NEW ORLEANS — Kim Charbonnet says her phone was going off nonstop Saturday after the passing of Eric Paulsen was announced.
“They were asking if we were going to second line for Eric Paulsen,” said Charbonnet. “That was the morning man, I can remember when Katrina hit, he was there. He was a part of our best of times and our worst of times. He was the go-to, legendary, legendary.”
Charbonnet is the president of the 6 Ward Steppers Social Aid & Pleasure Club, a group of New Orleans Culture Bearers who are known for making sure the community is supported, and its loved ones, are properly honored – even those who have adopted the Crescent City as home.
“It takes a lot to be in this city,” she said. “If you’re not from the city you can’t understand our rich culture. And they didn’t shun away from it. They accepted us, they embraced us, and we look at them as family.”
Charbonnet told WWL Louisiana that Eric Paulsen is family.
“It’s only natural when a family member dies…you gather together in your own way to show love and to send them home.”
Sunday the club posted to social media its plan to honor Paulsen with a second line. On Tuesday the second line will begin at 6 p.m. starting at Tuba Fats Square in Treme’ then it will head down St. Phillip and stop in front of the WWL Louisiana station on N. Rampart.
There will be a musical tribute played by the Roots of Music, a youth program Eric cherished.
“He always showed that love for this organization,” said Derrick Tabb, the program’s executive director. “I can call Eric up anytime. He and I text back and forth. Sometimes he might get up and text me something crazy, like ‘Hey man, I didn’t like the way you played the drum on that solo’ just because I used to tease him about his ties.”
Tabb says he’s going to miss those silly exchanges. He was honored when he found out the Paulsen family chose the Roots of Music as one of the organizations to receive memorial donations.
“That was very heartfelt,” he said. “I know how deeply he felt about Roots of Music, but to think about after you pass, you’re still making a supporting effort towards something that is not your own, it’s something that is for someone else and a whole other culture.”
Tabb says the gesture is a reminder of how special Eric was.
Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
His family asks that memorial donations be made to Roots of Music, 1020 N. Prieur Street, or The Ella Project, 400 Esplanade Avenue.
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