In April, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Foundation purchased a building at 840 N. Rampart Street that was the original recording studio of the legendary music producer Cosimo Matassa. The nonprofit paid $2.3 million for the historic French Quarter property which last housed the Lost Sock NOLA laundromat.

Ray Charles, Fats Domino, Irma Thomas, Allen Toussaint and Professor Longhair are just a few of the storied New Orleans musicians who cut records in the late 1940s to mid-1950s at Matassa’s J&M Recording Studio. Songs like Fats Domino’s “The Fat Man” were among the many hits that were recorded at the small studio at North Rampart and Dumaine streets. The building was declared a historic landmark in 1999 and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum named it one of 11 rock ‘n’ roll landmarks.

Cosimo Matassa and the history of this cultural icon is a key chapter in the musical history of New Orleans. Jonah Meadows of The Times-Picayune covers this in detail in his article, “Jazz Fest Foundation buys French Quarter landmark where New Orleans hit songs were first recorded.“

While official plans for the building have yet to be announced, as Kia Robinson Hatfield, director of programs, marketing and communications for the foundation, is quoted in the article as saying: “This acquisition represents exciting opportunities for our arts community. We look forward to sharing how it will help advance our mission and continue to play a vital role in preserving our music culture for generations to come.”