Starz Entertainment Group Supports New Orleans Musicians Devastated by Katrina With Original Documentary and Benefit Concert

Starz Entertainment Group Supports New Orleans Musicians Devastated by Katrina With Original Documentary and Benefit Concert

Concert and Benefit Event on May 13 at New Orleans House of Blues Will Raise Funds for Local Musicians, School Music Programs

'New Orleans Music in Exile' Feature-length Documentary to Premiere on Starz InBlack Saturday, May 20, 2006

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., March 1 /PRNewswire/ -- With New Orleans still recovering from the devastation by Hurricane Katrina, Starz Entertainment Group LLC (SEG) announced today that it will premiere an original documentary, "New Orleans Music in Exile" which chronicles the horror and heartbreak of musicians who lived through the disaster. But the music doesn't stop there. The Tipitina's Foundation, in conjunction with SEG, will launch a fundraising campaign to benefit local musicians and junior and high school music departments throughout New Orleans.

The Starz original production "New Orleans Music in Exile" will premiere exclusively on Starz InBlack at 8 p.m. et/pt Saturday, May 20, 2006. SEG will host the documentary's world premiere screening on Friday, May 12 at the House of Blues in New Orleans. The following night, artists featured in the film, along with some very special guests, will return to the House of Blues for the "New Orleans Music in Exile Concert and Benefit."

"'New Orleans Music in Exile' presents us with the ideal opportunity to do something about the catastrophic devastation that Katrina had on New Orleans' famed music culture," said Robert B. Clasen, president and CEO, SEG. "As we prepared for the film's premiere on Starz InBlack, we realized that we could use the film as a vehicle to help musicians and their families. The "New Orleans Music in Exile Concert and Benefit" will help bring the music that we all love and enjoy back to the streets and the schools in New Orleans. We invite anyone who cares about this city to support this event and help us celebrate and restore New Orleans' treasured music culture."

Directed by noted music documentarian Robert Mugge ("Last of the Mississippi Jukes," "Blues Divas"), "New Orleans Music in Exile" is a story of struggle, inspiration and the power of the Crescent City's music history. Musicians featured in the documentary include Dr. John, Cyril Neville, Kermit Ruffins, Irma Thomas, the Iguanas, the ReBirth Brass Band and others. In addition to performing they share their personal stories of how Katrina affected their lives, scattering them to other cities, and how they're getting back on their feet. The film's co-producer is Diana Zelman.

"'New Orleans Music in Exile' is a revealing and heartfelt documentary about musicians who are rebuilding their lives," said Michael Ruggiero, vice president of programming for SEG and executive producer of "New Orleans Music in Exile." "There's no better home for such an engaging story like this, than on Starz InBlack. But more than that, this film provides us with an opportunity to make a difference and to contribute to a city that still needs our help."

Filming of "New Orleans Music in Exile" began two months after the muddy waters, roiled by Katrina, drenched homes and neighborhoods like the Lower Ninth Ward, St. Bernard Parish, Treme' and Algiers where many musicians lived but were forced to leave, scattering to other cities.

Viewers will see the devastation first hand. Blues singer Irma Thomas walks through her famous club, the Lions Den, which was destroyed by the storm and will not be rebuilt. We also visit her soaked, soiled and severely damaged home. Kermit Ruffins tells about his lost possessions and move to Houston. Paul Sanchez of Cowboy Mouth shares how he has been living out of his tour bus. He says, "My home had ten feet of water and I had nine-foot ceilings. The first month was easy to keep your spirits up, because it was like, this adventure ... But now, we're over two months in and the fun's gone out of it and I just want to go home." Phil Frazer, leader of the ReBirth Brass Band says, "I lost a couple of cars and the roof was gone from my house. Both of our drummers, their houses were submerged under water completely. They lost everything."

Funds raised from the "New Orleans Music in Exile Concert and Benefit" on May 13 will support the Tipitina's Foundation's "Instruments A Comin'" and "Hurricane Katrina: Artist Relief" programs. These efforts provide material support for school music programs and direct assistance to musicians and their families affected by hurricane Katrina. For more information about Tipitina's Foundation, visit, www.tipitinasfoundation.org.

"The Tipitina's Foundation is pleased to be working with Starz Entertainment Group in this fundraising campaign and New Orleans Music in Exile Benefit and Concert," said Bill Taylor, the foundation's director. "Our efforts are devoted to helping to rebuild New Orleans music culture and heritage. This event will be of great assistance in our efforts. We are honored to be a part of this event and look forward to providing the funds received from this effort to the musicians and their families and the students who need and deserve it."

People interested in contributing to help New Orleans musicians and music programs can send donations to Tipitina's Foundation, Attention: Music in Exile, 800 Baronne Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70113.

About Starz Entertainment Group

Starz Entertainment Group LLC (SEG) is a premium movie service provider operating in the United States. SEG offers 16 movie channels including the flagship Starz(R) and Encore(R) brands with approximately 14 million and 25 million subscribers respectively. Starz Entertainment Group airs more than 750 movies per month across its pay TV channels and offers advanced services including Starz HDTV, Starz On Demand and Vongo(SM). Starz Entertainment Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation, www.starz.com.

Contacts: Chelsye J. Burrows Jonathan Taylor
Starz Entertainment Group The Lippin Group
720.852.5838 323.965.1990
chelsye.burrows@starz.comjtaylor@lippingroup.com

Source: Starz Entertainment Group LLC

CONTACT: Chelsye J. Burrows of Starz Entertainment Group,
+1-720-852-5838, chelsye.burrows@starz.com; or Jonathan Taylor of The Lippin
Group, +1-323-965-1990, jtaylor@lippingroup.com, for Starz Entertainment Group
LLC

Web site: http://www.starz.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Download high-resolution versions of related images at starz.mediaroom.com

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