National Geographic Music (National Geographic)

World music label Nonesuch Records—the North American home of the Buena Vista Social Club and the venerable Nonesuch Explorer Series—announced the donations of one million dollars to Habitat for Humanity International today.

The funds, which will be used to build homes in New Orleans, were raised through sales of the benefit album Our New Orleans, which was released in December 2005. The record is composed entirely of newly recorded songs by artists from New Orleans's music community, and documents the depth, richness, and profound musicality of that unique city. The donation will go toward providing housing in partnership with low-income musicians and others through the New Orleans Habitat Musicians' Village.

The New Orleans Habitat Musician's Village concept was developed by New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity, working with Branford Marsalis and Harry Connick Jr., honorary chairs of Habitat's hurricane rebuilding program Operation Home Delivery. Habitat-built homes in the village will provide musicians and others of modest means the opportunity to buy decent, affordable housing that will allow them to return to the Crescent City. The centerpiece of the village will be the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music, dedicated to celebrating the music and musicians of New Orleans and to the education and development of homeowners and others who will live nearby.