They’re the “real deal” when it comes to authentic New Orleans jazz, and they’re going to be part of Antique Talladega’s 2010 Mardi Gras celebration.

The Pineapple Skinners come to town for this year’s event and with them they bring authentic New Orleans style jazz.

“They’re the real thing,” said Tom Wofford, executive director for Antique Talladega and The Ritz Theatre.

The date is Saturday, Feb. 13 and the fun gets going for Mardi Gras in Talladega with the Mardi Gras Parade through town Saturday morning followed by the Gala and Live Art Experience and Auction Saturday night at The Speedvision Dome at Talladega Superspeedway.

The Pineapple Skinners take their name from the Any Griffith Show episode when Barney buys Thelma Lou a pineapple skinner as a gift.

The group formed in 1997, following a dinner between soon to be band members Tom Dameron and Tony Lombardo.

Both had the desire to play traditional jazz and believed a five-member acoustic band would be the perfect way to deliver it.

They were joined by friends Chuck King, Sam Ranelli Jr. and Mike Cogan, and got started developing their niche in jazz.

The Pineapple Skinners play many styles of Dixieland jazz, but add their own distinctions to make their own style

Not only does the group play traditional jazz numbers, but also big band sounds and brings out the ukulele and steel for certain tunes.

The band members all have their own professions in addition to that of musicians.

Lombardo is a teacher at Vestavia Hills High School and Dameron is an artist and also a pharmacist for the Veterans Administration Hospital in Birmingham. King teaches music, performs and is a professional photographer and Cogan repairs and restores musical instruments. Ranelli is self employed.

Also playing for the Gala is Still Cruzin, with a mix of dance favorites from oldies to contemporary hits.

“They’re a great traditional ‘party band,’” Wofford said. “They can play songs from the 50s and up.”

The Gala has been a Talladega tradition for more than 20 years now.

"This is the biggest Mardi Gras celebration in Alabama outside of Mobile,” Wofford said. “It's a great party, and it's for a great cause."

And since the Gala falls on the day before Valentine's Day, it makes a great Valentine date, Wofford added.

This year’s Gala brings back a huge seafood buffet from Bayley’s of Mobile along with the popular “live art” area with Talladega artist Tommy Moorehead, Lila Graves from Alexander City and Russell Everett heading that up.

The artists will create pieces for the actual auction during the Gala and participants can watch while they paint.

There’s the live auction as well as a silent auction and Gala goers can start looking over the selections at 6 p.m.

Dinner, the entertainment and fun are all included in the ticket price of $80 per person.

The Mardi Gras Gala and Live Art Experience is the main fundraiser for Antique Talladega and The Ritz Theatre each year.

The event helps fund top entertainment values at low cost for the region and supports the non-profit’s Arts in Education events as well.

"The Mardi Gras Gala and Art Experience has been one of the region's favorite events for more than 20 years,” Wofford said. “But with the great food, cocktails, bands and dancing, as well as the chance to purchase some excellent art, it's no surprise."

Wofford urges those who want to be sure and attend to get their ticket orders in as soon as possible by calling the theatre at 256/315-0000 or visiting the web site at www.talladega.ritz.

"Remember, there are only 500 tickets available, so I tell everyone to order soon," he said. “This is an occasion you won’t want to miss being part of.”