Happy Birthday, Cyril Neville!

Singer songwriter and percussionist Cyril Neville was born in New Orleans on October 10, 1948, to a family of musical royalty. He was a member of the legendary NOLA funk band The Meters, along with his brother Art Neville, and later became a member of the Neville Brothers band along with his older brothers Aaron, Charles and Art. Neville has collaborated with numerous artists including Bob Dylan, Robbie Robertson, Willie Nelson, and Dr. John. In 2005, Neville joined up with Tab Benoit, Waylon Thibodeaux, Johnny Sansone, Anders Osborne, Monk Boudreaux, George Porter, Jr., Johnny Vidacovich, and Dr. John to form the Voice of the Wetlands Allstars, bringing awareness to the loss of wetlands along the Gulf Coast. In 2010, Neville toured with New Orleans funk band Galactic, and in 2012, he formed blues-rock supergroup Royal Southern Brotherhood along with Devon Allman, Mike Zito, Charlie Wooton, and Yonrico Scott. Whether performing solo or with collaborators, Cyril Neville always leaves his audiences wanting more. Happy birthday, Cyril!

Photo by: Bruce Tuten

Happy Birthday, Aaron Neville!

R&B and soul vocalist Aaron Neville was born in New Orleans on January 24, 1941, into one of the most prolific music families of the City. Neville has recorded as a solo artist, with his brothers Art, Charles and Cyril as The Neville Brothers, and he is the father of singer and keyboard player Ivan Neville, and vocalist and rap artist Jason Neville. In addition, his uncle, George "Big Chief Jolly" Landry, was lead singer of the Mardi Gras Indian group The Wilde Tchoupitoulas. 

Neville’s debut single, “Tell It Like It Is”, was #1 on the Soul chart for five weeks in 1967. During the course of his career, he has had four platinum albums and four Top 10 hits, including three that went to #1 on the Billboardcharts. In 1989, Neville recorded the album Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Windwith Linda Ronstadt, which included the #1 Grammy-winning hits “Don’t Know Much” and “All My Life”. In 1991, his cover of “Everybody Plays the Fool” reached #1, and some of his other hits include “Don’t Take Away My Heaven”, “Can’t Stop My Heart From Loving You (The Rain Song)”, and “Hercules”. In 1993 and 1994, Neville ventured into country music, and recorded Patsy Cline’s 1961 hit “I Fall to Pieces” with Trisha Yearwood, resulting in a Grammy Award for the duo in in 1995. As a result, Neville became one of the only African American recording artists to win a Grammy in the Country category.

Neville’s home was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, moving to Nashville after the storm. He ultimately returned to New Orleans, but while he was away, he recorded the albumBring It On Home … The Soul Classics, released in 2006, featuring songs by Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, and others, and featuring collaborations with his brother Art, Chaka Khan, Mavis Staples, and David Sanborn. In 2013, he released My True Story, a collection of doo-wop songs from his youth, including backup by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Neville continues to perform and tour to the delight of his league of fans worldwide! Let’s wish this incredibly talented man a very happy birthday!

Celebrating the Birthday of Charles Neville

R&B and jazz Saxophonist and vocalist Charles Neville was born in New Orleans on December 27, 1938, and was part of the Grammy Award winning Neville Brothers band. Known as “Charlie the horn man”, he was the second oldest of the four Neville brothers, including Art, Aaron and Cyril, he left home when he was 15 to play saxophone with the Rabbit’s Foot Minstrel Show. After serving in the Navy, he toured with B.B. King and Bobby (Blue) Bland, later joining the band of fellow New Orleanian Larry Williams. Struggles with addiction resulted in trouble with the law, landing him in jail and later in Louisiana State Prison for three and a half years for possession of marijuana. After his release in the mid-1960s, he moved to New York City and explored modern jazz. In 1976, he returned to New Orleans to record with his brothers and their uncle George “Big Chief Jolly” Landry’s Mardi Gras Indian group, blending traditional and funk music on the iconic “The Wild Tchoupitoulas” album.  

Shortly afterward, the four brothers formed The Neville Brothers and recorded over a dozen albums and built a following all over the world. Charles's saxophone playing was especially notable on the title track of their best-selling album, Yellow Moon. He moved to rural Massachusetts in the 1990s with his wife, Kristin, and children and continued to perform and record with family members and a wide variety of musicians for the rest of his life. Sadly, he passed away from pancreatic cancer on April 26, 2018. On his birthday today, we celebrate the life of Charles Neville with great appreciation for how his music has enriched our lives.  

Photo: https://www.flickr.com/people/30595457@N00

Celebrating the Birthday of Art Neville

Three-time Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter and keyboardist Lanon “Art” Neville was born in New Orleans on December 17, 1937. He was a founding member of The Meters, The Funky Meters, and part of one of New Orleans’ storied musical families, the Neville Brothers. He was best known for New Orleans funk, soul, and rhythm and blues, and was a staple in the New Orleans music scene for five decades. He performed on many recordings by noteworthy artists from New Orleans and elsewhere, including Paul McCartney, Dr. John, Professor Longhair, Labelle, Robert Palmer and Lee Dorsey. Neville’s musical style helped set the tone of New Orleans funk, influencing upcoming musical styles such as hip-hop as well as jam bands including Galactic, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Phish. Sadly, Art passed away on July 22, 2019, at the age of 81, but his music lives on. Today let’s remember Art and celebrate his legacy. 

Photo by: https://www.flickr.com/photos/robbiesaurus/

Happy Birthday, Cyril Neville!

Singer songwriter and percussionist Cyril Neville was born in New Orleans on October 10, 1948, to a family of musical royalty. He was a member of the legendary NOLA funk band The Meters, along with his brother Art Neville, and later became a member of the Neville Brothers band along with his older brothers Aaron, Charles and Art. Neville has collaborated with numerous artists including Bob Dylan, Robbie Robertson, Willie Nelson, and Dr. John. In 2005, Neville joined up with Tab Benoit, Waylon Thibodeaux, Johnny Sansone, Anders Osborne, Monk Boudreaux, George Porter, Jr., Johnny Vidacovich, and Dr. John to form the Voice of the Wetlands Allstars, bringing awareness to the loss of wetlands along the Gulf Coast. In 2010, Neville toured with New Orleans funk band Galactic, and in 2012, he formed blues-rock supergroup Royal Southern Brotherhood along with Devon Allman, Mike Zito, Charlie Wooton, and Yonrico Scott. Whether performing solo or with collaborators, Cyril Neville always leaves his audiences wanting more. Happy birthday, Cyril!

Photo by: Bruce Tuten

Happy Birthday, Aaron Neville!

R&B and soul vocalist Aaron Neville was born in New Orleans on January 24, 1941, into one of the most prolific music families of the City. Neville has recorded as a solo artist, with his brothers Art, Charles and Cyril as The Neville Brothers, and he is the father of singer and keyboard player Ivan Neville, and vocalist and rap artist Jason Neville. In addition, his uncle, George "Big Chief Jolly" Landry, was lead singer of the Mardi Gras Indian group The Wilde Tchoupitoulas. 

Neville’s debut single, “Tell It Like It Is”, was #1 on the Soul chart for five weeks in 1967. During the course of his career, he has had four platinum albums and four Top 10 hits, including three that went to #1 on the Billboardcharts. In 1989, Neville recorded the album Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Windwith Linda Ronstadt, which included the #1 Grammy-winning hits “Don’t Know Much” and “All My Life”. In 1991, his cover of “Everybody Plays the Fool” reached #1, and some of his other hits include “Don’t Take Away My Heaven”, “Can’t Stop My Heart From Loving You (The Rain Song)”, and “Hercules”. In 1993 and 1994, Neville ventured into country music, and recorded Patsy Cline’s 1961 hit “I Fall to Pieces” with Trisha Yearwood, resulting in a Grammy Award for the duo in in 1995. As a result, Neville became one of the only African American recording artists to win a Grammy in the Country category.

Neville’s home was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, moving to Nashville after the storm. He ultimately returned to New Orleans, but while he was away, he recorded the albumBring It On Home … The Soul Classics, released in 2006, featuring songs by Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, and others, and featuring collaborations with his brother Art, Chaka Khan, Mavis Staples, and David Sanborn. In 2013, he released My True Story, a collection of doo-wop songs from his youth, including backup by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Neville continues to perform and tour to the delight of his league of fans worldwide! Let’s wish this incredibly talented man a very happy birthday!