Yamaha Drums Supplies Drum Sets To All Ten Stages At New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
(Yamaha | Posted 2006-05-08)
This year, as it has since 1985, Yamaha Drums served as the official drum sponsor of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, dubbed by organizers as the "most important jazz fest in history."
"This year in particular, Yamaha Drums took a great deal of pride in supporting the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival," said David Jewell, marketing manager, Yamaha Drums. "Not only are we continuing our loyal support for this very vital musical experience, but we are, in turn, helping the city return to its roots."
After Hurricane Katrina hit, the Yamaha Corporation of America's employee–supported charitable program, "Yamaha Cares," collected and matched individual cash donations to the American Red Cross. Employees at Yamaha Music Manufacturing plant in Thomaston, Ga. loaded a tractor–trailer with infant supplies and other necessities for delivery into the disaster zone.
Yamaha provides drums for the festival to Ray Fransen's Drum Center in Kenner, Louisiana, the state's oldest and largest establishment dedicated solely to drumming. Fransen and store manager Frank D'Arcangelo help service all ten stages at the festival, which took place this year on April 28–30 and May 5–7. After the crowds went home, Fransen sold the drums to the public at his store.
After suffering devastating destruction during Hurricane Katrina, Ray Fransen's Drum Center became one of the first businesses in the city to reopen. Fransen experienced another setback in February when a woman drove her pickup truck into the store, causing $50,000 in damage. That is all in the past and he has begun to work with several foundations to provide drums to musicians who lost kits during the hurricane.
"Our hope is to rebuild our lives, our region and our music community," said Fransen.
For more information on Yamaha Drums, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Pro Audio & Combo Division, Drum Products, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone 714–522–9011; email infostation@yamaha.com. or visit www.yamahadrums.com.
