HONOREES
Wanda Rouzan &
A Taste of New Orleans
We are especially proud to honor Wanda Rouzan & A Taste of New Orleans at the festival for their extraordinary contributions to cultural and musical heritage. Wanda is a celebrated New Orleans vocalist, songwriter, cultural advocate, and community leader whose career has spanned decades of performance and public service. Known for her powerful voice and deep commitment to preserving the city's musical heritage, Rouzan has performed across the US and internationally while mentoring emerging artists and championing the traditions of Tremé.
Luther Gray
Born in Chicago in 1952, Luther Gray is an ethnomusicologist, pioneering percussionist, and cultural leader whose life’s work has helped preserve and celebrate the cultural traditions of New Orleans.
A second-generation musician, Gray’s love of music was nurtured by his father, a saxophonist who served in the U.S. Army Band in New Orleans during World War II. His father gave him his first set of bongos, beginning a lifelong journey with rhythm and music.
In 1981, following his father’s passing, Gray relocated to New Orleans and immersed himself in the cultural traditions of Tremé and Congo Square. In 1989, he founded the Congo Square Foundation, later renamed the Congo Square Preservation Society. In 1994, he founded Bamboula 2000, blending African rhythms with the sounds of New Orleans.
For more than 30 years, Gray has championed Congo Square and Tremé, educating more than 5,000 children in African drumming, music, dance, and cultural history. His work has helped connect generations and preserve the living traditions that make New Orleans unique.
The Tremé Fall Festival proudly honors Luther Gray for his extraordinary contributions to the cultural life of New Orleans and his unwavering commitment to preserving the history and living spirit of Congo Square and Tremé.