a note to thank you for taking the time to accept us as your friend, and listening to our music. We appreciate the gesture and are grateful that you enjoyed our tunes enough to add us to your community of friends. After all, having people connect with our music is why we do this. I hope you'll come by often to say hello and let us know what's happening with you, and when you have a spare moment, please visit our brand new webpage at www. crosstimbersbluegrass. com there you can listen to more of our music and find out more about us. Feel free to sign the guestbook! (And if you have any ideas about how we could improve the webpage, be sure to let us know)
All my best and thank you again, Matt (the bass player) Cross Timbers
