Melissa Weber named curator of the Hogan Jazz Archive at Tulane University

12th August 2019   ·   0 Comments

By Geraldine Wyckoff
Contributing Writer

“I’ve been a music story seeker since I was a little girl,” says Melissa Weber who has been named the new curator of the Hogan Jazz Archive at Tulane University. Most widely recognized in the music community as DJ Soul Sister, a longtime host on radio station WWOZ and a spinner of rare vinyl grooves at gigs and parties, Weber notably is the first person of color and first woman to hold the prestigious position. She begins her new job on Monday, August 12, 2019.

“Of course, I’m thrilled to do this and even more excited about it because it is related to the story of New Orleans music,” declares Weber, who is about to complete the master’s program in musicology at Tulane University. “It really all goes together. All of that is related to my love of music. All the things are in forward motion of that.”

When asked about taking on the position, Weber says she jokingly explains that she already has an archive at her house as she has been collecting albums since she was six years old and has also been continually gathering music memorabilia and documents. “This is something I do for fun.”

Weber will fill the position of curator that was vacated by the much respected Bruce Raeburn who, after 30 years, retired on January 1, 2018. A nation-wide search ensued to find someone to take his place though those researchers and music-loving folks who sought out his assistance realized that would be a difficult task as the personable Raeburn boasted a head full of musical knowledge.

“I feel I bring my own specific and unique credentials to add to their amazing legacy,” says Weber of Raeburn and jazz historian Dick Allen, whose name is so closely associated with the Hogan Jazz Archives. “I’m lucky that the musicians know me, the music community knows me, the researchers and publishers know me so I’m not a stranger.”

Professionally, throughout the decades, Weber, 44, has been involved in the world of New Orleans music in many capacities beyond her very public persona of DJ Soul Sister. “That was always my hobby,” she makes it understood. “That was never my full-time life.” The native New Orleanian, who earned her bachelor’s degree at University of New Orleans, has been employed in an administrative capacity at such organizations as the Contemporary Arts Center and the French Quarter Festival and for the last 10 years has worked at Tulane University managing a program that was related to aiding undergraduates and offering them assistance in gaining academic research grants. She really didn’t become seriously engaged with the Hogan Jazz Archive until she began her research work for her master’s degree.

Weber’s early exposure to music was through her father and his own soul-filled record collection. “My dad’s side of the family were music-loving people,” she proudly declares adding that her sister, Valerie George, once signed with Motown Records and presently performs at Seal’s Class Act with fellow vocalist Lisa Amos. Her cousin is the renowned, much called upon New Orleans drummer Raymond Weber.

“Dad wanted me to play an instrument,” Weber offers. “I consider my turntable an instrument,” she adds deadly serious in the proclamation though with a laugh. She will continue to spin her get-down vinyl at her Soulful Takeover show once a month on Fridays at One Eyed Jacks and at her monthly Hustle! parties on Saturdays at the Ace hotel’s Three Keys. And, of course, DJ Soul Sister will host her annual birthday bash in September at Tipitina’s.

The master’s program at Tulane was well-suited to Weber as this city’s music and culture have been central to her life. She used to be a regular at the New Orleans social aid and pleasure club parades until her late night WWOZ radio show, which she started in 2004 and will continue regardless of her new responsibilities, made it kind of difficult to rise and hit the streets on Sunday.

“Tulane’s program is very unique in that you have to have the requisite course work in New Orleans music. You will not leave the program without a knowledge of New Orleans music,” she says, naming classes like musical culture of New Orleans and the history of jazz. “That’s because everything comes from New Orleans.”

Remarkably, perhaps, is that Weber did her master’s thesis on the connection between New Orleans’ Black music community and Washington D.C.’s go-go scene, led by the great guitarist and vocalist Chuck Brown. “Go-go didn’t translate to other parts of the country but it did in New Orleans,” proclaims go-go stalwart Weber, chalking it up to the elements that go-go has in common with this city’s music – the call and response, the neighborhood shout outs and the crowd participation.

Weber’s aim as curator of the archives is to continue the research work that has been a hallmark of the institution and the acquiring of collections that began when it was established in 1958. “I want to take it to the next step so people can benefit from it – researchers and the community. This is our story and documenting, preserving and building on it I take very seriously.”

“Music makes us feel good, it makes us enjoy, but it also helps us to learn,” Weber offers. “That’s what I feel is the role of the Hogan Archives and other archives like it. It’s continuing learning so we understand who we are, where we came from and where we are going.”

This article originally published in the August 12, 2019 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.