The Krewe of Orpheus has announced that it is celebrating its 20th anniversary by getting immortalized in a song about its Smokey Mary float come Mardi Gras 2013. Krewe co-founder Harry Connick, Jr. has written an original song in honor of the Krewe’s 20th anniversary.
Krewe members will throw a new Orpheus commemorative LED necklace that plays the new song’s chorus during the parade. The parade, designed by creative director Derek Franklin, is said to feature a “nostalgic look back at all of the Krewe’s parade themes from the past 20 years”.
Another specialty throw will be a doubloon featuring the Krewe’s 2013 musical legend, “Uncle” Lionel Batiste, the bass drummer, vocalist, and assistant leader of the Treme Brass Band, who inspired music greats such as Kermit Ruffins. Batiste died July 8, 2012.
Leading the festivities and parade with Connick Jr. are other celebrity monarchs including star of the CBS hit show CSI New York, Gary Sinise; Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews; Animal Planet’s Tillman the skateboarding bulldog; and returning monarchs, Law & Order SVU’s Mariska Hargitay, and The Imagination Movers.
Connick Jr. will headline the 2013 Orpheuscapade lineup, which includes Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band; Grammy nominated Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue; Party Crashers; and New Orleans favorite Vince Vance and the Valiants.
In what has become a Mardi Gras tradition, Orpheus’ Celebrity Monarchs will toast the Bacchus parade from the balcony of the Astor Crowne Plaza at the Orpheus Captain’s Party on Sunday, February 10th.
The Krewe of Orpheus, founded in 1993 by Sonny Borey and Connick Jr., derives its name from the mortal Orpheus, son of the god Apollo and the muse Calliope. One of the city’s “super krewes”, Orpheus is nonexclusive and boasts 1,200 members from all walks of life. The parade rolls on Lundi Gras and culminates with the Orpheuscapade, a black-tie party.
