Legendary New Orleans musician/producer/songwriter/arranger Dave Bartholomew has just confirmed that he will join the Producer Panel scheduled for Thursday morning at the ARSC conference - along with Wardell Quezergue (the "Creole Beethoven"), Harold Battiste (composer/arranger for Sam Cooke, Dr. John), Bob French (drummer/vocalist with the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band) and moderator Ira "Dr. Ike" Padnos (Ponderosa Stomp Foundation). Bartholomew, who celebrates his 90th birthday today, is known for the many hits he wrote/produced for Fats Domino, Shirley & Lee, Smiley Lewis, and Earl King, among others. Over the course of his career, he was affiliated with Imperial Records as well as Trumpet, Mercury, and his own Broadmoor label. Bartholomew was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991. According to Dr. Ike, it is extremely rare to get all four of these New Orleans legends in the room together- don't miss it!

Brenda Nelson-Strauss