H o w e v e r, soon after one of his biggest career h i g h l i g h t s , t r a g e d y struck. Many m u s i c i a n s in the community, i n c l u d i n g Ancar, were ripped from their careers because of H u r r i c a n e Katrina the f o l l o w i n g month. “I was out of the business for two, maybe three years. It affected me in a big way,” he said. Despite such a huge setback in his career, Ancar was able to bounce back gracefully. In 2008, he started performing regularly at Club 7140 in New Orleans. He covered songs from Pop, Latin, and R&B genres, as well as original tunes that were inspired by his love of love songs. Before a show, this longtime performer admits that he still gets butterflies in his stomach. He’s never truly worried though, because he knows what to do to connect with the audience and stage a great concert. “Preparation. That’s the best thing,” Ancar said. “You get ready for a show, then it’s up to the band. ‘Okay fellas, if ya’ll tight then I’m tight.’” Ancar has performed in front of some amazing crowds around the New Orleans area including the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the Mahalia Jackson Theater, the House of Blues, the World Trade Center of New Orleans and Sweet Lorraine’s Jazz Club. He has performed in the Treasure Chest, Bally’s, Boomtown, and Harrah’s casinos. He is also an international star, having performed in some of Japan’s largest cities. When asked what skills every musician should have, Ancar said, “Every musician or wannabe musician should learn an instrument. That’s a skill that will keep you working, which I didn’t do.” Offering advice for musicians trying to break into New Orleans’ tight-knit musical community, Ancar said, “Go to the clubs, and sit in. Listen to the songs that they’re playing. Learn the songs that they’re playing that fit you, and ask them if they’ll let you sit in because a lot of bands are glad to let you. Then you can break in like that.” Being a musician is not always glamorous. As someone who has been in the music business for 37 years, Ancar has seen his share of troubles. Sometimes it’s hard to keep following your dreams. “Band members come and go,” Ancar said. “I can’t blame them, they want to work every day. In the city of New Orleans, unless you’re performing in the French Quarter, you’re not going to get a gig every day.” Many people can’t seem to handle the stress that comes along with an uncertain career. Because of this, Ancar said, “Some guys go to drugs and alcohol and stuff like that. I guess it’s the idea of dealing with life or the stress part of it because sometimes music is hard. You can’t find work all the time.” Continuing with his advice to up-andcoming artists trying to make it in the music industry, he said, “Get a job. That way we can make things work. If you are in any type of entertainment business, get a job. When you’re too old and jobs are scarce, you have to have something to fall back on.” And, thanks to the stability he provided for himself, Ancar is still able to follow his dreams. The New Orleans crooner recently recorded a cover of an old Smokey Robinson song and is scheduled to shoot a video for the record later this year. It will be available on the internet by the end of 2016. “I’m dedicated to my art. Sometimes, just because I’m not on stage doesn’t mean I’m not working, because I’m still writing songs and organizing shows,” Ancar said. He has been developing a new band called Kingdom City. It will feature multiple musicians who will take turns sharing center stage as the group performs. Al Ancar’s dedication to his craft and his humble spirit are some of the main reasons he has been able to maintain a stellar music career. Concluding with some final words of advice, he said, “The main thing is to do the right thing. That way there’s no stress.” More information about Al Ancar’s music can be found at www.alancar.com. Facebook.com\alancarmusic Email:ancar5star@gmail.com. �� PHOTOGRAPHY BY: BRYAN HITHE S E P T E M B E R / O C TOB E R 2 0 1 6 breakthrumediamagazine.com | BREAKTHRU MEDIA | 21
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