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NO Cross, NO Crown resulted from setting up gigs for a New Orleans band to occupy their time post-Katrina; Filmmaker and screenwriter A.M. Peters thought their story would be a great idea for a documentary. After interviewing displaced New Orleanians visiting New York City, the interviews made it immediately clear: there was a story to be told in New Orleans. By early 2006, Peters put together a short demo called If Ever I Cease to Love, aptly titled for the endearing Mardi Gras theme song. The demo explored the network of Katrina evacuees based in New York City and the businesses that supported them.

In February 2006, the demo was screened during a fundraising party at The Half King in New York. One Life to Live’s two-time, Emmy-nominated actress Ilene Kristen sang to a jubilant crowd during the fundraiser. Money raised at the party went toward sending Peters and the crew to New Orleans during the first Mardi Gras since Hurricane Katrina in March, and then to Jazz Fest in May. The demo has since then evolved into a feature-length documentary encompassing the roots of American music in New Orleans, and how Hurricane Katrina has affected musicians, now titled NO Cross, NO Crown.