Part of New Orleans’ charm is the way it nurtures musicians who bring the city’s unique culture to the rest of the world. Native vocalist Arthur Booker traveled the country performing alongside acts like The Temptations, Little Richard, Gladys Night, and the O’ Jays. However, most talented and successful musicians do not end up retiring into riches, and neither did Mr. Booker.
Today, Mr. Booker is back in Central City, New Orleans, where he inherited a historic house from his grandmother but has not been able to move in. This historic home, which suffered during Katrina, has been in his family for four generations, and he is anxious to see it brought back to a livable condition.
Just as it is easy to forget about an elderly musician, it is easy to ignore a home that holds enormous value for both its inhabitants and its community. Although Arthur Booker is a proud man and a hard worker, many things have prevented him from rebuilding. Funding from FEMA and Road Home fell through, and Mr. Booker has lived largely off Social Security while caring for his 86 year-old mother and 85 year-old Aunt. Despite his own health problems—he will soon have surgery to install a heart defibrillator—Mr. Booker wakes up early everyday to work alongside United Saints volunteers, and he continues to pay for the reconstruction to the best of his ability.
The United Saints has been providing as much manpower and funding as possible for this project, but we are still in need of $30,000 to replace large windows, siding, gutters, and plumbing, and to remove mold damage. Because United Saints is primarily volunteer-run, our low overhead makes sure that proceeds go largely to aiding homeowners like Arthur Booker.
This work will help more than just an old building on First Street—it will ensure that a retired musician and his ailing family can continue to be a part of their community; both they and the home, after all, are the types of cultural landmarks that make New Orleans unique.
