OffBeat Magazine-New Orleans' only publication solely devoted to promoting Louisiana music-celebrates the Crescent City's unique culture of music.

Every year, OffBeat celebrates our music and musicians by presenting the Best of The Beat Music Awards, a benefit for Renew Our Music.

Nominees for Best of The Beat Music Awards are selected by the editors, writers and experts at OffBeat. You-the public-have the opportunity to vote for your choice for the best music makers in New Orleans. The Best of The Beat Music Awards and Party takes place on Saturday, January 12, 2008 at the House of Blues, 225 Decatur St., and is hosted by WWL-TV's Eric Paulsen. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the party continues until 1 a.m.

This year's Best of The Beat Awards will be an all-star tribute to Wardell Quezergue,  the legendary composer and arranger who was responsible for such New Orleans classics as  King Floyd's Groove Me, Chapel of Love by the Dixie Cups, Aaron Neville's Mona Lisa, Professor Longhair, Big Chief, and Iko Iko, Mr. Big Stuff, Funny How Time Slips Away, Earl King's Trick Bag and many, many other hits. Wardell Quezergue's musical inventions from the '40s into the new millennium place him in the pantheon of America's greatest musical talents.

Included as performers in this year's show are Cyril Neville; Wardell Quezergue and his Big Band with guests Jean "Mr. Big Stuff" Knight, and many more; Preservation Hall Jazz Band with special guests, Davell Crawford, Clint Maedgen (of Bingo!) with an allstar tribute to Ernie K-Doe, James Singleton (of Astral Project), Amanda Shaw, Soul Rebels, Big Blue Marble, the Zydepunks, Alex McMurray and the Valparaiso Men's Chorus, and much more, with many surprise guests. Over 20 local restaurants will cater the event. A limited number of tickets are only $20; when these are sold, general admission tickets are $25. Go to Ticketmaster to buy tickets online or call (504) 529-BLUE to order by phone.

The Best of the Beat Music Awards and Party is presented by OffBeat Magazine and Miller Brewing Company, and co-sponsored by WWL-TV, Harrah's, Capital One Bank, Glazer's Companies of Louisiana, the House of Blues New Orleans, Bernard Productions and the Jazz and Heritage Festival (which will also benefit from the net proceeds of the event). The Wardell Quezergue tribute is sponsored by the Ponderosa Stomp Foundation and Renew Our Music.

Voting ends on January 3, 2008, so hurry and cast your vote now! See you at the Best of The Beat!.