Happy Birthday, Billy Iuso!

Guitarist, singer and songwriter Billy Iuso was born on January 26, 1969, in Port Chester, New York. His first major musical success came in the early ‘90s after he formed the funk jam band, Brides of Jesus. The band played frequently in New York, released three albums between 1991 and 1994, and opened for groups such as The Dave Matthews Band. Brides of Jesus also opened for The Meters numerous times, connecting Iuso with Meters members George Porter, Jr., and Art Neville. Those relationships eventually inspired Iuso to relocate to New Orleans permanently, which he did in 1996. Shortly thereafter, the Brides of Jesus, which eventually included drummer Russell Batiste, Jr. were featured on the Rounder Records compilation "Ain't No Funk Like N.O. Funk," produced by Scott Billington.

Once he settled in New Orleans, Iuso began performing regularly with a variety of local players including Osborne and The Wild Magnolias. He also worked as a tour and stage manager for The Neville Brothers, the Meters and Porter's Runnin’ Pardners band. In 2002, Iuso returned to focusing on his own music and created the Restless Natives, which served as the Wild Magnolias' backing band in the mid to late 2000s. Iuso performs solo, and as an "artist-at-large" at various festivals on the jam band scene. In addition to his solo work, Iuso performs with drummer Bill Kreutzmann of the Grateful Dead and Paul Barrere and Fred Tackett of Little Feat in Dead Feat. The group formed after Iuso staged a fundraiser for late Little Feat member Richie Hayward prior to his 2010 death of complications from lung disease. In 2013, Iuso's album, "Naked" was given a positive review by Offbeat magazine, which noted the guitarist's departure from a jam-heavy approach to one in which he focused on song structure and development; the tracks also featured Iuso on lead vocals. Iuso's longtime collaborator Anders Osborne appeared on the album as well. Iuso lives in New Orleans with his wife and children. Today we celebrate a truly talented New Orleans-based artist … happy birthday, Billy!

Happy Birthday, Billy Iuso!

Guitarist, singer and songwriter Billy Iuso was born on January 26, 1969, in Port Chester, New York. His first major musical success came in the early ‘90s after he formed the funk jam band, Brides of Jesus. The band played frequently in New York, released three albums between 1991 and 1994, and opened for groups such as The Dave Matthews Band. Brides of Jesus also opened for The Meters numerous times, connecting Iuso with Meters members George Porter, Jr., and Art Neville. Those relationships eventually inspired Iuso to relocate to New Orleans permanently, which he did in 1996. Shortly thereafter, the Brides of Jesus, which eventually included drummer Russell Batiste, Jr. were featured on the Rounder Records compilation "Ain't No Funk Like N.O. Funk," produced by Scott Billington.

Once he settled in New Orleans, Iuso began performing regularly with a variety of local players including Osborne and The Wild Magnolias. He also worked as a tour and stage manager for The Neville Brothers, the Meters and Porter's Runnin’ Pardners band. In 2002, Iuso returned to focusing on his own music and created the Restless Natives, which served as the Wild Magnolias' backing band in the mid to late 2000s. Iuso performs solo, and as an "artist-at-large" at various festivals on the jam band scene. In addition to his solo work, Iuso performs with drummer Bill Kreutzmann of the Grateful Dead and Paul Barrere and Fred Tackett of Little Feat in Dead Feat. The group formed after Iuso staged a fundraiser for late Little Feat member Richie Hayward prior to his 2010 death of complications from lung disease. In 2013, Iuso's album, "Naked" was given a positive review by Offbeat magazine, which noted the guitarist's departure from a jam-heavy approach to one in which he focused on song structure and development; the tracks also featured Iuso on lead vocals. Iuso's longtime collaborator Anders Osborne appeared on the album as well. Iuso lives in New Orleans with his wife and children. Today we celebrate a truly talented New Orleans-based artist … happy birthday, Billy!

Happy Birthday, Billy Iuso!

Guitarist, singer and songwriter Billy Iuso was born on January 26, 1969, in Port Chester, New York. His first major musical success came in the early ‘90s after he formed the funk jam band, Brides of Jesus. The band played frequently in New York, released three albums between 1991 and 1994, and opened for groups such as The Dave Matthews Band. Brides of Jesus also opened for The Meters numerous times, connecting Iuso with Meters members George Porter, Jr., and Art Neville. Those relationships eventually inspired Iuso to relocate to New Orleans permanently, which he did in 1996. Shortly thereafter, the Brides of Jesus, which eventually included drummer Russell Batiste, Jr. were featured on the Rounder Records compilation "Ain't No Funk Like N.O. Funk," produced by Scott Billington.

Once he settled in New Orleans, Iuso began performing regularly with a variety of local players including Osborne and The Wild Magnolias. He also worked as a tour and stage manager for The Neville Brothers, the Meters and Porter's Runnin’ Pardners band. In 2002, Iuso returned to focusing on his own music and created the Restless Natives, which served as the Wild Magnolias' backing band in the mid to late 2000s. Iuso performs solo, and as an "artist-at-large" at various festivals on the jam band scene. In addition to his solo work, Iuso performs with drummer Bill Kreutzmann of the Grateful Dead and Paul Barrere and Fred Tackett of Little Feat in Dead Feat. The group formed after Iuso staged a fundraiser for late Little Feat member Richie Hayward prior to his 2010 death of complications from lung disease. In 2013, Iuso's album, "Naked" was given a positive review by Offbeat magazine, which noted the guitarist's departure from a jam-heavy approach to one in which he focused on song structure and development; the tracks also featured Iuso on lead vocals. Iuso's longtime collaborator Anders Osborne appeared on the album as well. Iuso lives in New Orleans with his wife and children. Today we celebrate a truly talented New Orleans-based artist … happy birthday, Billy!