Art Neville facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Art Neville
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Neville at the 2012 Jazz Fest
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Arthur Lanon Neville Jr. |
| Born | December 17, 1937 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | July 22, 2019 (aged 81) New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Genres | Funk, R&B, soul |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, bandleader |
| Instruments | Vocals, keyboards |
| Years active | Early 1950s–2018 |
| Associated acts | Hawketts, Neville Sounds, The Meters, Neville Brothers, The Funky Meters |
Arthur Lanon Neville Jr. (born December 17, 1937 – died July 22, 2019) was an American singer, songwriter, and keyboardist from New Orleans. He was a very important musician in New Orleans for over 50 years. He started the famous funk band The Meters, which helped create the unique "New Orleans funk" sound. He also helped start The Neville Brothers, a popular rock-soul-jazz band. Later, he formed The Funky Meters. Art Neville played on many songs for famous artists like Labelle (on "Lady Marmalade"), Paul McCartney, and Dr. John. He won three Grammy Awards for his music.
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Art Neville's Early Life and Music Journey
Art Neville grew up in New Orleans, a city famous for its music. His parents were Amelia (Landry) and Arthur Neville Sr. He started playing the piano and performing with his brothers when he was very young. He was inspired by rhythm and blues (R&B) musicians like Professor Longhair.
When he was in high school, Art joined a band called The Hawketts. In 1954, the band recorded a song called "Mardi Gras Mambo" with Art singing. This song became very popular and is still played a lot during the Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans. After touring with other musicians, Art joined the U.S. Navy in 1958. He returned to music in 1962 and released several songs on his own.
Forming the Neville Sounds and The Meters
In the early 1960s, Art Neville started a band called Neville Sounds. His brothers Aaron and Cyril were in the band, along with George Porter (bass), Leo Nocentelli (guitar), and Ziggy Modeliste (drums). Aaron and Cyril later left to start their own group.
The remaining four musicians kept playing together in New Orleans nightclubs. They often played as a backing band for other artists. Their music had a strong "groove," meaning it made people want to dance. Each instrument could take the lead, making their sound very unique. This style became known as "New Orleans funk."
In the late 1960s, the band changed its name to The Meters. They released three albums that mostly featured instrumental music (music without singing). At first, they made up their songs as they played live. The Meters became well-known in the rock music world and influenced famous musicians like Paul McCartney and The Rolling Stones. The band released five more albums before breaking up in the late 1970s. The Meters' focus on rhythm had a big impact on new music styles like hip-hop and jam bands.
The Neville Brothers and The Funky Meters
In 1978, Art Neville joined his brothers Cyril, Aaron, and Charles to form The Neville Brothers. They had previously worked together on an album called The Wild Tchoupitoulas. Their first album, The Neville Brothers, came out in 1978. A music critic described their style as a mix of "funk, doo-wop, reggae and salsa" with a New Orleans rhythm and blues feel.
The Neville Brothers released many albums in the 1980s and 1990s, including Fiyo on the Bayou and Yellow Moon. They also released an album in 2004.
During this time, Art Neville also played with his old bandmates from The Meters. In 1989, they had a reunion concert at the New Orleans Jazz Festival. After that show, Art Neville, George Porter, Leo Nocentelli, and Russell Batiste formed a new group called The Funky Meters. Art played with both The Neville Brothers and The Funky Meters at the same time.
Art Neville loved playing live music and making up new sounds on the spot. He once said that the best part was when the music "just evolves into some other stuff." He won a Grammy Award in 1989 with The Neville Brothers. He won another Grammy in 1996 for a song called "SRV Shuffle." In 2018, he received a special Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award as a member of The Meters.
Art Neville was also featured in a 2005 movie called Make It Funky!. This movie showed the history of New Orleans music and how it influenced different styles like rhythm and blues, rock and roll, funk, and jazz.
Art Neville stopped performing music in December 2018. He passed away in New Orleans on July 22, 2019, at the age of 81. He left behind his wife, Lorraine, his three children, and his brothers Aaron and Cyril. Many people, including the Recording Academy and Louisiana's governor, recognized his huge impact on New Orleans music.
Art Neville's Family Life
Art Neville was married to Lorraine and they had two children, Ian and Amelia. His daughter, Arthel Neville, from his first marriage, is a well-known journalist and news anchor. His son, Ian Neville, is a guitar player and helped start a funk band called Dumpstaphunk. Ian sometimes played with The Funky Meters too.
See Also
Images for kids
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Neville at the 2012 Jazz Fest
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Neville (left) and George Porter Jr. of the Funky Meters at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2004
