This unique recording featured the tribe’s street chants as they parade on Mardi Gras day backed by The
Meters with the Neville brothers singing harmonies.
In 2005 Hurricane Katrina devastated Art’s house – it was later looted – but he returned to New Orleans
several months later and purchased a new house on the same street that he grew up on
Not long after, frustrated by the failure of their albums to sell strongly and conflicting egos, The Meters
split and, in 1978, Art formed The Neville Brothers with Aaron, Charles and Cyril. With Aaron as lead
vocalist, the Nevilles were New Orleans’ first family yet initially struggled to reach a wide audience. This
changed with their 1988 album Yellow Moon that came with an ambient production care of U2 producer
Daniel Lanois and won them a Grammy (ironically for Best Pop Instrumental).
From then on The Neville Brothers were a staple on festivals across the US and Europe until disbanding in
2012 as Aaron concentrated on his solo career. In 2005 Hurricane Katrina devastated Art’s house – it was
later looted – but he returned to New Orleans several months later and purchased a new house on the same
street that he grew up on. In recent years Art toured with The Meters – when they could agree on terms –
and joined his brothers to perform as the annual closing act at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
He suffered several strokes but only announced his retirement in December 2018.
Art was nicknamed “Poppa Funk” and The Meters’ records have been repeatedly sampled by rap and dance
music producers. With The Neville Brothers he ensured that Aaron Neville’s unique voice got heard
worldwide. And in New Orleans he will forever be part of the city’s soundtrack with “Mardi Gras Mambo”.
He is survived by his second wife Lorraine and three children, two from his first marriage.
Art Neville, musician, born 17 December 1937, died 22 July 2019