Art Neville – Papa Funk of The Meters and Neville Brothers dies

29th July 2019   ·   0 Comments

By Geraldine Wyckoff
Contributing Writer

Art Neville just dug playing music. The organist, pianist and vocalist affectionately known as Papa Funk, was always eager to hit a stage. A founding member of the Meters, the influential band that led the New Orleans funk revolution, and spiritual patriarch of the mighty Neville Brothers band, Arthur Lanon Neville died on Monday, July 22 at the age of 81.

“My little brother Cyril called me Papa Funk and it stuck – I guess I was like a dad to them (his brothers),” Art said in a 2008 interview preceding his first and only New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival appearance as a solo headliner. The historical performance took place on Friday, May 2, 2008 with Art’s heartfelt and guest-filled show on the Acura Stage followed by keyboardist and vocalist, superstar Stevie Wonder.

“I’m gonna be coming out there throwing bricks,” Art declared before this notable Jazz Fest set. His nephew, Ivan, who emulates his uncle Art as a funkified keyboardist and vocalist, laughed when he recently heard that quote. “Oh, yeah, he said that all of the time,” Ivan replied, explaining that Art was referring to St. Joe bricks, the uniquely produced building material that was used in the construction of the Calliope Housing Project where Art grew up. Musically, Art obviously meant he was really going to give the Jazz Fest crowd his all.

Art’s early influences on the piano were close at hand. “I listened to my uncle (George “Big Chief Jolly” Landry) and tried the stuff that he was doing – Professor Longhair and all of them,” Art remembered. “I would just try doing that until I finally started playing it myself even if I played it the way I played. I didn’t exactly copy them. Archibald (John Leon Gross), I never heard a piano like that. He was an incredible piano player, totally different from anybody else.”

Neville also credited Fats Domino for inspiring him and promised to borrow one of Domino’s signature captain hats for the 2008 solo show. “I’ll be Captain Funk,” Art proclaimed. “I’ve been digging Fats; he’s one of the reason why I’m playing.”

Art got into the music game on a professional level when he was just 16 years old and joined The Hawketts that subsequently recorded what is now a Carnival season anthem, “Mardi Gras Mambo.” Neville sang lead and played piano with the great New Orleans drummer John Boudreaux giving the tune that infectious Latin tinge and George Davis providing the memorable sax solo. Popular deejay Ken “Jack the Cat” Elliott convinced the group to record the song in the WWEZ radio station and naturally gave the record, released on the Chess label, lots of spins.

Except during his stint with the United States Navy, which he joined in 1958 and served as a cook onboard the U.S.S. Independence, Art was always playing music as leader or as a part of a group. His career lit up when he recorded the lovely “All These Things,” which was written by the brilliant Allen Toussaint who was credited, as he sometimes was in the early days, as Naomi Neville. Next up for the talented pianist and vocalist who enjoyed being musically engaged, was forming Art Neville & the Neville Sounds that included bassist George Porter, drummer Zigaboo Modeliste, guitarist Leo Nocentelli, all of whom would later perform and record as the Meters, plus saxophonist Gary Brown. The Sounds played spots like the Nite Cap, a popular bar on the corner of Louisiana Avenue and Carondolet Street. “I got the owner to buy an organ,” remembered Art, who subsequently was almost always seen behind a big B-3. “The way I play piano, you can’t play the organ the same way. I just played what I felt like playing, what felt good to me. That’s the same way I play today.”

The group, that in 1968 renamed itself The Meters, became the house band at Allen Toussaint’s studio. The moniker fit the band’s rhythm-heavy, funky approach that was its driving force. The Meters went on to give the world gems like “Cissy Strut” and “Sophisticated Cissy” that continue to be vital today.

The Meters’ hits were particularly brought back to life when a spin-off band, The Funky Meters emerged in 1994 that boasted original members Art and George Porter.

“I’m not doing too much with the Neville Brothers right now,” Art said in a 2011, interview, and, as always, he was eager to keeping hitting the stage.

Uncle Jolly, the brother of Art and his siblings’ mother, Amelia, again played a major part in Art’s future and that of his family. At his urging, the always affable Jolly, the Big Chief of the Wild Tchoupitoulas Mardi Gras Indian gang, brought the brothers together to record under his uptown tribe’s name. The album “Wild Tchoupitoulas, which included such strong tunes as Cyril Neville’s “Brother John” and “Meet de Boys on the Battlefront,” was released in 1976 and that was the start of it all. The Neville Brothers, who won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement award, with keyboardist/vocalist Art, Aaron on vocals, Charles on saxophone and Cyril on percussion and vocals, became New Orleans royalty as they all contributed their individual talents and musical persuasions that were ultimately New Orleans. Art was the funkmaster and the thoughtful accompanist to the more romantically and doo-wop inclined Aaron and jazz-minded saxophonist Charles. He got down to the Mardi Gras Indian grooves with younger brother, percussionist Cyril.

“I’ve been a team player,” rightfully offered Art, who performed at the New Orleans Jazz Fest with the Neville Brothers some 30 times. “I got to come out there throwing bricks; I can’t go out there fakin’ – I can’t fake.”

Art Neville’s five decade career earned him a Grammy in 1989 for Best Pop Instrumental with the Neville Brothers’ “Healing Chant;” and then again in 1996 with “SRV Shuffle,” a collaborative with such notables as B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt and Jimmy Vaughan. The ultimate honor came in 2006 when he was presented the Grammy’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. The NAACP presented him with its Image Award in 2006.

In Facebook post, his brother Aaron wrote, “We traveled over land and sea bringing our music to the world. We played with people like the Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones, Santana, Huey Lewis and the News, Tina Turner and many others. We went on the amnesty tour sponsored by the late great Bill Graham who opened doors for the Neville Brothers, our children and so many other folks. From the park bench in the Calliope to Valence St. in the 13th ward to parts unknown we brought our Music and inspiration to the world stage. We now can say that 88 keys were blessed by Poppa Funk. I know he’s in heaven with Mommee and Poppee, Big Chief, Cookie, Brother Charlie, Mac/Dr John, Allen Toussaint, and James Booker. So many great New Orleans musicians and singers are in the heavenly band now. I know they’re accepting him with open arms so he can take his rightful place as one of the greats. Artie Poppa Funk Neville you are loved dearly by every one who knew you. Love always your lil’ big brother AARON.”

This article originally published in the July 29, 2019 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.