NEW ORLEANS - A local band is honoring one of the Austin bombing victims, by giving back.
Members of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band never met Draylen Mason, but say his musical talents inspired them to help other young musicians.
Mason was a senior at East Austin College Prep and was accepted to the University of Texas - Butler School of Music and had a passion for music.
"At 17, he was a fixture in this arts community," said one person. "He's played in half the venues of this city."
"He had that spark," said one conductor. "He had the energy, the willingness, backed up by the technique. I think he had the ability to go wherever he wanted to."
That love was cut short, when on March 12th, a package exploded outside of his Austin home killing him and hurting his mom.
"We lost a very young, brilliant man," said a family friend. "People don't know the scope of his brilliance when it came to music."
"I just knew we had to respond in a positive way to this horrendous act of cowardess," said Ben Jaffe.
The Preservation Hall Jazz Band was performing in Austin shortly after Mason's death at SXSW, where Jaffe says, they were told about his musical accomplishments.
"While we were there we learned more about him and we wanted to do something that celebrated music and celebrated his life," Jaffe said. "He was a 17-year-old with an incredibly bright future, a human being, an inspiration to me."
They came home inspired.
Which is why Jaffe, who wanted to give back after his stolen sousaphone was found, created the Sousa Fund: a way to provide instruments and education to young African-American musicians through donations.
"He was a hero, and he'll always be a hero to me," said Jaffe. "Oftentimes, having access to a professional quality instrument is the difference between having a career in music and we never want to see that being an obstacle."
As those who knew Mason remember someone whose musical talents touched them, Jaffe hopes the Sousa Fund will help keep the notes of Mason's legacy playing on. Keeping his love of music alive in so many others.
"I have to think this would be something that would make Draylen happy," said Jaffe. "Nothing can bring him back but his memory can be continued through us."
The first donation was given Tuesday in Mason's name. Jaffe says no donation is too big or too small. More information on how to donate can be found here.