"The Whole Gritty City": Meet the cast

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    • "The Whole Gritty City": Meet the cast
    • "The Whole Gritty City": Meet the cast
    • "The Whole Gritty City": Meet the cast
    • "The Whole Gritty City": Meet the cast
    • "The Whole Gritty City": Meet the cast
    • "The Whole Gritty City": Meet the cast
    • "The Whole Gritty City": Meet the cast
    • "The Whole Gritty City": Meet the cast
    • "The Whole Gritty City": Meet the cast
    • "The Whole Gritty City": Meet the cast
    • "The Whole Gritty City": Meet the cast
    • "The Whole Gritty City": Meet the cast
    • "The Whole Gritty City": Meet the cast
    • "The Whole Gritty City": Meet the cast
    • "The Whole Gritty City": Meet the cast
    • "The Whole Gritty City": Meet the cast
    • "The Whole Gritty City": Meet the cast
    • "The Whole Gritty City": Meet the cast
    • "The Whole Gritty City": Meet the cast
    • "The Whole Gritty City": Meet the cast
    • "The Whole Gritty City": Meet the cast

    • Jaron "Bear" Williams

      The kids and teachers featured in "48 Hours Presents: The Whole Gritty City" have all lost someone to violence in New Orleans - a city with one of the highest murder rates in the country. But they all find refuge, purpose and joy in the band room.

      A beginning trumpeter, 11-year-old Jaron Williams, known as Bear,  is trumpet section leader for The Roots of Music Marching Crusaders.

      The Whole Gritty City: Photos and video

      Credit: Andre Lambertson

    • Jaron "Bear" Williams

      Bear practices trumpet in his doorway.  The 11-year-old is the trumpet section leader for The Roots of Music Marching Crusaders in New Orleans.

      "The Whole Gritty City": Photos and video


      Credit: Andre Lambertson

    • Derrick Tabb

      The Roots of Music founder Derrick Tabb is seen watching a rehearsal. Tabb is also snare drummer in The Rebirth Brass Band. He modeled The Roots of Music program after the middle school band he credits with saving his life as a child.

      "The Whole Gritty City": Photos and video

      Credit: The Whole Gritty City

    • Derrick Tabb

      Derrick Tabb with a The Roots of Music band member.

      "The Whole Gritty City": Photos and video

      Credit: The Whole Gritty City

    • Derrick Tabb

      Derrick Tabb  holds his nephew as he listens to a The Roots of Music rehearsal. The 3-year-old is already a drumming prodigy.

      "The Whole Gritty City": Photos and video

      Credit: The Whole Gritty City

    • Lonzie Jackson

      Lonzie Jackson, director of the L.E. Rabouin High School Marching Band, leads band members in prayer. Jackson took over after the band's founder, Dinerral Shavers, was murdered.

      "The Whole Gritty City": Photos and video

      Credit: The Whole Gritty City

    • Wilbert Rawlins Jr.

      Wilbert Rawlins Jr., is director of the O. Perry Walker High School Marching Band. Rawlins gives credit to his having been  in a high school band for rescuing him from the fate of his seven closest childhood friends, all lost to violence and drugs.

      "The Whole Gritty City": Photos and video

      Credit: Andre Lambertson

    • Wilbert Rawlins Jr.

      Wilbert Rawlins, Jr. teaches a student preparing for a field show.

      "The Whole Gritty City": Photos and video

      Credit: The Whole Gritty City

    • Lawrence Rawlins

      Lawrence Rawlins, Wilbert Rawlins' brother,  works with Derrick Tabb as band director for The Roots of Music Marching Crusaders.

      "The Whole Gritty City": Photos and video



      Credit: Andre Lambertson

    • Christopher "Skully" Lee

      Christopher Lee, known as  Skully, was chosen by Dinerral Shavers to be the first drum major for the L. E. Rabouin High School Marching Band.

      "The Whole Gritty City": Photos and video

      Credit: The Whole Gritty City

    • O. Perry Walker Marching Band

      Members of the O. Perry Walker Marching Band participate in a Mardi Gras parade. New Orleans' Mardi Gras parade season lasts two weeks with 50 parades.

      "The Whole Gritty City": Photos and video

      Credit: The Whole Gritty City

    • The Roots of Music

      Young trombonists in The Roots of Music band. In its first year, the band prepares beginners ages 9 to 14 to march in Mardi Gras parades.

      "The Whole Gritty City": Photos and video





      Credit: The Whole Gritty City

    • Kirk Dugar

      Kirk Dugar is a sousaphone player in the L.E. Rabouin High School Marching Band in New Orleans. Dugar finds inspiration and refuge in the band and in his church.

      "The Whole Gritty City": Photos and video

      Credit: The Whole Gritty City

    • Jazz Henry

      Jazz Henry, 12, is a member of The Roots of Music. She wants to become a musician like her father, trombonist Corey Henry.

      "The Whole Gritty City": Photos and video


      Credit: The Whole Gritty City

    • Brandon Franklin

      Wilbert Rawlins, Jr. practically adopted band student Brandon Franklin as his son. A saxophonist for The To Be Continued Brass Band, Franklin came back to work as Rawlins' assistant band director at O. Perry Walker.

      "The Whole Gritty City": Photos and video

      Credit: The Whole Gritty City

    • Bruce Davenport Jr.

      New Orleans artist Bruce Davenport Jr. grew up in the city's 9th Ward. Since childhood, he has depicted the scenes of crime, violence and prison that he observed around him - as well as the marching bands.

      "The Whole Gritty City": Photos and video

      Credit: The Whole Gritty City

    • Art by Bruce Davenport Jr.

      The L.E. Rabouin High School Marching Band by Bruce Davenport Jr.

      "The Whole Gritty City": Photos and video

      Credit: Mike Smith

    • Art by Bruce Davenport Jr.

      The O. Perry Walker High School Band by Bruce Davenport Jr.

      "The Whole Gritty City": Photos and video



      Credit: Mike Smith

    • Art by Bruce Davenport Jr.

      The Roots of Music Marching Crusaders by Bruce Davenport Jr.

      "The Whole Gritty City": Photos and video

      Credit: Mike Smith

    • Art by Bruce Davenport Jr.

      A Hot Spot to Die For by Bruce Davenport Jr.

      "The Whole Gritty City": Photos and video




      Credit: Mike Smith

    • Art by Bruce Davenport Jr.

      Bruce Davenport Jr.'s work has shown in exhibitions and galleries in New Orleans, New York, Italy and Tokyo.

      "The Whole Gritty City": Photos and video




      Credit: Tom Powel Imaging