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Irie Vibrations

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May 2006 Article from MDA's nationally published Quest Magazine

A Stormy Music Affair

Derrick Rivere of Houma, La., taught himself to play the piano when his father, also a musician, gave him a keyboard. Little did he know how crucial music would be in his life.

When he was 15, Rivere’s Duchenne muscular dystrophy caused respiratory failure.

“I was clinically dead when I arrived at the hospital,” he said. Though a tracheostomy kept him alive, Rivere became depressed. During his three-month rehabilitation, he discovered the hospital’s music therapy program, a music room with — of all things — a piano. It saved him in many ways.

I played for an hour each day,” Rivere, 33, recalls. “It was therapeutic. There’s something about a beat and groove that’s beyond words. It’s a release.”

The musician tells of a time in his 20s when he was invited on stage at a club. “The next thing you know I was playing six nights a week for two and a half years,” he says.

Rivere’s reggae band, Irie Vibrations, won a Big Easy Entertainment Award in the 1990s. They produced CDs and played the New Orleans Jazz Festival. Then the unforeseeable happened.

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck.

“Except for myself, everyone in the band lost everything,” says Rivere, who owns a home 40 miles south of New Orleans with his daughter. The group is on hold.

Not one to give up, Rivere tours with another band in Shreveport, La., now. “I feel more than blessed,” he says.

Derrick Rivere on the Web: http://irievibrations.tripod.com

In most recent news, Irie Vibrations Article published Jun 18, 2004
Houma mans reggae band celebrates new CD

By RUSTY TROSCLAIR
For The Courier

HOUMA -- Irie Vibrations -- a New Orleans-based reggae band whose membership includes a Houma man -- has a lot to celebrate -- its first CD, "Red Hot Reggae," will be released this weekend.
The release party will be at 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Irie Vibrations at Café Negril, 606 Frenchman, in New Orleans.
Irie Vibrations released its first recording, "True Salvation," in June 1991. "In These Times" was released in April 1994.
"This is our first full-length album," keyboardist and Houma resident Derrick Rivere said. "Were going to play the songs off the album both nights. It will be like a regular gig, but it means so much more. We just hope as many people as possible come out those two nights and support the band."
Irie Vibrations was founded in October 1990 by Curt Hopkins, the bands lead vocalist, percussionist and songwriter.
In March 1993, the band won the Big Easy Entertainment Award for "Best Reggae Band" in New Orleans. In 1995, the band won another award, this time for the title of "Favorite Local Group" from the readers of New Orleans-area music publications.
Along with Hopkins and Rivere, Irie Vibrations consists of Kevin Rone, drums; Sebastian Weston, lead guitar, background vocals; and Mike Wade, bass.
Rivere said, "Our music is very positive, but that doesnt mean we dont have hard-driving, crowd pleasing shows. Our audiences dance non-stop, from opening song to the final notes."
Red Hot Reggae can be purchased at Tower Records and Peaches Records in New Orleans, as well as through the bands Web site, http://irievibrations.tripod.com. The record sells for $12.

Friday, June 18,2004

Longrunning local contemporary reggae band Irie Vibrations, featuring vocalists Curt Hopkins, drummer Kevin Rone, guitarist Sebastian Weston, bassist Mike Wade, and keyboardist Derrick Rivere, celebrate its new "Red Hot Reggae" CD with shows tonight and Saturday at Cafe Negril.

Recently Irie Vibrations played the 15th annual Lafayette Reggae Cultural Festival in Pelican Park. Where the band band performed before national recording artists Third World.

On April 4th, Irie Vibrations had the pleasure of performing for St. Monica Catholic School . This gala celebrated the indigenous music and culture of New Orleans and Louisiana.

This was a star studded show featuring Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee ,

Allen Toussaint , also appearing , local favorites Charmaine Neville , Kermit Ruffins and the Bar-B-Que Swingers , Rebirth Brass Band and many more.

The Times Picayune says , "In the New Orleans blossoming music scene, no band is more respected than Irie Vibrations ".

Night Life Magazine writes , " The hottest band in New Orleans is not a jazz band "

Offbeat Magazine Karen Cortello says in her Fest Focus , " Irie Vibrations prepares for almost a decade of appearances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival ".

Zulu's 2005 Lundi Gras Festival
Celebrating Its 13th Year!

Zulu Big Shot

The Greatest Free Show on Earth -- the 2005 Zulu Lundi Gras Festival will surely live up to its reputation for the thirteenth consecutive year, when the 500 members of the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club host a full day of fun and excitement along the banks of the mighty Mississippi River.

The 13th Annual Zulu Lundi Gras Festival will take place on Monday, Februrary 7, 2005 in Woldenberg Park at the foot of Canal Street along the Mississippi River in the French Quarter.

The festival event will feature local and world -renowned entertainers performing on two stages. Musicians such as Marva Wright, Michael Ward, Ed Perkins, Irie Vibrations, Charmaine Neville w/Reggie Houston & Amasa Miller, Rebirth Brass Band, Pinstripe Jazz Band, Big Al Carson, Irie Vibrations and many more will be providing non-stop music.

The Lundi Gras Festival will add flavor to your day when the twelve food vendors kick up the Cajun aroma of crawfish pie, shrimp creole, file' gumbo, alligator sausage, Jamaican chicken, crawfish bread, barbeque ribs, seafood pasta, catfish po-boys, peach cobbler, pecan pie, and many more New Orleans delicacies. There are other attractions to wet your festive appetite. Everyone can join in a second line as the 2005 Zulu Mardi Gras Carnival Characters parade every hour through the thousands of revelers wearing their colorful flamboyant costumes. Who knows -- you may be one of the lucky ones to receive a treasured carnival throw -- the Zulu Lundigras Coconut! Also, witness the arrival of King and Queen Zulu 2005 by U.S. Coast Guard Cutter along with their entourage.

The non-stop live music, tasteful New Orleans cuisine, and the Zulu African Village featuring arts and crafts will certainly provide thousands of locals and visitors with a festive prelude to "Fat Tuesday!"

Zulu's 2005 Lundi Gras Festival Schedule

The Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club will celebrate on Monday, February 7, 2005, the thirteenth year of the "Lundi Gras Festival." The Zulu organization will host a full day of fun and excitement along the banks of the mighty Mississippi River for locals and visitors of New Orleans to enjoy.

The thirteenth Annual Zulu's Lundi Gras Festival will take place in Woldenberg Park at the foot of Canal Street along the Mississippi River in the French quarter from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm

The festival event will feature local and world-renowned entertainers performing on two main stages an additional highlight to this year's festival is the Kids stage. The entertainment line-up is as follows:

Aquarium of the Americas Plaza (Stage II)

Master of Ceremonies - Larry McKinley

Michael Ward
11:00 am - 12:15 am

Irie Vibrations
12:35 pm - 1:50 pm

Rebirth Brass Band
2:10 pm - 3:25 pm

Charmine Neville w/ Houston & M. Miller
3:45 pm - 5:00 pm


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