You know the 1964 song “GTO” by Ronny and the Daytonas? The one with the lyric about how Ronny is going to buy a Pontiac GTO, “take it out to Pomona and let ’em know that I’m the coolest thing around”?

I was walking along Canal Street in New Orleans one evening of my visit, passing by Harrah’s Casino, which was on the other side of the street, as its sound system blasted “GTO.”

My ears perked up and I paused on the sidewalk a moment, waiting for the Pomona line. Once it came, I resumed walking, a smile on my face, feeling a little closer to home.

You can watch a video here with the complete song plus photos of vintage GTOs.