February 6, 2012 NEW YORK (OBA)-- A group of Gulf Coast musicians and Flora-Bama owner Joe Gilchrist are taking New York City by storm, or perhaps more accurately, by song.

Leslie Wyche, from New York City District 9 Council Member Inez Dickens office, read a proclamation naming “Joe Gilchrist Day” in Harlem. Gilchrist was also presented with a Congressional Declaration by U.S. Representative Charles Rangel’s Chief of Staff, Geoffrey Eaton.

Letters of appreciation and support from Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon were presented to the New York officials, echoing Gilchrist’s sentiments that the citizens of the Gulf Coast have not forgotten the sacrifices made on 9/11.

A group of Frank Brown International Songwriters’ Festival performers accompanied Gilchrist on a tour of New York City to mark the 10th anniversary of “The Gulf Coast Loves New York” trip. The 2002 event organized by Gilchrist brought 100 visitors to NYC in an effort to show respect and to promote tourism to the city following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Gilchrist stated that the reunion trip is a way to remind New Yorkers that the Gulf Coast still has not forgotten the hit they took for the rest of the country.

The musicians performed in landmark nightclub The Bitter End, known as the birthplace of Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue, which featured such names as Joni Mitchell, Roger McGuinn, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, Joan Baez, T-Bone Burnett, Ronee Blakely, Mick Ronson, and many other guest stars. The City of New York bestowed landmark status to the night club on July 23, 1992.

World famous Greenwich Village club The Red Lion also welcomed the Songwriters for two nights of performances. The Red Lion, born in the summer of love and built on 80’s rock, is hailed as one of the last “true music venues” where the likes of Cyndi Lauper, John Mayer, Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers) and John Popper (Blues Traveler) have performed.

Gulf Coast musical favorites Chris Newbury, Bo Roberts, Buzz Kiefer, Mike Locklin, Reed Lightfoot, Gove Scrivenor and Kyle Parker performed at the Charles C. Young Post #398 in Harlem for an event described as a cultural exchange titled “Merging Manhattan Music with Southern Sounds.”

Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce Director, Tina Morrison, described a packed house and being treated to “best soul food any of us have ever had “at the venue.

The group visited several NYC fire stations to perform for the crews and present tokens of appreciation from Orange Beach and Perdido Key fire and police departments. The musicians are slated to perform at BB King’s Lucille’s Café before returning to Pensacola Tuesday evening.

Gilchrist and the musicians have been introduced on stage at The Apollo Theatre and Café Wha, where Gilchrist explained his purpose and mission to let this city know that they have not been forgotten. Gilchrist said.

“We just wanted to come up and do some people-to-people stuff.” “I always assumed that New Yorkers were rude and unhelpful and I have found that to be untrue,” By all accounts, the appreciation displayed by the New Yorkers proves Gilchrist was right.