Happy Birthday, Zigaboo Modeliste!

Drummer and songwriter Joseph “Zigaboo” Modeliste was born in New Orleans on December 28, 1948, and is best known as a founding member of New Orleans funk band The Meters. He grew up in New Orleans’ 13thWard and was nicknamed Zigaboo at 10 by his teens the name had stuck. His first drum set was a three-piece bought by his grandmother, and he learned by watching and emulating New Orleans drum greats such as Smokey Johnson. He started playing gigs at an early age, including with Art Neville’s band that evolved into The Neville Sounds, and ultimately, The Meters in 1965. Allen Toussaint’s record label eventually signed The Meters, and in 1975 and 1976 they opened for the Rolling Sotnes, and they also backed acts such as Dr. John, Robert Palmer, Lee Dorsey, and Paul McCartney. In the late 1970s when The Meters disbanded, Modeliste toured with various musicians, including The New Barbarians, featuring Keith Richards and Ron Wood. 

Modeliste's work is credited on hundreds of recordings by a variety of artists, including hip hop artists such as Run DMC, Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, Ice Cube, LL Cool J, Queen Latifah and Salt-N-Pepa, who have all sampled his drum patterns. Modeliste released three studio albums and a live album as a leader, and in 2011 he collaborated with producer-musician Mark Ronson, Erykah Badu, Mos Def and Trombone Shorty for the song "A La Modeliste", named his influence on funk drumming and the New Orleans sound. 

In the 1980s Modeliste moved to California, ultimately settling in Oakland He got involved in the business side of the music industry, starting the label, JZM Records, and a music publishing company, Jomod Music. Fortunately for music fans, he continues to perform regularly, and in 2018, as the Recording Academy honored Modeliste and The Meters with a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award. Today we celebrate this innovative musician’s many achievements and wish him a happy birthday!

Photo: Carnaval.com Studios