On June 24, 1943, Dimitri Fouquet’s life began as Wayne Fouquet on a wooden kitchen table in Algiers Point on the West Bank of the murky Mississippi River. Across the river, Algiers shares the same thick humid air in which New Orleans Voodoo folklore was born through whispered stories about Baron Samedi, the original Dr. John, and Marie Laveau; two spirits Fouquet would capture in oil. “The Algiers Ferry” by Dimitri Fouquet “The Algiers Courthouse” by Dimitri Fouquet "Holy Name of Mary Church and Rectory" by Dimitri Fouquet He grew up in “The Point” with his cousin Ronnie Barosse, who would later be known as Ronnie Baron, the well-known New Orleans pianist and singer. According to Dimitri, the boys would strip down on the levee to swim in the Mississippi River so their mothers wouldn’t catch them with wet clothes. As wild teens, they would sneak into the church, Holy Name of Mary, and light their cigarettes and joints off of the candles for the poor....
great mood here..
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michael. I wanted to commemorate the fifth year anniversary in a subtle way. Much has improved in New Orleans, but houses like this one in the 9th ward are all too prevalent.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the Dog Days book!