Dan Storper launched Putumayo World Music with his friend Michael Kraus in 1993, and across more than 400 releases since, the record label<\/a> has circled the globe numerous times.<\/p>\n Albums, most with bright, recognizable covers made by British artist Nicola Heindl, have highlighted the music<\/a> of individual countries, like Mexico, Jamaica, Colombia or Italy, compiled music within genres such as blues, samba and reggae, or focused on particular themes, with titles like \u201cAfro-Caribbean Party\u201d and \u201cIndian Groove.\u201d<\/p>\n And New Orleans and Louisiana have occasionally popped up over the last 30 years. Putumayo has released compilations of Cajun, zydeco and brass band music, and in early 2005, they released a Kermit Ruffins record<\/a>.<\/p>\n In 2018, the label celebrated the city\u2019s tricentennial and Putumayo\u2019s 25th anniversary with \u201cNew Orleans Party,\u201d<\/a> which has songs by Big Al Carson, Dr. John, Grandpa Elliott, Dave Bartholomew, the Preservation Hall Hot 4 band and more.<\/p>\n Storper was a fan of New Orleans, moved here and, in the late-2000s, relocated the Putumayo headquarters to the city for a while. He also kept offices in other cities, including Charlotte, Vermont, which is now the label\u2019s headquarters.<\/p>\n Storper passed away in May 2025 in New Orleans at the age of 74. \u201cDan is impossible to describe to anyone who has not met him, truly a unique, one-of-a-kind human,\u201d his obituary in The Times-Picayune<\/a> read. \u201cHe was honest, principled, and intelligent, while being easy-going and joyous.\u201d<\/p>\n