USIA, 1988, 6 week tour of North Africa including Cairo and Alexandria, Egypt

“Terrance Simien and the Mallet Playboys play zydeco with a vengeance, eliciting from their first moments onstage an audience rapport and involvement seldom seen here: more than a thousand wildly cheering patrons Alexandria’s aged and dignified Sayed Darwish Theater threatened to break through the floor boards in foot stomping excitement.” American Embassy report from Alexandria

We are just like everyone else; while our career, and in our case our art-our music-helps define us, we are also active participants in this thing called life! We are as affected by the loss of life of our own men and women serving in the armed forces as we are the senseless killings of our innocent children and the loss of life on the other side of the globe. We are all global citizens and we have traveled this globe extensively. However one doesn’t even have to even leave home to feel compassion and connection for our brothers and sisters 1000’s of miles away. Right now our thoughts are on Egypt. We were there in 1988 on a 6-week tour with the USIA. We were in Cairo and Alexandria. The people were so warm and friendly, and they loved Americans. They had a joy for life and the arts and expressed themselves openly during our live performances. We will never forget their kindness and enthusiasm. This experience helped shape us as people and artists. We pray for peace for our fellow and female global citizens who may not have it right now.   USIA_fotos_3USIA_fotos_2USIA_fotoscamelTWO001