Include New Orleans Musicians in the NBC/Universal Telethon for Katrina Victims

To the heads of NBC Universal -

Yesterday I received word of your plans for a telethon to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina. While I applaud your efforts, and those of the musicians slated to perform (Green Day, Alicia Keys, John Mellencamp and the Dave Matthews Band, etc), I pray that you will think outside the radio-friendly box in your booking of acts. While it's wonderful that New Orleans -- a city so rich in music history -- will be represented by the likes of Louisiana-born stars Harry Connick Jr., Wynton Marsalis and Tim McGraw, I pray that you will do what you can to book as many lesser-known New Orleans musicians as you can. These people have lost their city, and can contribute their talents while bringing attention to their hometown's vibrant musical heritage. As their livelihoods will most certainly be affected by this tragedy, I'm sure the exposure could not hurt them, either. This isn't an attempt to be opportunistic - to "use" thetelethon to furtheranyone's career. Rather, I'm sure every ticket or album sale takes onaneven greater importance at a time when these musicians will mostcertainlyface financial struggles themselves.

For example, my dear friends are in an incredible band from New Orleans called Galactic.

They're popular in the huge jam band community we have here in the U.S. (link will take you to the website for our communities biggest festival, Bonnaroo, which drew close to 100,000 music fans earlier this year)

They were to perform 2 concerts on 9/9 & 9/10 at a legendary New Orleans venue Tipitinas, their home turf - to celebrate the band's 10th anniversary. Sadly, this shall not come to pass.

Galactic was on tour in Seattle when Katrina hit (I'm sure many musicians were on tour at the time), and the members of the band have likely all lost their homes & belongings. I urge you to consider including them -- as well as other New Orleans musicians (Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Wild Magnolias, Marcia Ball, Rebirth Brass Band, the list goes on at incredible length) -- in the NBC Universal fundraising telethon as they are truly representative of the culture of New Orleans, as well as being amongst those in need of the help which will be provided by the proceeds from said concert. They are an incendiary, passionate live band and would make a phenomenal addition to your lineup. Their website is www.galacticfunk.com. They are but one example of the talent that this incredible town can offer your telethon. The best contact to start with for any of this would most likely be New Orleans / New York based promoters Superfly Productions - www.superflypresents.com. (It's all I can think of right now - I urge petition signers to add any contacts that might help in the comments section of their signatures)

These musicians truly represent the musical spirit of New Orleans and I think that's a valuable thing to share with the world. PLEASE include these musicians in your broadcast. It is vital that the world be exposed to the incredible musical strength of this incredible American city.

thank you.
Gina Figliuolo
Los Angeles, CA