An Oscar Nom and a Cause: New Orleans Bluesman Dr. John

New Orleans is on our minds this weekend — and not just because of The Saints.

New Orleans' own doctor of the blues (and zydeco/voodoo rock/funk...) Dr. John, whom NPR has called the Crescent City's "Greatest Living Musical Ambassador," sings and performs on the Randy Newman-penned song, Down in New Orleans, which was nominated for an Academy Award. The song is part of the soundtrack of the Disney film,The Princess and the Frog.

The nomination is a wonderful accolade, but also serves a timely reminder of the place that is still struggling after 2005's Hurricane Katrina, and highlights a cause that is close to Dr. John's heart: the New Orleans Musician's Clinic, which provides access to health and social welfare services for the local music community.

In the four years since Katrina, there's still much to be done to help the city recover its past in order to build up its future. Music has been inextricably linked to New Orleans and hopefully will continue to be for a long time coming.

As we watch the Saints march in to the Super Bowl, and gear up for the festivities of Mardi Gras (did somebody say King Cake?!), for which the community of musicians have always had a major hand in making it what it is, why not check out what a few dollars donation (say, the cost of one of those Hurricanes at Pat O'Briens) could do? The organization helps in keeping the sister and brotherhood of musicians thriving: helping with everything from medical costs to funding gigs.

Because if you've always wanted to be able to say, "I'm with the band," here's your chance.

Photo courtesy of Bruce Weber