Veteran music ministers launch foundation for musicians

By Christine Bordelon
Clarion Herald

For 55 years, husband-and-wife duo Connie and Dwight Fitch have been deeply ingrained in the music industry – ever since they met at a St. Mary’s Academy talent show in the 1960s.

“Music is our life and has been,” said Dwight Fitch, a 25-year music minister with Xavier University of Louisiana’s Campus Ministry Office.

Having enjoyed music’s rewards and friendships, the Fitches thought it was time to give back and created the nonprofit Fitchfield Foundation.

“We have been thinking about doing a nonprofit for the longest,” Connie Fitch said. Realizing that their 50-year wedding anniversary was this year, “We thought we should launch the foundation on our anniversary.”

The Fitches said musicians often give their lives to music, but don’t always understand “the business of music.” The foundation will give local musicians a music business education, help with burial costs for indigent musicians and employment.

“We play a lot of funerals and a lot of times, people can’t afford to have a decent burial, so we felt a need to start the foundation,” Dwight Fitch said.

The foundation’s first event is a benefit concert, “How Do We Keep the Music Playing?” June 5 from 5-8 p.m. at House of Blues, 225 Decatur St., New Orleans. It features popular local artists such as John Boutté, Davell Crawford, Kermit Ruffins, Naydja CoJoe, Wanda Rouzan, Phillip Manuel, Sharon Martin and others.
   “This concert will be a reunion of a lot of local musicians,” Connie Fitch said, with younger newcomers.
   “They are all coming out to support Dwight and I and the mission of the foundation,” Connie Fitch said. “The musicians in New Orleans are very close. It’s like a family.”

Music is their life
The Fitches’ innate music talents were fostered individually as children. Connie’s father was a singer, and she attended St. Raymond School and Church and St. Mary’s Academy (where she is now alumnae director). She also performed with her sister Stephanie as the Whitfield Sisters, singing backup for Allen Toussaint and Dr. John.

Dwight’s father was a self-taught pianist, and Dwight played the trumpet as early as a second-grader and later in the Exiles band. He was mentored by motivated educators at Epiphany School, by Edwin Hampton at St. Augustine High School and by many others.

It was with the Exiles that Dwight and his band members first noticed Connie at the St. Mary’s Academy talent show.

“We were so impressed with her singing that, after the talent show, we asked if she would sing with the band,” he said, getting permission from her parents. Shortly after, they started dating and, in 1971, were married.

“I was blown away by her talent and beauty,” he said.

Together, they have been music ministers at St. Raymond and St. Leo the Great churches for approximately 40 years and direct St. Raymond-St. Leo’s three choirs – the Voices of Greatness, Ambassadors of Christ and Gospel Soldiers men’s choir. They have scouted and coordinated music for the Gospel tent at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival for 11 years and perform as the trio “Quiet Storm” with woodwind player Joe Saulsbury at weddings, hotels and clubs.

The Fitches have five CDs to their credit, including “O Come, All Ye Faithful” Christmas CD; the rhythm and blues “We Belong Together”; and  an album of original songs, “Victory in Jesus,” performed with their children and recorded at their Fitchfield Music studio. That CD came in response to Dwight’s recovery from lung cancer.

“God saved me ... and, as a result, we did that album with the family,” he said.

Through Fitchfield Music Studio, they have recorded Sharon Martin, Dr. Mona Saloy, Father Tony Ricard, Naydja CoJoe, the Bemiss Brothers, Joe King, their son John Fitch’s rap album and others. Their latest CD was the 2020 “A COVID Christmas.”

The benefit concert is the first of annual benefit concerts that the Fitches plan. They are on their way to raising $50,000 at this first event through ticket sales and table sponsorships. They said they would be grateful for any money donated for musicians.

“When we walk by faith, the Lord has never let us down,” Dwight Fitch said. “I am a living witness to that.”

Tickets for the 2021 fundraiser are $100 each or sold as tables of eight. Sponsorships are available. Visit https://www.connieanddwight.org/fitchfield-foundation.

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