Aaron Neville facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Aaron Neville
Neville in 1999
Background information
Birth name	Aaron Joseph Neville
Born	(1941-01-24) January 24, 1941 (age 84)
Origin	New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Genres	R&B soul country gospel jazz pop
Occupation(s)	Singer
Years active	1960–present
Labels	Minit Par-Lo Curb A&M Chordant EMI Burgundy

Aaron Joseph Neville (born January 24, 1941) is an American singer famous for his smooth, unique voice. He has sung many types of music, including R&B, soul, gospel, jazz, country, and pop.

He became well-known in 1966 with his song "Tell It Like It Is". This song reached number two on the Billboard music chart. It was even added to the Grammy Hall of Fame later on.

As a solo artist, Aaron Neville had three albums in the 1990s that sold over a million copies each. His album Nature Boy: The Standards Album topped the Billboard Jazz chart. He has won four Grammy Awards, which are like music's biggest prizes. He also had four albums that made it into the Top 10 on the Gospel music charts.

Aaron Neville sang duets with Linda Ronstadt, like "Don't Know Much" and "All My Life". Both of these songs were number one hits on the Adult Contemporary chart and won Grammy Awards. He has also sung the United States national anthem at the Super Bowl twice. One time, in 2006, he sang it with Aretha Franklin and Dr. John.

Besides his solo work, he is a founding member of the Neville Brothers. This group includes his brothers Art, Charles, and Cyril. In 2023, he won another Grammy Award for "Stompin' Ground." This song was a collaboration with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. That same year, Rolling Stone magazine named him one of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.

Aaron Neville's Music Journey

Aaron Neville's first song played outside of his hometown, New Orleans, was "Over You" in 1960. His first big hit was "Tell It Like It Is" in 1966. This song was number one on the Billboard R&B chart for five weeks in 1967. It also reached number two on the main Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song sold over a million copies, earning a gold record.

In 1986, Neville released his first solo album in many years, called Orchid in The Storm. A big moment came in 1989 when he worked with Linda Ronstadt on her album Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind. This album featured four duets with them. Two of these, "Don't Know Much" and "All My Life", became number one hits and won Grammy Awards. "Don't Know Much" reached number two on the Hot 100 chart and sold a million copies. The album itself sold over three million copies in the U.S.

After the success of Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind, Linda Ronstadt helped produce Aaron Neville's 1991 album, Warm Your Heart. This album included the hit song "Everybody Plays the Fool". This song reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100. The album Warm Your Heart also sold over a million copies.

Exploring Country Music

In 1993 and 1994, Aaron Neville started singing country music. In 1993, he released the album The Grand Tour, which sold over a million copies. The song "Don't Take Away My Heaven" from this album reached number four on the Adult Contemporary chart.

He also covered George Jones's 1974 country hit, "The Grand Tour". This song was very popular with fans and critics. It even earned him a nomination for a Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance in 1994. He then released another successful album, Aaron Neville's Soulful Christmas.

In 1994, Aaron Neville was part of the album Rhythm, Country and Blues. This album featured duets between R&B and Country artists. Neville sang "I Fall to Pieces" with Trisha Yearwood. This song won them a Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals. This made Aaron Neville one of the few African American artists to win a Grammy in the Country music style.

In April 1994, Aaron Neville appeared on the children's TV show Sesame Street. He sang "I Don't Want to Live on the Moon" as a duet with Ernie.

Later Albums and Collaborations

Neville's 1995 album, The Tattooed Heart, sold well. It included covers of songs by Bill Withers and Kris Kristofferson. His 1997 album, ...To Make Me Who I Am, featured new songs written by famous songwriters like Babyface and Diane Warren. It also had two new duets with Linda Ronstadt.

In 2000, he released a gospel album called Devotion, which became number one on the US gospel album chart. In 2003, his album Nature Boy: The Standards Album topped the US jazz album chart. On this album, he sang classic American songs, including another duet with Linda Ronstadt.

Neville in 2007

In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina destroyed Aaron Neville's home in New Orleans. He moved to Nashville, Tennessee. He performed songs like "Louisiana 1927" and "A Change is Gonna Come" at benefit concerts to help hurricane victims. He later moved back to the New Orleans area.

In 2006, he released Bring It On Home...The Soul Classics. This album featured songs by famous soul artists like Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye. It included collaborations with other singers like Chaka Khan and Mavis Staples.

Aaron Neville has also worked in television, movies, and sports. He sang the United States national anthem in the movie The Fan. He also sang the anthem at two Super Bowls. His performance at Super Bowl XL in 2006, with Aretha Franklin and Dr. John, was highly praised. It was a special tribute to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

He sang the theme song for the children's TV series Fisher-Price Little People. He also sang for the sixth volume, "Discovering Seasons." In 2005, he appeared in the documentary film Make It Funky!, which is about the history of New Orleans music. In 2006, he made a guest appearance on the TV show The Young and the Restless.

In 2013, Aaron Neville released My True Story. This album was a collection of 12 doo-wop songs, which were popular when he was young. It was produced by Don Was and Keith Richards. In May 2021, at 80 years old, Aaron Neville announced he would stop touring. However, he said he might still record albums or perform for special events.

Aaron Neville's Life

Aaron Neville grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana. He has a mixed background, including African-American, white, and Choctaw heritage. His uncle, George "Big Chief Jolly" Landry, was the lead singer of a Mardi Gras Indian group.

Aaron Neville got a tattoo of a sword on his face when he was 16. He later had it touched up for his 1995 album, The Tattooed Heart.

He married Joel Roux Neville in 1959. They had four children: Ernestine, Aaron "Fred" Jr., and musicians Ivan and Jason. Aaron Neville is also the uncle of journalist Arthel Neville. In 2010, he married photographer Sarah Ann Friedman.

Aaron Neville is Catholic and has a special devotion to St. Jude. He wears a St. Jude Medal as an earring.

Aaron Neville's Music Albums

Studio Albums

Compilation Albums

• Greatest Hits (1990)
• The Very Best of Aaron Neville (2000)
• Gold (2008)

Awards and Honors

• 32nd Grammy Awards – Won for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal – "Don't Know Much" with Linda Ronstadt
• 33rd Grammy Awards – Won for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal – "All My Life" with Linda Ronstadt
• 37th Grammy Awards – Won for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals – "I Fall To Pieces" with Trisha Yearwood
• 65th Grammy Awards – Won for Best American Roots Performance – "Stompin' Ground" with Dirty Dozen Brass Band

Film and TV Appearances

• Everybody's All-American (1988)
• The Fan (1996)
• Mulholland Falls (1996)
• Sandy Wexler (2017) Netflix
• Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice (2019)

See also

In Spanish: Aaron Neville para niños