KINGS & QUEENS
THE ROYALTY OF KREWE DU KANAVAL TO REFLECT OUR VALUES CELEBRATING THE DIVERSE VOICES OF THE HAITIAN AND NEW ORLEANIAN EXPERIENCE
2023 QUEEN Marie José Poux
Queen Marie is the Executive Director of Hope for Haitian Children Foundation, which she founded in 2009 to give aid and support to the children of Haiti who are abandoned and/or orphaned; and to support the efforts of Haitian parents and families who are in need of temporary assistance. For over 40 years she has traveled to Haiti at her own expense and with whatever donations she can get in order to distribute these donations to the to the children and families of Haiti. The orphanage has been fully operational for the last few years through Marie Jose's commitment and dedication to the children. When donations and the kind charity of others are unavailable to the children, Marie José Poux has gone into her pockets to provide for the children.
2023 QUEEN Shirani reA
Queen Shirani opened Peaches Records in 1975, an independent business owner with a humanist approach to her bottom line. The beloved record store, now located on Magazine Street and Napoleon Avenue, is not only one of New Orleans’ best places to buy music and merchandise, but also a venue for live performances and philanthropic events. Along with her kids Lillie and Lee, she operates the storefront with unbridled warmth, greeting every customer with a smile and an embrace in her eyes—which are always done up in immaculately applied eyeshadow. You may have stumbled in on a day when Peaches was hosting one of its signature “Hashtag Lunchbag” events, when lunches are packed for the city’s homeless community. Or perhaps you’re a history buff who heard the legend of the original Woolworth’s diner counter Ms. Rae has left in-store, accompanied by a plaque explaining its role as a place for sit-ins during the Civil Rights Era of the 1950s and ‘60s.
2023 King al jackson
King Al grew up in the Treme neighborhood of New Orleans, and has made it his life's work to study New Orleans' musical history. After working on many other projects all over the world (six years in the U.S. Air Force, data analysis to help create the Saturn IB rocket, and time in the New Orleans city government), Al has turned his attention to achieving his long-time dream: opening a museum dedicated to the history of jazz, The Petit Treme Jazz Museum. The museum displays his personal collection of archival photographs, vintage instruments, and other memorabilia. He is also a founding member of the Black Men of Labor Social Aid & Pleasure Club — decorations from the club’s headquarters, Sweet Lorraine’s, adorn one of the museum’s walls.
2020 QUEEN MIA X
Queen Mia X's rap career began in the late '80s before she graduated from high school, when she performed in duo called New York Inc. with the legendary DJ Mannie Fresh. Mia made her recorded debut in 1992 with the single "Ask them Suckas” and three years later was signed by Master P as the first female rapper on No Limit Records. In 1998, Queen Mia X released her third album, Mama Drama, which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop chart.
Beyond her musical career, Mia is a leader in her community as a an educator, culturebearer and activist. Most important to Mia is the work she does for the next generation. As a philanthropist and activist in her hometown of New Orleans, Queen Mia X continues to bring to various causes she champions.
In 2018, she was honored by Louisiana Governor John Bell for her commitment and work as a mentor with The Outstanding Girls Foundation.
2019 QUEEN LEAH CHASE
Known as the Queen of Creole Cuisine, Leah Chase would introduce one of the first African American fine dining restaurants to the Country. In addition to her signature Creole Cuisine, Leah would begin to showcase African American Art throughout the walls of Dooky’s. Dooky Chase’s Restaurant was the first art gallery for black artists in New Orleans.
Today Dooky Chase’s remains family owned and operated. After Hurricane Katrina Dooky’s did close for a two years to rebuild, but with assistance of many, Dooky Chase’s remains the premier restaurant for authentic Creole Cuisine.
2019 KING DJ JUBILEE
DJ Jubilee is a leader of the New Orleans bounce movement and stands for all things New Orleans. From call and response jams like “Get It Ready” and “Back That Thang Up” to his newest hit “GitOnDaFlur”, DJ Jubilee is the indisputable king of bounce.
Born Jerome Temple and long-time Special Education teacher at a local high school, Jubilee was discovered by area producers Earl J. Mackie and Henry F. Holden while performing at a school dance. He soon signed to their Take Fo' Records label. DJ Jubilee's debut cassette, Stop Pause, appeared in 1995, followed later that same year by the full-length DJ Jubilee & Cartoon Drew. After returning in 1996 with 20 Years in the Jets, he issued Take It to the St. Thomas two years later.
2018 QUEEN IRMA THOMAS
Blues vocalist Irma Thomas was born Irma Lee on February 18, 1941, in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. She was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, and attended New Orleans’ McDonald 41 public school. Thomas displayed her early vocal talents as a teen. She sang with a Baptist church choir and a gospel quartet at Home Mission Baptist Church. Her very first recording was a school song, which was recorded at Cosmo’s studio with fellow classmates. At the age of eleven, Thomas won The Ritz Theater’s talent night and two years later, she auditioned for Specialty Records.
Her big break came in 1959 when she captured the attention of band leader Tommy Ridgley while she was a waitress at New Orleans’ Pimlico Club. Ridgley arranged a recording contract for her with a local label, Ron Records. Her debut single, Dorothy LaBostrie’s “You Can Have My Husband, But Please Don’t Mess With My Man” hit #22 on the Billboard R&B charts in May 1960.
Her comeback as a recording artist started in 1986 when she produced an album, The New Rules, with Scott Billington of Rounder Records. Thomas received her first Grammy nomination in 1991. She received her second Grammy nomination in 1998 along with Marcia Ball and Tracy Nelson. She has continued to maintain an active recording and touring schedule since.
2018 KING CHARLIE GABRIEL
Known to friends and relatives as ‘Charlie G', Charles Gabriel was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and is a fourth generation New Orleans jazz musician. Charlie has played authentic New Orleans music with top traditional musicians such as Kid Howard, Kid Sheik, Jim Robinson, George Lewis and others on Bourbon Street, at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and around the world.
Charlie came to Detroit at the age of fourteen. He was so experienced that he was asked to join the Lionel Hampton band at age sixteen. In the early '70s, Charlie was a member of Aretha Franklin's Orchestra. He continued to play throughout the states and abroad, also working with Nancy Wilson, Joe Simon and JC Heard. Charlie has worked in and around many of the most famous venues in New Orleans and is the full time Musical Director of the Preservation Hall Foundation.