Art Neville, a giant of New Orleans music who helped co-found the Neville Brothers and the funk outfit the Meters, has died, Nola.com reports. He was 81.
Neville’s longtime manager, Kent Sorrell, confirmed the musician’s death, saying, “It was peaceful. He passed away at home with his adoring wife Lorraine by his side. He toured the world how many times, but he always came home to Valence Street.”
A pianist and singer, Neville’s career spanned more than 60 years and left an indelible impression on New Orleans and American music. He helped set the bar for New Orleans funk with the Meters, who released eight albums between 1969 and 1977 and served as the backing band for artists like Dr. John, Robert Palmer and Allen Toussaint. He then joined forces with his brothers Charles, Aaron and Cyril to form the Neville Brothers, a highly influential and respected soul outfit that boasted a slew of famous fans, but never notched a hit of their own.
Perhaps no song better summed up Neville’s influence than “Mardi Gras Mambo,” a track he recorded with the Hawketts when he was just 16-years-old. The song remains a staple of New Orleans’ famous Fat Tuesday celebrations, ringing out across the city every February and March.
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