New Orleans in the House: Streaming WWOZ

And "Rare" is Still On the Air

The world of music mourned when the death of Ronnie Spector of the Ronettes was announced on Wednesday, January 12. And the sorrow was real, and earned. But down in New Orleans, the big same day news was the passing of Rosa Lee Hawkins, one of the original members of the Dixie Cups.

They were a “girl group,” like the Ronettes, best known for the "Chapel of Love," a number one Billboard pop hit; it's follow-up, "People Say"; and the 1965 top 20 hit, "Iko Iko," a classic Mardi Gras Indian chant that expanded its national renown when Dr. John recorded it on his album, Gumbo. Look deeper and you'll see it was also a single in 1953 by James "Sugar Boy" Crawford and credited to Sugar Boy and his Cane Cutters. I have a t-shirt that looks like a fraternity which for some reason is spelled “Aiku Aiku” rather than the more logical Iota Kappa Omega (IKΩ).

That night I was doing what I usually do most nights between 9 pm and 11 pm EST: Listening to WWOZ streaming live from New Orleans. I listen on …