Otis Clay

In spring 2007, Twin Cities philanthropist/jazz fan Barbara Applebaum Portnoy established The Under the Radar Foundation as a conduit of resources to support people and issues “that the media has forgotten.” The foundation kicked off its work in November 2007 with a sold-out benefit at the Dakota Jazz Club, raising $43,000 for victims of Hurricane Katrina, including those served through the local Sabathani Community Center.  The 2007 benefit brought to town zydeco legend C.J, Chenier and Willie West, joining local stars Dennis Spears and Debbie Duncan, and a surprise cameo appearance by Dr. John.  Chenier returned for the 2008 benefit, which raised xxxx. On November 22nd, Under the Radar Foundation holds its third annual benefit with  at “Stand By Me” Concert featuring Grammy-nominated bluesman Otis Clay, appearing with J.D. Steele and the voice of the High School for Recording Arts. 

This year’s fund raiser will support New Orleans Artists Against Hunger and Homelessnes, the High School for Recording Arts (HSRA) in St. Paul, and the Temple Israel Homelessness Program:

The New Orleans Artists Against Hunger and Homelessness, Inc. (NOAAHH) was founded in 1985 when two-time Grammy nominee songwriter/musician Allen Toussaint and Grammy Award winning vocalist Aaron Neville brought together a group of New Orleans musicians for the purpose of performing a concert to benefit the hungry and homeless of metro New Orleans. Today, NOAAHH is a successful nonprofit organization that annually presents concerts and gala celebrity mixers to raise funds to help alleviate hunger and homelessness in the metro New Orleans area. Proceeds from the concerts are distributed in metro New Orleans by the NOAAHH Board of Directors. To date over a half million dollars has been distributed to the charity since the first NOAAHH concert. 

The HSRA is a project-based, public charter school that operates within and around a professional recording studio. Students earn time in the studio by completing academic projects in the core learning areas of English, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. HSRA encourages students who may have dropped out or been expelled from traditional schools to complete their diplomas through a love of music. In 2007, student musicians from HSRA opened at Minnesota Orchestra Hall for Delfeayo Marsalis’ salute to Louis Armstrong. The Homelessness Program is a project of the congregation of Temple Israel in Minneapolis

One of the most acclaimed deep soul and gospel singers working today, Otis Clay carries on the tradition of Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett and Solomon Burke. The Waxhall, Mississippi native grew up with the gospel music of the 1940s and ’50s. His first experiences came with The Pilgrim Harmonizers, The Gospel Songbirds and the Sensational Nightingales. After moving to Chicago in the1960s, he made a number of recordings that established him as a rising force in deep soul. His energy and intensity have made his live shows unforgettable.

JD Steele and HSRA singers©Andrea Canter

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