NEW ORLEANS – The 41st New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival came to a close Sunday, though producers and festivalgoers faced a few setbacks throughout the festival’s seven-day span. The festival’s second weekend, which began April 29 and ran through Sunday night, suffered the last-minute cancellation of headlining artist Aretha Franklin and threats of inclement weather.Franklin, who was set to perform on the Fair Grounds’ biggest stage last Friday canceled her appearance the night before, associate producer Louis Edwards announced just 10 hours before the Queen of Soul’s 5:35 p.m. start time.But six-time Grammy Award winners and Jazz Fest veterans Earth, Wind & Fire filled in at the last minute. The band was scheduled to perform at Biloxi, Mississippi’s Beau Rivage Casino & Resort the following night.The last-minute headliner began its set with a thunderous version of “Boogie Wonderland,” complete with the 11-piece band performing synchronized dance moves.Though most of the crowd was around when Earth, Wind & Fire first played in the early ‘70s, the band reminded younger fans of its importance.”A lot of y’all were conceived on Earth Wind & Fire music,” singer Philip Bailey told the packed crowd from the Acura Stage. “That makes us your musical godfathers.”The band had the packed crowd dancing throughout its nearly two-hour set with hits like “September,” “Shining Star” and “Let’s Groove.” And while Frankin’s last-minute cancellation was surprising, some fans preferred her replacement to her own show.”I’d much rather see Earth, Wind & Fire,” said Lainnie Capouya, University alumna and Los Angeles resident, who recently saw the group at a private party. “And Aretha always cancels.”Franklin’s no-show on Friday is her second consecutive year backing out of Jazz Fest. She was set to headline last year but withdrew her commitment shortly after performing at President Barack Obama’s inauguration ceremony in January 2009.Neither members of Earth, Wind & Fire nor Festival Director Quint Davis, who had been introducing the festival’s headliners, even mentioned Franklin’s absence Friday.With news of Franklin’s cancellation coming shortly before the gates opened Friday, many festivalgoers found out after they purchased their tickets.”We’re here to see her,” said Sonia Vidrine, University alumna, early Friday afternoon. “We’re really bummed about it, but Earth, Wind & Fire should be good. You can’t go wrong at Jazz Fest.”Some fans hadn’t heard of Franklin’s cancellation until moments before her replacement took the stage.”I was wondering why the Earth, Wind & Fire sign was up there,” said Tim Hoph, a resident of Brunswick, Texas. “It was an 11-and-a-half hour drive here.”Grunge rockers Pearl Jam headlined on the Acura Stage the following night and performed hits like “Alive,” “Better Man” and “Even Flow.”For the first time in the festival’s history, Pearl Jam’s performance was broadcast live to members of the Louisiana National Guard and other military officers in Iraq and Afghanistan.Blues legend B.B. King and New Orleans favorites The Neville Brothers closed out the festival Sunday night.The large crowd dispersed from the Acura Stage shortly after Van Morrison left the stage at 4:45 p.m., possibly to avoid the afternoon showers or to listen to King over the Nevilles.King took the stage nearly 10 minutes before his 6 p.m. start time, wielding his signature guitar “Lucille” to raucous applause. Fans gathered in a nearly 40-foot radius around the Blues Tent to hear the King of the Blues.  ”We love the music here,” said Albany, New York, resident Patty Zappala, who traveled to New Orleans after seeing local bands the Subdudes and Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys. “A festival like this would never happen in New York.”The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, which produces Jazz Fest and five other festivals throughout the year, raked in more than $26.3 million in total revenue for the fiscal year ending Aug. 31, 2008, according to its Form 990 filed with the Internal Revenue Service.The foundation attributed nearly all of its income to the 2008 Jazz Fest, with the festival generating $26.2 million, or more than 99 percent of total revenue. Only $140,000 of the foundation’s revenue came from contributions.The foundation incurred nearly $24 million in expenses for the same year, though, only netting $2.2 million. Financials for the fiscal year of last year’s festival are not yet available.Jazz Fest “pumps $300 million a year into the local economy,” according to the foundation’s Web site. __Contact Ben Bourgeois at [email protected]