CNN 5 Things One Thing: Devastated by Katrina, Rescued by Music
Aug 31, 2025
The podcast reflects on the 20-year aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and its lasting effects on New Orleans. Survivors share how music became a powerful tool for healing and rebuilding their community. Stories of personal loss and resilience illuminate the profound impact of cultural identity shaped by sound. The transformative role of music education is highlighted, particularly in programs that guide youth towards new paths. Overall, it showcases the city's rich musical heritage and the communal spirit that continues to inspire its recovery.
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Silence Where Music Used To Be
- Michael White returned to his gutted home after Katrina and first noticed an eerie, heavy silence where music once pulsed through the city.
- He found his ruined music collection and rare instruments soaked and destroyed, which felt like losing part of his life.
Parade That Felt Like A Funeral
- Keith Frazier and Rebirth Brass Band played a second line parade a month after Katrina to uplift workers amid devastated streets.
- The early parade felt funeral-like but later ones helped people believe recovery was possible.
Youth Revived Brass-Band Culture
- Katrina catalyzed a surge of younger participation in brass-band culture who feared cultural loss.
- Young people (15–25) embraced traditions and created new songs, revitalizing the scene.