Rasheed Akbar

Rasheed Akbar, 2005, documentary, credit: Director/D.P.

I met Rasheed in New Orleans while shooting a documentary for Equator HD. Our musician story had evaporated (it was one of three segments) and I volunteered to scope out local talent. I found Rasheed playing in front of Preservation Hall and got him in our documentary. After Katrina, I reached out to him and found him surviving in Memphis. He invited me out to “document” the aftermath and what was happening with the musician community there after Katrina. Long story short – I have been working on that project off and on ever since. Rasheed is a great man, a talented musician, articulate and philosophical. Watch a short version of his story.

UPDATE: Rasheed has passed away and this photograph was shown at his memorial. He was a great and kind man. A version of the documentary was used to help raise funds for his liver transplant, which gave him some extra time.