House of Blues was the place to be on Dec. 20 when the NOCCA Foundation hosted Home for the Holidays, a benefit for the Daniel Price Memorial Fund for Aspiring Artists, founded in memory of the NOCCA alumnus (Visual Arts, 1993).
Held since 2004 (except the years of Hurricane Katrina and the COVID-19 pandemic), the event commemorates Daniel Price’s creative spirit, starting with the night’s stellar musical line-up of Irma Thomas and John Boutte at the patron party, followed by Kermit Ruffins, Stanton Moore and Friends, Preservation Hall All Stars, and closing with the Soul Rebels and special guest Cimafunk.
“Home for the Holidays,” says NOCCA Foundation Executive Director Sally Perry, “celebrates the joy of the season together with Daniel Price’s joy for life. The performers, all friends of the Price Family, always make this event extraordinarily special in spirit and in purpose.”
Price family members who attended included his parents Steve and Kathy Price, and siblings Steve, Christopher and Tracy, and their families.
In addition to the music, there was a silent auction to raise more funds, with the top three items a vintage Harmony Rocket H54/1 guitar; a giclée of Daniel Price’s painting “Spyboy,” donated by the Price family; and a charcoal drawing by Sean Friloux, entitled “Magazine Street.” Other sought-after items included artwork by NOCCA visual arts alumni who were scholarship recipients of the Daniel Price Memorial Fund for Aspiring Artists.
“The fund has helped hundreds of young artists be a part of NOCCA just as Daniel was,” said Perry.
“We are so grateful to the performers, the Price family and attendees for honoring Daniel’s love of New Orleans music, art and the next generation of young artists each year.”
Fun Fact: This fête was the 18th Home for the Holidays.
