BROADCASTS.com

We all know that Mardi Gras in New Orleans looks like a huge party; some of you may have even experienced it in person. But were you aware that there\u2019s a whole lot more going on behind the scenes, in the community, and what you might not know could astound you?!\xa0 \xa0 Yes, there are parties. Yes, there are parades. Yes, it can get a little crazy. But it\u2019s so much more than you would imagine and the work for some of the Krewe\u2019s goes year-round. Each Krewe has a purpose, a history, and a process for naming each year\u2019s parade royalty.\xa0 \xa0 And that\u2019s just the beginning. Royalty comes with a lot of responsibility, requiring an additional \u201ccrew\u201d of helpers. There are events to attend, funds to be raised, themes and designs to be conceived and produced, and loads of work to be done. There\u2019s history, and backstory, and tradition, and rules, and processes.\xa0 \xa0 When I was first introduced to Racquel, it was through a dear friend. What she didn\u2019t tell me up front was that I was speaking with Royalty! Not just as a Princess in a long-established Mardi Gras Krewe, but also in the music world, especially in New Orleans.\xa0 \xa0 Racquel is musically gifted, from a musical family. Her father was a musician, singer, and producer who owned a recording studio. He wrote his\xa0special song, called New Suit, in honor of the Mardi Gras costuming tradition and Racquel used it as the theme for her reign this year, in honor of her dad.\xa0 \xa0 There\u2019s so much learn about this fabulous, colorful tradition and the people who keep it alive and growing\u2026 You\u2019ll just have to listen in to catch it all \u2013 including how to get to ride on one of the parade floats next time you\u2019re in NOLA during Mardi Gras! I guarantee that Racquel\u2019s vibrant personality, knowledge, and drive will keep you entertained even while you learn something new.\xa0 \xa0 Racquel\u2019s Bio Born and raised New Orleanians, Racquel Turbinton-Bruno and her husband Sean M. Bruno were crowned as Prince and Princess of the Zulu Mardi Gras Parade in 2020. \xa0 Befittingly, Racquel was born into a New Orleans musical family which made significant contributions to the Mardi Gras tradition. Racquel\u2019s father, Wilson Turbinton, better known to the musical community as \u201cWillie Tee\u201d (of the band \u201cWillie Tee and the Gaturs\u201d) wrote and produced a song for the Wild Magnolias Mardi Gras Indian Tribe entitled \u201cNew Suit,\u201d as well as several other hits that are heard throughout the city during parade season. \xa0 \xa0 The song is an anthem to the Mardi Gras Indian experience as it references their annual tradition of creating a new costume in preparation for unveiling during carnival time. Racquel\u2019s father was the pioneer of putting music behind Mardi Gras Indians; a trend which was soon imitated by other tribes who followed this practice. Racquel experienced having her \u201cNew Suit\u201d created for her reign as Princess and dedicated it to her father as a tribute in honor of his musical works. \xa0 Professionally, Racquel is a Senior Event Manager in the hotel industry, planning and executing details of conferences in the Corporate and Association Markets. Racquel was inducted into the Hilton Corporation\u2019s \u201cCircle of Excellence\u201d in Catering and Event Management. Racquel\u2019s professional event management skills paired well with organizing a successful, enjoyable, and memorable experience for the Zulu Province Prince Krewe during Mardi Gras 2020.