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.
It was not until after Hurricane Katrina, however, that Hot 8 became known nationwide. Featured on CNN, Nightline, in the New York Times, and most notably in Spike Lee’s Katrina documentary “When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts”, Hot 8’s work with the Finding Our Folk Tour has brought music to evacuee shelters, temporary trailer parks, and to communities throughout the US that have provided a temporary home to displaced New Orleanians.
The Hot 8 Brass Band, like all of New Orleans, has had its share of tragedy in the aftermath of Katrina. In addition to displacement caused by the storm and subsequent violence and uncertainty contained therein, drummer Dinerral Shavers was shot and killed in late 2006 while driving with his wife and child in New Orleans. In addition, two other members of the band have lost their lives due to violence on the city streets. In response to these tragic setbacks, The Hot 8 Brass Band has recommitted itself to bringing people together through their unique brand of music to celebrate, to heal and to learn. This passion for music and social outreach led to an integral role contributing to the success of the Finding Our Folk Tour.
Saw you guys in Paris on the 30th (epic) and then could hardly miss you on home turf so headed along to Whelans to rock with the Hot8 again! Your version of Sexual Healing is guaranteed to put a smile on my face no matter what mood I'm in - last time I listened to it I laughed aloud for no other reason that I was so happy! Thanks :)
August 1st....New Orleans will be Paying Tribute 2 a Wrongfully Incarcerated Hip Hop Figure McKinley "MAC" Phipps!!! - (CHECK MY BLOG FOR THE BACKGROUND STORY OF THIS LEGEND IF YOU HAVENT ALREADY HEARD)
......come out, spread the word, and help raise the awarness for the wrongfully convicted!
Helloha from Dublin, Richard here, one of those weirdo's who snuck up to backstage in Whelans. We all had great craic with you lads, hope to play with you in the future. Check out www.myspace.com/historyofharry Dan, Rosie, Brian, Nat, Bergin, James, Pat all say hello! peace
